Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Bill Moyers

 
Bill Moyers
HYPOCRITE
"True believers in the god of the market would leave us to the ruthless cruelty of unfettered monopolistic capital where even the law of the jungle breaks down."

-- Bill Moyers, Keynote speech to the Environmental Grantmakers Association, October 16, 2001

Complains against capitalism and fossil fuels
while his foundation, the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy, owns millions worth of investments in oil, natural gas, and coal firms.
BAD BOY
Pays activists to generate bad stories about corporations, then brings them on his PBS television shows to denounce the targets - but doesn't admit giving the activists big grants to do the dirty work.
Pays activists to generate good stories about his political preferences, then brings them on his PBS television shows to praise his preferences - but doesn't admit they're his preferences or that he gave the activists big grants to tart things up for him.

Bill Moyers, his son John, and their moneyed sidekicks, the Schumann brothers, hate the free market with intemperate ferocity, as the quote above suggests. They spend millions inherited from an IBM founder and a president of the General Motors Acceptance Corporation to tear down America's free market economy. They have their hands in many pies. Here are some.

Triple roles: journalist, advocate, financier

Bill Moyers:
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), The money, the message, and the messenger. Conflict of interest?
The Florence and John Schumann Foundation,
renamed The Schumann Center for Media and Democracy
President (part time, 1998 salary $100,043, benefits $4,626. 2007 salary $25,100)
Former board of directors member, George Soros' Open Society Institute.

Bill Moyers is mapped on Muckety.

Bill's background: was Deputy Director of the Peace Corps in the Kennedy Administration and Special Assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1963-1967. He was a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation for 12 years, and currently serves as president of The Florence and John Schumann Foundation.
Bill's tactics: Bill Moyers pays advocates to come up with an anti-corporate, anti-capitalist message, then reports the totally biased outcome on PBS television as unbiased fact without mentioning his role in creating the fiction.
For example:

Bill's message:
On March 26, 2001, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations across the country aired a 90-minute investigative report on the chemical industry titled "Trade Secrets: A Moyers Report."
It came with a 30-minute panel discussion afterward. The report hit the chemical industry. It portrayed them as having engaged decades ago in a cold, calculated cover-up of deadly health effects linked to certain chemicals, resulting in death and illness for many workers. In other words, the program implied that the chemical industry was guilty of premeditated murder of its own employees.

Bill's money: For the post-show panel, Moyers chose Kenneth A. Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a rabidly anti-capitalist group funded by big foundations, including Moyers' Florence and John Schumann Foundation. Moyers acknowledged that he had given a "small grant" to EWG (In fact it was four grants, $225,000 in 1989, $35,000 and $50,000 in 1995, and $15,000 in 1999, for a total of $325,000 - a third of a million isn't "small" to most of us).
Moyers also had
Dr. Phil Landrigan, a pediatrician and chairman of preventive medicine from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. In his on-air introduction of Landrigan, Moyers failed to mention that the doctor is also a long-time activist with Physicians for Social Responsibility, an anti-corporate advocacy group.
Both Cook and Landrigan
had advance knowledge of the show's subject matter.
The chemical industry was represented by two men who had no advance knowledge of the show's contents.

Bill the messenger: He let the chemical guys comment on how he beat them up. To Bill, that's fair.

Bill's faked naïveté:
Bill Moyers pays advocates to come up with a politically loaded message that he favors, then invites them to appear on his PBS television shows so he can pretend to be interviewing them, when he not only gave the guest money, but also specified in the grant description what the message would favor.
For example:
Bill's rigged "interview:" In 1994, when campaign finance reform was a hot political topic, Washington activist Ellen Miller appeared on Bill Moyers’ Journal in a segment titled, "Money Talks."
Moyers wanted a government-funded campaign law, but a simple ban on big political donations was winning in Congress. So he invited Miller, a government-funding advocate, to give her viewpoint.
D
uring the show, Moyers fed Miller softball questions that revealed her depth of knowledge of the issue, elicited intelligent answers and displayed her activism favorably, all the while pretending he didn't know what she would say.
He had good reason to know in advance exactly what she would say: he paid her to say it.
Moyers introduced her by saying, "Her Center for Responsive Politics is a nonpartisan group that tracks the money trail through the political jungle of Washington."
He did not say, "I gave her Center $800,000 to favor government-funded election campaigns through my position as president of the Schumann Foundation, and you'll never be able to trace it through the money jungle of Washington."
And this guy wanted money OUT of politics?
Not all money talks.

