Report: Obama Admin Pressured General to Support Dem Donor’s Broadband Project
- Posted on September 16, 2011 at 9:19am by
Billy Hallowell
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The Obama administration is facing new scrutiny amid charges that Gen. William Shelton, head of the Air Force Space Command, was pressured to change Congressional testimony to favor a large company with financial ties to Democrats.
According to Fox News, Shelton told House members in a classified briefing this month that he was encouraged to change his prepared congressional testimony to favor LightSquared, a satellite and broadband communications company. Interestingly, the LightSquared is funded by Philip Falcone, a major Democratic donor.
The Daily Beast has more:
According to officials familiar with the situation, Shelton’s prepared testimony was leaked in advance to the company. And the White House asked the general to alter the testimony to add two points: that the general supported the White House policy to add more broadband for commercial use; and that the Pentagon would try to resolve the questions around LightSquared with testing in just 90 days.
LightSquared is apparently planning to build a new, 4G phone network that has many in government concerned. Apparently, the new technology is so powerful that it would severely impede the military’s high-precision GPS receiver systems (the satellite network that is relied upon by both the military and private industry).
Fox reports that the technology could be five billion times stronger than the military’s GPS system. A source explained the scenario as follows:
“Imagine trying to have a telephone conversation while your neighbors are hosting a rock concert. That’s the situation the military is facing.”
The Washington Post provides even more context:
At issue is a waiver granted by the FCC in January that allows LightSquared to operate mass-market cellphones on its network. Competitors, the GPS industry and some federal agencies warned that LightSquared’s devices would interfere with signals for GPS receivers used by everyone from the military to soccer moms for navigation.
Among those concerned is Shelton, who allegedly told House members that the Obama administration wanted him to say that these interference problems could be avoided. In the end, he refused to make such a claim. A House Armed Services Committee staff member confirmed that Shelton was “being asked to say things he didn’t agree with.” It’s unclear at this point who in the White House pressured him.
An interview with Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) corroborates these claims. “There was an attempt to influence the text of the testimony and to engage LightSquared in the process in order to bias his testimony,” he said. “The only people who were involved in the process in preparation for the hearing included the Department of Defense, the White House, and the Office Management and Budget.”
LightSquared CEO Sanjiv Ahuja, though, claims that the company isn’t using politics to impede the regulatory process. He explains that his company’s main concern is expanding broadband access. Mail Online writes:
The White House confirmed it had suggested changes to the testimony but insisted this was routine and not influenced by politics.
Mr Ahuja has given just over $30,000 to both the Democratic and Republican parties in the last two years, reported the Daily Beast.
Mr Falcone and his wife put more than $60,000 in 2009 towards the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Watch Ahuja briefly discuss the controversy:
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Comments (67)
fcbs46
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:41pmFor the non technical people out there. Yes this tech can live side by side with GPS it has been tested many times and will work. Will there be instances of inference?
Report Post »Technically I doubt it. Talking to some engineers that I know they say the probability (if implemented properly) is very small.
A few years ago a technology was demonstrated that included five (yes FIVE) HD streams going through a device at the same time (very low power) through walls and around corners and arriving at the players all in 1080P shape. This was shelved due to polities of corporations, Intel for one, and has never been for used in the public’s eye.
How many of you out there would like to have a device that you could put on 1080p broadcasts in your own home without interference with any of your neighbors?
There are many technologies out there that could be great for the public and are shelved for weird reasons. Is this a Dem. political push because of donations? I don’t know, but I do know that tech. things get funny treatment and the public get’s the shaft.
68Truthseeker
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:30pmWayne Madsen Discusses Obama’s Indonesian Citizenship and Fraudulent CT. SS# – 9/15/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvGLo8ZCklY
Report Post »eestroud
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:55pm68truthseeker,
Report Post »Enough with the Birther stuff. It makes no differences to this presidency. It is not going to change a thing, nor is it going to nullify the election. NO ONE who has the power to enforce our laws, will do so…… We have one more year of this person, then he will not be reelected, by the grace of god….
abbygirl1994
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:21pmThis General is NOT a honorable man.. he needs to retire ASAP.. I don’t want a liar, one who easily gives into evil.. George Washington he’s not! If a man cannot stand up and be held accountable he is a traitor to this country.. So General Shelton is a traitor to the American People!
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:30pmAbbygirl1994- Did you read the entire article? No where does it say that the General lied. He refused to do so. He told the truth about being pressured into lying & refused to do so. The true liar & traitor who cannot be trusted is Obama. You are attacking a man of honor while ignoring the true culprit.
Report Post »JQCitizen
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:54pmDidn’t you read that he refused to change his testimony? What is dishonorable about that?
