Cable company execs big donors to Sen. McConnell

Washington, DC - Public Campaign Action Fund released a statement this morning demanding to know if there was any political interference in the decision by Insight Communications to censor the group and refuse to air their commercial that is critical of Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) during last night's University of Louisville's football telecast. The ad can be seen at http://www.bigmoneymitch.com.

The statement is as follows:

"Executives at cable giant Insight Communications have given Senator Mitch McConnell $17,000 in campaign contributions for his campaigns. And they now are helping him even more by engaging in political censorship by refusing to run Public Campaign Action Fund's commercial that criticizes McConnell for his special interest politics.

"Network affiliates and another cable system in Kentucky ran the ad after reviewing its content for accuracy. But with Insight, Public Campaign Action Fund was neither given an opportunity to respond to any of their concerns, nor were we notified of their decision to pull the commercial from rotation on a prime viewing slot. This is highly irregular and their action reeks of censorship.

"This action raises serious questions that must be answered:

"Since every other outlet in Kentucky ran the ad after reviewing its content for accuracy, what is Insight's justification for deciding not to air the ad?

"Which executives made this decision and did they make it without reviewing the background documentation that supports the ad that other media companies found adequate?

"What role did Insight lobbyist Keith Hall or Insight CEO Mike Willner, both McConnell donors and allies, play in making this decision to censor the ad? Were they or anyone else at Insight urged by McConnell or his aides to censor this ad?

"There is a hotly contested debate in Congress and Washington on competition and regulatory affairs that will affect the entire telecommunication industry. Insight CEO Mike Willner is the former two-term head of the cable industry's trade association, and a leading lobbyist for industry causes in Washington DC. What has Mitch McConnell done for Insight on the issues that directly impact Insight's bottom line? Has Insight lobbied McConnell to further its interests, and how much campaign money have Willner and his associates bundled for McConnell's campaigns and PACs?

"Big money donors. Lobbyists with connections. A powerful Senator. Unaccountable big media. The result? Political censorship that squashes freedom of speech. This ought to disturb everyone - in Kentucky and around the nation."

Public Campaign Action Fund is a national nonpartisan organization with more than 150,000 members working to advance comprehensive public financing of elections. PCAF also holds elected officials accountable for doing special favors for political backers. To learn more, visit http://www.campaignmoney.org.

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