Then there's the Moyers fossil fuel hypocrisy.
For example:

Bill's
talk: "The single most important thing environmentalists can do to ensure America's national security is to fight to reduce our nation's dependence on oil, whether imported or domestic." Bill Moyers, EGA Keynote
Bill's walk:
The Schumann Foundation gets the money for its environmental grants in large part from investments in oil and gas companies, according to its most recent available tax returns:
  • 2000 shares of British Petroleum;
  • 5,000 shares Columbia Gas Systems;
  • 4,200 shares Conoco, Inc.;
  • 3,900 shares Keyspan Energy (natural gas distribution);
  • 10,000 shares Noble Affiliates (oil & gas exploration and development);
  • 10,200 shares Pioneer Natural Resource Company (oil & gas exploration and development);
  • 10,000 shares Royal Dutch Petroleum Company (Royal Dutch / Shell Oil holding company);
  • 10,000 shares Shell Transportation and Trading Company (another Royal Dutch / Shell Oil holding company); plus
  • 12,500 shares of Ford Motor Company.
Message? The single most important thing Bill Moyers can do is get rich from our nation's dependence on oil, whether imported or domestic.
Son of Bill
John Moyers:

The Florence and John Schumann Foundation, Executive Director (salary $85,000, benefits $22,228)
The Florence Fund, Executive Director
TomPaine.com (website project of Florence Fund)

"TomPaine.com is a project of The Florence Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation based in Washington, D.C. We are funded by foundations and individual donors, and we take no corporate or union funding. Nor do we accept advertising -- that gives us editorial independence, and it gives you, our reader, freedom from annoying banner advertising. Our principle funding comes from the Florence and John Schumann Foundation, a major supporter of other independent media efforts, including National Public Radio, the Columbia Journalism Review, public TV's "Frontline" and "POV" documentary series, and The American Prospect magazine."
TomPaine.com may be independent from you and me, but it's not independent from Bill Moyers' money or his opinions.

In 2004, the Florence Fund and TomPaine.com were merged with Robert Borosage's Institute for America's Future.
Friends of Bill
W. Ford Schumann
Robert Schumann
Heirs of the IBM and General Motors Acceptance Corporation money
The Florence and John Schumann Foundation, both brothers are officers
The Florence Fund, both brothers are directors
W. Ford Schumann is principal of the W. Ford Schumann Foundation, trustee of the Aspen Music Festival and School.
Bucks for Bill

Bill got bucks from 12 foundations, funneled through 13 recipients.

Bill's Donors:
1. Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Inc.; 2. The Kohlberg Foundation, Inc.; 3. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; 4. Charles H. Revson Foundation, Inc.; 5. The Nathan Cummings Foundation, Inc.; 6. The Annie E. Casey Foundation; 7. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation; 8. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; 9. The Joyce Foundation; 10. The California Wellness Foundation; 11. The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation; 12. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

Recipients That Pass Bucks to Bill:
1. W N E T Channel 13, NYC, NY; 2. Educational Broadcasting Corporation, NYC, NY; 3. American Library Association, Chicago, IL; 4. Genesis Project, NYC, NY; 5. Public Affairs Television, NYC, NY; 6. Jewish Media Fund, NYC, NY; 7. Institute for Christian Jewish Studies, Baltimore, MD; 8. Educational Broadcasting Corporation. WNET Channel 13, NYC, NY; 9. Fetzer Institute, Kalamazoo, MI; 10. Communications Consortium Media Center. Media Center, DC; 11. MDC, Chapel Hill, NC; 12. ETV Endowment of South Carolina, Spartanburg, SC; 13. Chicago Educational Television Association, Chicago, IL.
Grants Bill got:

Record 1
FOUNDATION NAME: Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge Foundation, Inc.
RECIPIENT: W N E T Channel 13, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For teacher's guide and Web site to accompany PBS series Fooling With Words, with Bill Moyers, based on 1998 Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival
AMOUNT: $150,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1999
Record 2
FOUNDATION NAME: The Kohlberg Foundation, Inc.
RECIPIENT: Educational Broadcasting Corporation, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For Bill Moyers-On Our Own Terms
AMOUNT: $500,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1998 
Record 3
FOUNDATION NAME: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
RECIPIENT: American Library Association, Chicago, IL
ABSTRACT: For public education programs in conjunction with PBS Series, On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying in America
AMOUNT: $170,313   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1999
DURATION: 1.25-year grant
Record 4
FOUNDATION NAME: The Nathan Cummings Foundation, Inc. (The Sara Lee foods fortune)
RECIPIENT: Educational Broadcasting Corporation, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: To conduct research for television series, Living with Dying, with Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $40,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1997
Record 5
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles H. Revson Foundation, Inc.
RECIPIENT: Genesis Project, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For various nonprofit organizations to create educational materials and education programs in conjunction with the series, Genesis: A Living Conversation, with Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $150,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1996
Record 6
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles H. Revson Foundation, Inc.

