AT&T Buys 700 copies of Rick Perry's book

[Ian David]

Perry's Phone-A-Friend: AT&T
By Alex Roarty
September 1, 2011 | 2:06 PM |


Texas Gov. Rick Perry and his book have one prominent fan in corporate America: AT&T.

Last December, the Dallas-based telecommunications firm bought 700 copies of the Texas governor's book "Fed Up!" as a gift to a gathering of Lone Star State lawmakers, activists and lobbyists, The Dallas Morning News reported at the time. Total cost? $13,000.

All proceeds from Perry's public policy missive benefit the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Center for Tenth Amendment Studies, so it's not as though the presidential candidate pocketed the money. But the purchase did underscore the closeness of Perry to AT&T, a relationship that will draw heavier scrutiny after the governor endorsed the company's merger with T-Mobile, which the Department of Justice rejected this week.

"Fed Up!" has been closely scrutinized since Perry entered the presidential race in early August. In it, Perry calls Social Security a "Ponzi scheme," while lambasting other entitlement programs. After a campaign adviser signaled Perry was backing off some of the claims contained in his book, the governor has doubled down on several of the book's arguments.

More:
http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/09/perrys-a.php

[livetohike]

1. I'm having more and more trouble comprehending The Onion

articles and reality. I'm waiting for Rick Perry to fall flat on his face in the mud :-).

[Chipper Chat]

2. If AT&T just sends them to Sarah Palin to endorse and autograph

....they would be worth HALF as much. :rofl:

[Canuckistanian]

3. I'm sure their shareholders would like to hear this news

As well as their customers.

Lobbyists are one thing, but this smacks of pure bribery. Come to think of it, lobbyists are pure bribery, too.

[rhett o rick]

11. Their shareholders will love it. ATT is looking out for their interests. They can recognize

a profitable "investment".

[Historic NY]

4. wow 700 Mr & Mrs's AT&T's ....

corporate persons

[fasttense]

5. And this is how the RepubliCONS rig the best seller's list.

They get corporations and religiously insane Dominionist groups to buy their crappy little books in bulk quantities. Then they say, "See people love our ideas". But take a look in the clearance bin and you'll see all those stupid books piled up and waiting to be bought for 50 cents.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. free toilet paper for someone

[Bryn]

7. Wow! I won't do business with AT&T any longer

For real? Not the Onion?

[Ian David]

9. For real. n/t

[gratuitous]

8. Didn't Jim Wright resign over something very similar?

Democratic Speaker of the House who got caught selling his books to corporate backers and big shots as a back door way of amassing campaign contributions. Pre-Speaker Newt Gingrich thought it was the scandal of the century and helped Wright ease out the door until he figured out what a swell way it was to line one's pockets. Then that became kind of a scandal, but less so, because it's okay of you're a Republican. The major scandal was that Gingrich did just what Wright had done, and it looked sort of hypocritical.

Now, about 20 years down the line, it's perfectly all right to use one's book as a vector for sucking up funds for campaigns and personal profit. Times change.

[JNinWB]

10. Good. The more who read Perry's RW drivel, the better.

They are doing the sane Democrats a favor.

[dtexdem]

12. Was it exactly 700, or a few less? Say, 666?

;-)

Just another way that corporations donate to their puppet.