Why are right wing media billionaires smearing Gigi Sohn?

Smear campaigns aren't cheap. What's driving the one against Gigi Sohn's appointment to the FCC?

Billionaires have a lot of power through their own media outlets to shape public influence. Influence elections. Promote politicians who will give them tax cuts. Spread conspiracy theories, racism and hate speech. The FCC regulates communications from radio, TV, satellite, wire, and cable. That's why they so desperately want to block her confirmation to the FCC where she could hold them accountable. Follow the money.

Follow the money behind the smear campaign

Vicious attacks by Murdoch media empire

Since the White House began vetting her for the position in the spring of 2021, Sohn has largely been sidelined from publicly commenting on telecommunications policy. Over the last year, she’s been frequently attacked as a partisan in publications including Fox News, the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal op-ed pages. The process has taken a personal toll, opening Sohn up to threatening phone calls and emails and name-calling. Sohn, who would be the first openly gay FCC commissioner, has also faced attacks on her sexual orientation.

“It’s a tragedy,” said Gary Shapiro, the president of CTA and a friend of Sohn. “We can’t even let people we disagree with get into positions anymore without attacking them personally.” - Washington Post

Conservatives attack LGBTQ nominee

The nomination of former FCC aid and Georgetown Law Fellow Gigi Sohn to the position of FCC commissioner was history-making, as Sohn would be the first openly LGBTQ individual to serve as a commissioner. Conservative opposition to President Biden’s nominees has resulted in extended nomination timelines, and Sohn’s nomination process has managed to carry on for over five times longer than the typical timeline for other Biden-appointed FCC nominees.

Sohn’s nomination was forced to be withdrawn and resubmitted due to obstruction in Congress, forcing her to attend two separate committee hearings where she faced significant Republican opposition. Her nomination remains pending before the Senate. - Accountable

Murdoch media empire attacks Gigi Sohn

The main line of attacks levied against Sohn originated from the media empire of Rupert Murdoch and from broadband trade associations. The Wall Street Journal editorial board, The New York Post’s opinion page, and Fox News attacked Sohn for previous statements and painted her as an unqualified partisan who seeks to censor conservative speech. *

Wall Street Journal Editorial Board: Sohn Founded “Leftwing” Group Public Knowledge And Supported Net Neutrality As An Obama Era FCC Advisor. “Ms. Sohn founded the leftwing group Public Knowledge that has long sought more government control of the internet and media. She was a counselor to Obama FCC Chair Tom Wheeler and was a driving force behind the “net neutrality” regulation that classified broadband providers as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934.” [Editorial, WSJ, 11/08/21] - Accountable

What is Section 230?

Section 230 of the Communications Act of the US constitution provides social media companies with broad immunity against the content posted on their platforms. For instance, Facebook or Twitter can’t be held liable if a user posts offensive, fake, or derogatory content on the platform. Rewriting of section 230 by the FCC may lead to social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Google being held responsible for the content on their respective platforms.  - Fossbytes

TakeAway: Fight the right wing smear campaign against Gigi Sohn. Call your senator. It's time to hold right wing media spreading hate and disinformation accountable for the harm they cause.

Deepak
DemLabs

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