Conrad Burns returns iPod; swears off technology
In the last six years, Senator Conrad Burns' campaign has taken $59k from TV/Music/Movie PACs, including $2k from the RIAA and Disney
He's also the 4th-highest recipient of entertainment industry money in Congress. So we started wondering if Burns' campaign has a new policy against accepting contributions from political action committees when they returned our iPod with this note:
Why not?
IPac's contribution is legal. It was submitted with all of the required paperwork. And it was paid for by ordinary Americans who care about balanced copyright and technology policy. We're sending his campaign a letter to clarify their policy on accepting contributions from PACs, and we'll let you know what they say. We hope their answer is that they're swearing off *all* PAC contributions, including the tens of thousands of dollars that they take from the entertainment industry!
It could also be that Senator Burns has sworn off all new technology. His campaign spokesperson had this to say to the Missoula Independent:
The iPod donation, says Klindt, “is the first time we have received something technological” as a donation, adding that “it’s just not a donation that we want” and confirming that while Burns does not presently own an iPod, “if he wants an iPod, he’ll buy one.”
38 Comments:
I believe this action speaks volumes. He takes money from the copyright cartels and nothing from the voters. This guy has got to go.
The more i've started to pay attention to this stuff, the more pissed off I'm getting. I donated today and plan to donate more once I start my new job.
Perhaps they feared that it had been tampered with and didn't feel like spending time/resources to have it checked out? That's how I interpret the message. Try sending them delicious food products and see if you get the same reply. ;-)
If he is concerned about to limit send him a basic MP3 player to get his feet wet. I just bought at FRY'S for under $50.
It's obvious that he wants CASH. What's he going to do with an iPod? He probably doesn't know what it was, let alone how to use it.
He might've kept it if you told him that he could sell it for hundreds of dollars.
just goes to show how congressional votes are paid for, and the fundamental failing of republican democracy.
On the surface this looks like BS - he'll take money from the entertainment industry, but not a PAC representing actual citizens.
But honestly, as mentioned in another comment, what's he going to do with an iPod? He can't use it to purchase goods necessary for his campaign, use it to pay employees, or anything else.
In fact, now that I think about it, sending him an iPod smacks of bait for a red herring. People will get all up in arms about him returning it to IPac accusing him of being bought by the industry, but completely overlook the fact that the iPod is a useless donation.
Why not write him a well researched paper on the problems the entertainment industry is creating and include a cheque when you mail it to him.
How "fundamental" is this failing?Arguably, this government is the most successful form of government this world has ever known.
Is it a flaw? Sure. But "fundamental" in the sense that it can't be fixed? I think not. Efforts are being made to change that part of our system. As much as one would want to decry those efforts, there existence adduces at least some evidence that this flaw can be changed. Further, even if the flaw persists, our country has shown great resilience in fixing the problems created by a "bought" legislature.
Why not write a letter? Because acrions speak louder than words. If the reply was seriously a piece of paper with one sentance typed on it, what makes you think they will take the time to read... anything?
Contributions to a politician must be in a form usable to further the campaign, not something personal for the politician.
Of course he returned it. How can an iPod be legally seen to further a political campaign?
Other than IPac's, of course.
Anyone from Montana can feel free to adress him personally about how his action makes them feel...
http://burns.senate.gov/
well, not to try to defend his actions too much... but i was born and raised from in his state, montana. and while mp3 player sales are on the rise there, montana probably has one of, if not the lowest, percentage people using them. this is mostly due to having one of the lowest (perhaps THE lowest) average salaries across the nation and having a shortage of people in the mp3 players "target demograpic" (gee... i dont know WHY all us youngsters are moving out of state...)
so... take an old (very experienced i guess is more polite) senator, an environment that is isnt concerned with mp3s, and a random gift... and i can completly see why it got returned.
i think you are reading too deep into the gesture. now if you were, for example, to make a gesture by trying to get an mp3 manufacturing plant opened in montana he would be your best buddy.
like i said earlier... dont want to defend his actions too much. he has gotten into trouble in the past for political contributions and slimy money. but i think if you want to pick on senator burns you should probably poke more at that stuff... i mean if you calculate the 56K in contributions over the years he has been in office it comes out to a measly 3K per year... pocket change as far as political contributions are concerned.
If he had accepted it, it would have been like taking a personal bribe. How do they estimate the value? Did you send a receipt of actual cost. What about the cost of filling it. Maybe there's copyrighted music on it to get him in trouble. How much money is he going to have to spend just to figure out what is going on with this one item.
Of course he's going to send it back. Anyone thinking they would do otherwise is just clueless or just looking for a reason to go after this guy.
What a joke
"3K per year... pocket change as far as political contributions are concerned." Thats how much it cost to buy his voice?
I would like to pull that punch a little though because I dont think that's how it works 100% but it is a factor IMHO.
Cheers to iPac for taking this step.
All this shows is that again we have baby boomers trying to decide what technology works in our century. Most of the people can't understand email use and refuse to recieve memos in that format. I have seen it at many office firms, the "cant teach an old dog new tricks" seems to work unless money is involved. Then everyone is ANTI this and that. Guys like this put a bad face on regulation with compromise. I do not have problems paying for my music, but I do have problems with either side refusing compromise.
The iPod won't buy him a nice, new, shiny Mercedes. This guy is wanting cash and could care less about the American people. Its time to clean house of the old regime in Washington. I'm tired of 80 year old men deciding what is right for America. They're so out of touch with modern society that its scary.