RECIPIENT: Genesis Project, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For various nonprofit organizations to create educational materials and education programs in conjunction with the series, Genesis: A Living Conversation, with Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $34,500   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1996
Record 7
FOUNDATION NAME: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
RECIPIENT: Public Affairs Television, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For research and development of Bill Moyers television special on South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission
AMOUNT: $40,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1997
Record 8
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles H. Revson Foundation, Inc.
RECIPIENT: Public Affairs Television, NYC, NY
RECIPIENT TYPE: Television (A32); Public affairs (W99)
ABSTRACT: To complete film production and development of educational materials for public television series based on stories in the Book of Genesis, with Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $50,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1995
Record 9
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles H. Revson Foundation, Inc.
RECIPIENT: Jewish Media Fund, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For initial development phases of educational and outreach activities for Genesis series with Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $18,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1995
Record 10
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles H. Revson Foundation, Inc.
RECIPIENT: Institute for Christian Jewish Studies, Baltimore, MD
ABSTRACT: To develop model for interfaith and interracial discussion groups in conjunction with Genesis series with Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $10,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1995
Record 11
FOUNDATION NAME: The Joyce Foundation
RECIPIENT: Educational Broadcasting Corporation. WNET Channel 13, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For What Can We Do About Violence, program by Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $150,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1994
Record 12
FOUNDATION NAME: The California Wellness Foundation
RECIPIENT: Public Affairs Television, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For Bill Moyers production, Overcoming Youth Violence, four-hour introduction to The National Public Television Campaign to Combat Youth Violence
AMOUNT: $250,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1994
Record 13
FOUNDATION NAME: The Annie E. Casey Foundation
RECIPIENT: Educational Broadcasting Corporation, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For production and promotion of Families First with Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $35,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1992
Record 14
FOUNDATION NAME: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
RECIPIENT: Public Affairs Television, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For cultural and public affairs productions of Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $1,500,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1992
DURATION: 3-year grant
Record 15
FOUNDATION NAME: The Nathan Cummings Foundation, Inc.
RECIPIENT: Fetzer Institute, Kalamazoo, MI
ABSTRACT: For Healing and the Mind, with Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $250,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1990
Record 16
FOUNDATION NAME: The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
RECIPIENT: Communications Consortium Media Center. Media Center, DC
ABSTRACT: For staff to work with grantees to develop communications strategies in states where family preservation programs are well-established by focusing national media attention on initiatives and by building additional communications activities around Bill Moyers' documentary on family preservation
AMOUNT: $175,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1991
DURATION: 1 1/2-year grant
Record 17
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (General Motors money)
RECIPIENT: MDC, Chapel Hill, NC
ABSTRACT: For outreach work related to documentary All Our Children with Bill Moyers and subsequent teleconferences
AMOUNT: $20,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1991
Record 18
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
RECIPIENT: ETV Endowment of South Carolina, Spartanburg, SC
ABSTRACT: For additional promotional and production costs for Bill Moyers' documentary, All Our Children
AMOUNT: $75,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1991DURATION: 1 1/4-year grant
Record 19
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
RECIPIENT: ETV Endowment of South Carolina, Spartanburg, SC
ABSTRACT: For reprinting and distributing additional promotional materials and technical assistance guides in support of repeat telecasting of Bill Moyers All Our Children documentary
AMOUNT: $35,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1991
Record 20
FOUNDATION NAME: Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Inc.
RECIPIENT: W N E T Channel 13, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: To produce teacher education guide for high schools and colleges to accompany Moyers: The Power of the Word, six-part series on contemporary poetry inspired by Dodge Foundation's biennial Poetry Festival at Waterloo Village
AMOUNT: $80,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1989
Record 21
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
RECIPIENT: MDC, Chapel Hill, NC
ABSTRACT: For outreach activities related to Mott-funded documentary on at-risk youth being produced by Bill Moyers for airing in early 1991 on national public television network
AMOUNT: $99,221   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1990
Record 22
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
RECIPIENT: ETV Endowment of South Carolina, Spartanburg, SC
ABSTRACT: For outreach programs and activities related to Mott-funded documentary on at-risk youth produced by Bill Moyers for airing in early 991 on national public television network
AMOUNT: $300,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1990
Record 23
FOUNDATION NAME: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
RECIPIENT: Educational Broadcasting Corporation, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For production of programs by Bill Moyers for WNET, Channel 13
AMOUNT: $625,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1989
DURATION: 3-year grant
Record 24
FOUNDATION NAME: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
RECIPIENT: Educational Broadcasting Corporation, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For challenge grant for weekly production of The World of Ideas, under direction of Bill Moyers, for WNET, Channel 13
AMOUNT: $1,875,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1989
DURATION: 3-year grant
Record 25
FOUNDATION NAME: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
RECIPIENT: Chicago Educational Television Association, Chicago, IL
ABSTRACT: For weekly production of The World of Ideas, under direction of Bill Moyers
AMOUNT: $1,875,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1989
DURATION: 3-year grant
Record 26
FOUNDATION NAME: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
RECIPIENT: Chicago Educational Television Association, Chicago, IL
ABSTRACT: For production of programs produced by Bill Moyers for WTTW, Channel 11
AMOUNT: $625,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1989
DURATION: 3-year grant
Record 27
FOUNDATION NAME: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
RECIPIENT: Educational Broadcasting Corporation, NYC, NY
ABSTRACT: For production costs of 90-minute documentary by Bill Moyers building upon findings of 1988 Mott-sponsored report, America's Shame, America's Hope: Twelve Million Youth At Risk
AMOUNT: $850,000   YEAR AUTHORIZED: 1989

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