Difference between revisions of "David Brock"

Revision as of 20:27, February 13, 2012

David Brock (b. 1962) is a liberal activist. A former conservative American journalist known then for his attacks on Clarence Thomas accuser Anita Hill, he is the founder of Media Matters for America, American Bridge 21st Century and related organizations. Since the founding of Media Matters in 2004, he has led the charge against conservatives and Fox News Channel, which he publicly declared war on. ^[1] In February 2012, The Daily Caller ran a story outlining Brock's "erratic behavior" based on sources within his organization and Media Matters' close coordination with the President Barack Obama White House and liberal news organizations.^[2][3]

Media Matters and Israel

Media Matters has come under attack by the influential Simon Wiesenthal Center for supporting bloggers who promote "dangerous political libels" and "toxic anti-Jewish prejudices". According to the Center, Media Matters Senior Foreign Policy Fellow MJ Rosenberg "has repeatedly smeared Jewish groups such the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee as “Israel Firsters.”"^[4][5]

In a Twitter post by MJ Rosenberg, he called Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "terrorist".^[6]

At a gathering of pro-Israel supporters held at the University of Pennsylvania in early February 2012, noted liberal Democrat and high-profile lawyer Alan Dershowitz was quoted as saying that Media Matters could cost President Barack Obama the 2012 presidential election.^[7][8]

Failure

Brock has raised tens of millions of dollars for the activist groups he’s led. In 2010 alone he raised $23 million for various groups associated with Media Matters.^[9] Notwithstanding backing from Hillary Clinton ^[10], George Soros ^[11], wealth hedge fund managers and liberal foundations, he has been unsuccessful. Since Media Matters’ founding in 2004, Fox News Channel’s ratings have soared.^[12]Their revenues have grown dramatically since then as well and Fox News is close to turning a $1 billion profit. ^[13] Also, Brock's efforts to establish American Bridge 21st Century as a force within the Democratic Party have also failed. He was forced to dramatically scale back his initial vision of a organization to rival Karl Rove's hugely successful American Crossroads. American Bridge 21st Century has been relegated to an opposition operation supporting political campaigns and organizations.^[14]

Brock’s other failed endeavors include Equality Matters, which Brock declared would be a “new communications war room for gay equality, Equality Matters, will expose right-wing bigotry and homophobia wherever we find it”. ^[15] Equality Matters launched in late 2010 and is already nearly defunct. ^[16]

Suspicion Among Democrats

Despite his support among several liberal backers, according to the New York Times “there is suspicion among some Democratic operatives that Mr. Brock is more interested in promoting himself than his cause”. ^[17] President Obama and his team continue to habor ill will toward Brock and his efforts, especially since Brock was such a rabid supporter of Hillary Clinton and not Obama during her failed run for President in 2008.^[18]

The MSNBC – Media Matters Connection

Media Matters for America is a very popular source of information within MSNBC’s prime time lineup. Some might argue MSNBC is a defacto mouth piece for the organization.^[19][20]

In prime time alone, since 2005 Media Matters has either been booked as a guest and/or mentioned on the network nearly 200 times. Media Matters has been particularly popular with MSNBC’s producers during the last 2 years. Below are some interesting tid bits about Media Matters and its growing relationship with MSNBC’s prime time programming:

• 197 guest appearances and/or on-air mentions on MSNBC’s prime time since January 2005
• Of the roughly 390 broadcast evenings on MSNBC since July 2010, Media Matters has either been booked as a guest and/or mentioned on air 26% of the possible broadcast evenings (1 out of every 4 days).
• In 2011, on average, a Media Matters representative appeared on MSNBC at least once per week
• Eric Boehlert has been the most popular Media Matters representative on MSNBC, accounting for 43% of all Media Matters appearances on the cable network
• The Ed Show is the most popular show for Media Matters representatives, accounting for 72 Media Matters guest appearances since 2009^[21]

In another connection, MSNBC and NBC News Presidential Historian Michael Beschloss is married to Afsaneh M. Beschloss, a Ford Foundation Trustee and Media Matters supporter.^[22]

Brock Has Become Wealthy Since Starting Media Matters

Since 2004, Brock’s wealth has grown substantially to the point he was able to afford to purchase, along with his boyfriend and restaurateur James Alefantis, a $1.75 million townhouse in the exclusive Embassy Row section of Washington DC.^[23] This purchase has further fueled the speculation that Brock’s conversion from conservative to liberal activist is more self-serving than anything.

Authorship

Brock is the author of numerous magazine and newspaper articles, and at least four books:

• The Real Anita Hill. Free Press. (1993)
• The Seduction of Hillary Rodham Clinton. (1996)
• Blinded by the Right. The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative. (2002)
• The Republican Noise Machine: Right-Wing Media and How It Corrupts Democracy. (2004)

Education

• University of California, Berkeley - 1985^[24]

External links

• The New Book-Burners: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Teams With David Brock For Fundraising

References

1. ↑ Media Matters' war against Fox
2. ↑ Inside Media Matters: Sources, memos reveal erratic behavior, close coordination with White House and news organizations
3. ↑ Reports: Media Matters head coordinates with White House, builds super PAC
4. ↑ Simon Wiesenthal Center: Time to clean up the discourse
5. ↑ Democrats' 'Brain Trust' Hit by Antisemitism Accusations
6. ↑ Media Matter's MJ Rosenberg tweets, calls Israel PM Netanyahu a "terrorist"
7. ↑ Alan Dershowitz Says Media Matters Could Cost Obama the Election
8. ↑ Reports: Media Matters head coordinates with White House, builds super PAC
9. ↑ Effort for Liberal Balance to G.O.P. Groups Begins
10. ↑ Hillary Clinton Told YearlyKos Convention She Helped Start Media Matters
11. ↑ Soros Donates $1 Million to Media Matters
12. ↑ Fox News: Most Watched Cable News Channel For 39th Consecutive Quarter
13. ↑ How Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes Changed the World
14. ↑ If I Take Down Fox, Is All Forgiven?
15. ↑ Brock announces launch of Equality Matters in support of gay equality
16. ↑ Socarides, Eleveld leaving Equality Matters
17. ↑ Trailing G.O.P. With Cameras, Seeking Gaffes
18. ↑ If I Take Down Fox, Is All Forgiven?
19. ↑ Media Matters Propaganda Watch: The Tax-Exempt Research Department of MSNBC, Martin Bashir Edition
20. ↑ Inside Media Matters: Sources, memos reveal erratic behavior, close coordination with White House and news organizations
21. ↑ Search and analysis on MSNBC's primetime transcripts via Nexis.com
22. ↑ It's Father Versus Son as Morris Beschloss Declares George Soros 'The Most Dangerous Man in America'
23. ↑ Luxury Homes: May 2007, Washingtonian, May 1, 2007
24. ↑ Alumnus David Brock, founder of Media Matters