Maybe all his jams are in ogg/vorbis.
I dunno. I have to admit, the outrage here doesn't make much sense. If the RIAA bought him a big screen TV and, instead of using it for his campaign, the Senator used it to entertain himself... well, wouldn't that look less like a campaign contribution and more like a bribe? Ditto the iPod. It is hard to imagine how he might use an iPod to benefit his *campaign*.
>>"Why not write him a well researched paper on the problems the entertainment industry is creating and include a cheque when you mail it to him."
Because there are thousands of such papers readily available online, and clearly he either can't read or isn't interested. The point of sending a gift is to show that real live voters (rather than corporations) have an interest in his actions.
Apparatenly, that point is lost on someone this corrupt.
-M
I live in Montana. It's a widely known fact in this state that Conrad Burns gives idiots a bad name.
Adding to the irony, Burns's senate web site has a link to his Podcast: http://burns.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Rss.Podcast
Hey, theDonnybrook -
If you look here:
http://opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?Ind=B02
You'll see that the Entertainment industry has given more to Democrats by FAR.
Please don't confuse the failings of the present Administration with the failings of the party not in power.
If anything, this goes to show that the two party system we're 'blessed' with is an utter failure, as well as a shining example that money goes to where it's deemed most useful. (such as Senators that live in tech-backwards states, who can safely introduce bills that don't favor their constituents, as they don't care.)
If you truly want change, vote for a third party, demand that campaign contributions from any source cease, and deny any affront to the constitution.
Otherwise, we all lose.
On the utility of the contribution, the letter we sent includes sample uses for the campaign (storing contacts, archiving press appearances of the candidate and their opponents, etc.). Part of the idea was to encourage the Senators to experiment with new technologies on their campaign. It's definitely not a typical contribution, but it's definitely a legal one with credible campaign uses.
Hope that helps!
As a Montana voter, I can tell you that, for me, this is just another nail in Burn's political coffin.
If he doesn't want a free iPod, he can send it to me.
Folks;
It would behove you to actually set down & write Mr Burns a personal "HAND WRITTEN" letter that is NOT in the style of a "form" generated letter...I can personally say ths gets far more attention then just even a computer generated type of letter --- Shame that these things like this even take place...i'm from WV & the "mud slinging" ads have officially started this week...."sigh"
< Pissed off Libertarian>
Another crook that got in office looking to make money from companies giving away free money and that doesn't care about common people like me and you. Get rid of this loser now.....
I would have agreed with nebosuke if it weren't for this:
"According to Burns campaign spokesman Jason Klindt, “It has arrived, and we have already put it back in the mail.” The iPod donation, says Klindt, “is the first time we have received something technological” as a donation, adding that “it’s just not a donation that we want” and confirming that while Burns does not presently own an iPod, “if he wants an iPod, he’ll buy one.”"
I'm completely shocked at the audacity and arrogance displayed.
Well, there are several things that Burns could do with an iPod that will help him in his campaign.
-- store his contacts and calendar
-- listen/view Podcasts (both audio and video) regarding current events and political commentary.
-- listen to audiobooks re politics, international relations and history.
Honestly I fully believe in what IPac is trying to do but its obvious how our law makers make decisions. They sit around with one another and soak up corporate funds. These people are not us. They are not average people. They are people who are held above the rest and have forgotten. Some of them are wealthy enough to have never seen the people they sell down the river. Others have sold themselves to forget. I love this country but I have no faith in this governement. Democrat/Republican its all the same garbage to me. They just choose a different position to screw you in. Good luck.
The ironie here is that this campaign would have remained very much under the surface (of worldwide(!) media attention) if this Senator hadn't decided to return the gift....
I don't live in the US but I am a US citizen. Just the idea of paying some party official to get your business done is the most idiotic thing you could do. Basically the US government is the most corrupt power in the world.
You can cal it legal bribery! It's legal because everyone's doing it.
But I do understand why he did not take the iPod. You can't pay your employee's with iPods.
But still, the fact that you have to pay to get things done in government sickens me.
Wow, really shows their stripes this way, eh? Welcomes $$$ from RIAA, but blows of an iPod. Nuts. What an awesome idea to send the iPods tho'...
ill bet his kids or grandkids or some aide of his is sad he didnt accept it, make iPac happy and give it to them.
Typical congressional sleezbag ....
I don't think he did anything wrong. It is hardly a useful campaign contribution. Yes, he could store contacts and listen to podcasts/audiobooks, but most people in the world, do not know how to do that, and don't have a lot of interest in it. He can write down contracts, or pay an aide to do so while he campaigns. He can read a book. You're expecting him to be technologically inclined, which does not represent the majority of this country, or any country. I would think it would be even less common in Montana. He gets money from the RIAA, which he can use to run his campaign. I'm sure he would take money from IPac.
Couple of things about burns.
1 - If I heard correctly he's on his way out. Not many in Montana are behind him due to some recent scandal that he's been involved in.
2 - There's a guy out of Bigfork that is rumored to be running against him. Bob Keenan. Keenan should be a supporter of technology as he used to own part of a technology company (shall rename nameless for the time being).
The real problem here is not whether he wants cash or ipods or whatever.
Its that he is passing laws that effect industries such as the consumer market, without actually having used said products.
How can he know what is good and bad in new law wihtout using the gear ?????
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