David Brock

2012-02-20T12:37:30Z

LuKangSung: /* Suspicion Among Democrats */

'''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. <ref>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51949.html Media Matters' war against Fox]</ref> 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.<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/12/inside-media-matters-sources-memos-reveal-erratic-behavior-close-coordination-with-white-house-and-news-organizations/ Inside Media Matters: Sources, memos reveal erratic behavior, close coordination with White House and news organizations]</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/13/reports-media-matters-head-coordinates-with-white-house-builds-super-pac/ Reports: Media Matters head coordinates with White House, builds super PAC]</ref>

Within the 90 page 3-year strategic plan Borck distributed to Media Matters' donor base and potential conributors, the document reveals that the non-profit entity has an enemies list which includes organizations like [[Fox News]], [[Cato Institute]], [[Heritage Foundation]] and several other organizations. The list also targets numerous individuals and executives such as [[Rupert Murdoch]], [[Roger Ailes]], [[Peter Theil]], [[Richard Mellon Scaife]] and more .<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MMFA-2012-full.pdf Media Matters' Strategic Plan]</ref>

Further deviating from its tax exempt status, a recently discovered internal strategy memo from Media Matters Senior Fellow Karl Frisch to David Brock and Eric Burns, suggests that Media Matters "hire private investigators to look into the personal lives of Fox News anchors, hosts, reporters, prominent contributors, senior network and corporate staff,” as well as "look into contracting with a major law firm to study any available legal actions that can be taken against Fox News, from a class action law suit to defamation claims for those wronged by the network. I imagine this would be difficult but the right law firm is bound to find some legal ground for us to take action against the network.”<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/13/media-matters-memo-called-for-hiring-private-investigators-to-look-into-the-personal-lives-of-fox-employees/ Media Matters memo called for hiring private investigators ‘to look into the personal lives’ of Fox employees]</ref>

==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.”"<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/simon-wiesenthal-center-time-to-clean-up-the-discourse/2011/12/13/gIQAThG6rO_blog.html Simon Wiesenthal Center: Time to clean up the discourse]</ref><ref>[http://biggovernment.com/tag/mj-rosenberg/ Democrats' 'Brain Trust' Hit by Antisemitism Accusations]</ref>

In a Twitter post by MJ Rosenberg, he called Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "terrorist".<ref>[http://biggovernment.com/abreitbart/2011/05/20/media-matters-honcho-attacks-israel-aipac-calls-netanyahu-terrorist/ Media Matter's MJ Rosenberg tweets, calls Israel PM Netanyahu a "terrorist"]</ref>

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.<ref>[http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/m-alan_dershowitz_says_media_matters_could_cost_obama_the_election.html Alan Dershowitz Says Media Matters Could Cost Obama the Election]</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/13/reports-media-matters-head-coordinates-with-white-house-builds-super-pac/ Reports: Media Matters head coordinates with White House, builds super PAC]</ref>

==Media Matters and Gun Control==

Media Matters is a staunch supporter of anti-gun legislation over the years and writes frequently on the subject on its website.<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/ MediaMatters.org]</ref> In fact, Media Matters has taken $400,000 in donations from The Joyce Foundation specifically for the purpose "to support a gun and public safety issue initiative"<ref>[http://www2.guidestar.org/ The Joyce Foundation 990 Tax Filing for 2010 - Page 130]</ref> Over the years The [[Joyce Foundation]] has actively supported gun control programs and has donated tens of millions of dollars to numerous anti-gun initiatives.<ref>[http://www.joycefdn.org/content.cfm/program-grants-list-3?rr=1&OrderBy=Amount&OrderAsc=0 Joyce Foundation Program Grants: Gun Violence]</ref> [[President Barack Obama]] served on the board of Joyce Foundation from 1994 to 2002.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/25/obama-years-ago-helped-fund-carbon-program-pushing-congress/]</ref>

Ironically, recent reports have revealed that the Media Matters personal assistant to founder and Chairman David Brock carries a concealed Glock handgun when Brock goes out in public, so as to protect Brock.<ref>[http://hotair.com/archives/2012/02/15/media-matters-took-600k-for-gun-control-while-carrying/ Media Matters took $600K for gun control while carrying?]</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/16/brock-and-glock-armed-men-guarded-media-matters-boss-as-took-400000-gun-control/ Brock and the Glock: Armed men guarded Media Matters boss as he took $400,000 gun control donation]</ref> Washington DC is known as having some of the strictest gun carrying laws in the United States, so carrying a legally concealed weapon within that city would be extremely rare for a private citizen.

