Congressman revives Radio, TV Martí debate (Democratic Rep. William Delahunt)

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Miami Herald

Posted on Sun, Jun. 24, 2007
Congressman revives Radio, TV Martí debate
A U.S. congressman -- frequently critical of U.S policies on Cuba -- promises congressional hearings on the anti-Castro, government-funded Radio and TV Martí.

BY TERE FIGUERAS NEGRETE
[e-mail]

U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt renewed his call for congressional hearings to examine the funding and content of Radio and TV Martí, visiting Miami during a week that included a passionate debate in Washington over federal funding of programs pushing for democracy in Cuba.

The Massachusetts Democrat has been an outspoken critic of the Bush administration's policy toward Cuba, and advocates loosening the trade embargo and travel restrictions to the island.

''If we truly embrace freedom, we have to do it in a way that makes a difference,'' said Delahunt.

He said an examination of Radio and TV Martí's operations and finances are part of an overall need to revamp attitudes toward U.S.-Cuba relations.
(snip)

''With regard to transparency, it's good to show these are important and effective programs,'' said Díaz-Balart, who said he hoped the review will help Radio and TV Martí improve their broadcasts. ``But with regard to Mr. Delahunt, he has become one of the most constant advocates of the same position shared by the Cuban dictatorship.''

Added Díaz-Balart: ``He really has become predictable in his extremism.''



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/579/story/149535.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Speaking of extremism, Diaz-Balart got a fine Democratic Congressman

thrown out of work, after a massive retaliation against him for his effort to cut TV Marti out of the National budget, which would have returned many, many millions of dollars to the hard-working Americans who had been stuck paying for it all this time.



Miami Cuban "exile" Republican Congressman
Lincoln Diaz-Balart,right,conferring with his
brother, Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart,
and the Miami Cuban "exile" Republican
Congresswoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

Here's how Republican Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart handed Democratic Congressman, David Skaggs, from Colorado his ass when Skaggs, acting to curtail stupid excesses in the budget, attempted to get TV Marti, which is so much nonsense, axed:

Dealing from principle --- ex-Representative Skaggs

However, in 1993, former Representative David Skaggs (D-CO), in an attempt to trim unnecessary budgetary spending targeted for the Martis, was able to convince his House brethren to block funding for the two operations --- a measure which did not meet the same success in the Senate, where it was inevitably defeated. Skaggs paid a high price for his bold move, and came under withering fire from anti-Havana hardliners. Marti’s congressional supporters, led by none other than treasury plunderer Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart responded with a stark warning that revenge would be exacted on those who might threaten the continuation of the Marti operation, making an example of Skaggs by attempting to slash federal funding for projects in his home district. However, Skaggs refused to give up the fight, and he continued his campaign against the project, in particular its television component, until he retired in 1998. Skaggs admitted, "You know that if you kick the Cuba issue, you're going to have a bad day.” As a result of his personal experience, the Miami New Times reported in a November 12, 1998 article that Skaggs bitterly expressed outrage at the “corruption of United States policy that is inherent in our Cuba policy,” explaining, “by corruption I mean the untoward influence of a relatively small segment of the population in Florida and the money that small segment of the population brings to bear, and how it distorts the policy choices this government makes.”

Not only does the overwhelming influence of the Miami anti-Castro power brokers impede any attempt to reduce funding for the programs, but their political firepower also has diluted efforts which should have been made to reform these broadcasting agencies. According to Lawrence Grossman, former president of NBC News, he, along with several other journalists and academics, were asked by former CBS News president David Burke, who in the mid-1990s had the job of overseeing Radio and TV Marti, to report on the project’s accuracy, professionalism and sense of fairness. The group then proceeded to pose the theoretical question, what would happen “if {they} concluded that the influential chairman of the President’s Advisory Broadcasting Board for Cuban Broadcasting, Jorge Mas Canosa, should resign?” The response they received was “no way” --- there was an upcoming election and Congressional candidates heavily dependent on the Cuban-exile vote would be unwilling to risk provoking the hostility of such a powerful group. As a result, Grossman and his colleagues declined the offer, and the potentially revealing document was never executed. Grossman concluded, “{TV Marti} is a folly imposed on us by politically powerful Cuban exile groups that neither party wants to offend.”
(snip/...)

http://cubajournal.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_archive.html

http://www.w3w3.com/2005_Events/09H/05-09-08_SFTP/a04.David%20Skaggs,JMorgese,JoeWaz,RollandJohnson,DGillmor.jpg

David Skaggs, in the group, is the man on the left. Say "goodbye" to this fine Congressman who had to leave office, after acts of revenge by Diaz-Balart and the Miami right-wing CANF, due to his attempt to cut out pork right-wing "exiles" insist on keeping, at our great expense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Goodbye, and THANK YOU to Rep. David Skaggs, and FULL SPEED AHEAD, WITH BEST WISHES, CONGRESSMAN DELAHUNT!