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MSNBC Will ID Analyst as PR Exec

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 4, 2009 8:03 AM CDT
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(Newser) – From now on MSNBC will alert viewers that commentator Richard Wolffe also serves another boss—a high-powered Washington public relations and lobbying firm, where he works as a strategist. Executives made the decision following complaints that Wolffe may have pushed agendas for his clients under the guise of being an objective analyst, reports Politico. “We should have disclosed Richard's connection" to the firm Public Strategies, said an NBC News spokesman. “We will do so in the future.”

He refused to reveal the identities of Wolffe's clients, though Public Strategies represents several interests at the heart of many public issues, such as health care reform, which Wolffe discussed as a guest host on Countdown last week. "Having Richard Wolffe host an MSNBC program—or serving as an almost daily 'political analyst'—is exactly tantamount to MSNBC's turning over an hour every night to a corporate lobbyist," writes Glenn Greenwald in Salon.

From now on, MSNBC will alert viewers that Richard Wolffe serves two bosses: the MSNBC and a high-powered Washington public relations and lobbyist firm, Public Strategies.
From now on, MSNBC will alert viewers that Richard Wolffe serves two bosses: the MSNBC and a high-powered Washington public relations and lobbyist firm, Public Strategies.   (Getty Images)
MSNBC has come under fire for failing to divulge that Countdown commentator Richard Wolffe also works for a high-powered public relations and lobbyist firm in Washington.
MSNBC has come under fire for failing to divulge that "Countdown" commentator Richard Wolffe also works for a high-powered public relations and lobbyist firm in Washington.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
godawgs
Aug 4, 2009 7:41 AM CDT
@kg not just for wall street but the entire country did raise their standard of living i think. It did start with Clinton but continued to grow with Bush.
Netstorm2k10
Aug 4, 2009 6:30 AM CDT
If I were leading an oligarchy intent on controlling the populace, you know how I would keep the people under my thumb, distracted and dumb, while I advanced my own agenda? I would keep them divided with bi-polar partisanship, taking sides. It would be so easy, with pocket pundits, and morally bankrupt media companies, like dogs barking at each other. I'd play on the peoples emotions from both sides of each issue, letting their desires do my work for me. And while they were distracted, thinking they were fighting for something, I would quietly run their lives, deciding who lives, and who dies.
kokuaguy
Aug 4, 2009 5:41 AM CDT
Should'a known better. ; ^) Mahalo, dawg. Hadn't heard about the Feinstein thing. As for those 6 profitable years, I think some "income averaging" might be in order. Also, when you say profitable, you mean for Wall Street of course.

 
NBC • MSNBC • lobbyist • public relations • health care reform • Washington lobbyists • Richard Wolffe • Public Strategies

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