==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.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/us/politics/23money.html Effort for Liberal Balance to G.O.P. Groups Begins]</ref> Notwithstanding backing from [[Hillary Clinton]] <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2007/10/01/hillary-clinton-told-yearlykos-convention-she-helped-start-media-matt Hillary Clinton Told YearlyKos Convention She Helped Start Media Matters]</ref>, [[George Soros]] <ref>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/soros-donates-1-million-to-media-matters/ Soros Donates $1 Million to Media Matters]</ref>, wealth hedge fund managers and liberal foundations, he has been unsuccessful. Since Media Matters’ founding in 2004, Fox News Channel’s ratings have soared.<ref>[http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-most-watched-cable-news-channel-for-39-consecutive-quarters/ Fox News: Most Watched Cable News Channel For 39th Consecutive Quarter]</ref>Their revenues have grown dramatically since then as well and Fox News is close to turning a $1 billion profit. <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/DougWead/Wead-Ailes-Murdoch-Fox/2011/11/22/id/418853 How Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes Changed the World]</ref> 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.<ref>[http://nymag.com/news/media/david-brock-media-matters-2011-5/index4.html If I Take Down Fox, Is All Forgiven?]</ref>

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”. <ref>[http://mediamatters.org/press/releases/201012200009 Brock announces launch of Equality Matters in support of gay equality]</ref> Equality Matters launched in late 2010 and is already nearly defunct. <ref>[http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/11/22/socarides-eleveld-leaving-equality-matters/ Socarides, Eleveld leaving Equality Matters]</ref>

==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”. <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/09/us/politics/09trackers.html?pagewanted=all Trailing G.O.P. With Cameras, Seeking Gaffes]</ref> [[President Obama]] and his team continue to harbor 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.<ref>[http://nymag.com/news/media/david-brock-media-matters-2011-5/index4.html If I Take Down Fox, Is All Forgiven?]</ref>

==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.<ref>[http://bigjournalism.com/sright/2011/07/12/media-matters-propaganda-watch-the-tax-exempt-research-department-of-msnbc-martin-bashir-edition/ Media Matters Propaganda Watch: The Tax-Exempt Research Department of MSNBC, Martin Bashir Edition]</ref><ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/12/inside-media-matters-sources-memos-reveal-erratic-behavior-close-coordination-with-white-house-and-news-organizations/ Inside Media Matters: Sources, memos reveal erratic behavior, close coordination with White House and news organizations]</ref>

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<ref>[http://www.nexis.com Search and analysis on MSNBC's primetime transcripts via Nexis.com]</ref>

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.<ref>[http://biggovernment.com/dwohl/2012/01/31/morris-beschloss-george-soros-the-most-dangerous-man-in-america/ It's Father Versus Son as Morris Beschloss Declares George Soros 'The Most Dangerous Man in America']</ref>

==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.<ref>[http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/travel/4229.html Luxury Homes: May 2007, ''Washingtonian'', May 1, 2007]</ref> 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<ref>[http://www.calalumnipride.org/?p=1683 Alumnus David Brock, founder of Media Matters]</ref>

==External links==
*[http://bigjournalism.com/driehl/2012/01/30/the-new-book-burners-kathleen-kennedy-townsend-teams-with-david-brock-for-fundraising/ The New Book-Burners: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Teams With David Brock For Fundraising]

== References ==
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[[category:authors]][[category:liberals]]

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David Brock