The dishonorable ones in this and every case in these times is this ROTTEN ADMINISTRATION!!!
TOTAL DISPICABLE CORRUPTION, with such daring that you have to be concerned that they don’t fear an election, because they plan to DISRUPT IT, or have their minnions do so.
Report Post »nana1212
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 9:41pmABBYGIRL1994…You had better read EACH and every sentence of the article TWICE. Maybe then you’ll comprehend what was said! Retract your statement before we all come down on you.
Report Post »localwildlife
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 7:38am@ Abbygirl1994 : Please, make this note to yourself : “If I read only the headline, I shall abstain from making uninformed and annoying comments.”
Report Post »As the quote goes : “Better keep quiet and pass for a fool than make a statement and remove all doubts.” (author ?)
eestroud
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 12:00amABBYGIRL1994,
How has this General discraced himself and the position he holds. Because he refused to change his statement, at the request of the President. THIS IS A MAN OF HONOR who holds true to his convictions and does the right thing, for his country and the men and women who serve under him…..
Report Post »justquitsmoking
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 9:02amAbby….. ya big dummy.
Report Post »redbone007
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:56amSanjiv Ahuja is currently Chairman and CEO of LightSquared[1] a company that is developing a wholesale-only nationwide 4G LTE Long Term Evolution wireless broadband communications network integrated with satellite coverage.[2] The company is the result of Harbinger Capital Partners acquisition in March, 2010 of satellite operator SkyTerra Communications.[3] Sanjiv partnered with Harbinger Capital Partners Chief Executive Officer Philip A. Falcone in creating LightSquared.[4]
Sanjiv is also founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Augere,[5] a company formed in 2007 with a vision to provide broadband access for all.[6] Augere is currently providing wireless broadband internet services in Bangladesh and Pakistan under the brand name Qubee.[7] As well, Sanjiv is the founder and Chairman of Eaton Telecom, which is building passive telecom infrastructure throughout Africa.[8]
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:53amSomething similar happened in the 1990′s under Clinton. A big contributor who was CEO of Loral corporation got permission (despite DOD objections) to launch satellites on Chinese launch vehicles. The technology was not safeguarded (surprise, surprise!) and the Chinese got MIRV (Multiple Intependently-targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology for their ICBMs — and they got it for free.
Report Post »bobbiejean
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 12:56am@Chuck Stein What happened to the CEO who ”gifted” this technology to the Chinese?
Report Post »redbone007
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:46amThis admin did not care about our national security or airline security only their donor friends. This broadband project is a threat to our military security and FAA system.
All they can said, we gave money to both republican and democrat party, as a cover for the democratic party to do their deals.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:33am“The White House confirmed it had suggested changes to the testimony but insisted this was routine and not influenced by politics.”
Report Post »Well of course not, Barry is above all the petty politics…remember?
turkey13
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:44am“Politicians are the same all over. They promis to build a bridge even where there is no river.” Nikita Khrushchev
Report Post »bobbiejean
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 1:07am@Gonzo Well, this is the most ”transparent” administration we’ve ever had, isn’t it? That’s what the
Report Post »man said it would be. Of course he wouldn’t ”meddle.” Everyone would know about it! Unless, there
is a good ”scrubber.” I think our little scrubber must be mighty tired at this point.
capecodsully
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:27amSpring 2010 I put an Obama bumper sticker on my teuck. I had a hard time deciding if I wanted it to say CORRUPTION or INCOMPETENCE. Seems now I mad the right decision going with CORRUPTION. Even I’m shocked at how bad this guy and his administration are.
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:26amImpeach him and save the taxpayers now!
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:26amThe White House suggested that it “was ROUTINE” to ask people to alter their Congressional testimony?
REALLY???
Oh, it’s no big deal, we do it all the time.
Yeah? Kind of like stealing an apple off the fruit stand each morning?
It’s no big deal because you do it all the time?
THAT’S YOUR DEFENSE?
wow
un-BE-freakin-LIEVABLE !
Report Post ».
.
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starman70
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:53amRemember, this administration is being led by Chicago politicians, argueably the most corrupt in the nation.
Secondly, those who are not politicians are from acedemia. They have never worked at a job which created anything. All they ever have done is work and teach in the ivied halls of universities and colleges where moral rectitude and true ethical behavior anr never taught. In fact, Moral rectitude and ethical behavior are frowned upon in favor of “The end justifies the means”.
What else could you EVER expect from the BHO administration.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:22amI just see the infrastructure for 1984 continually growing, year after year under one guise or another… but the end result is the same.
NoBama 2012
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:22amSorry, I meant to add the link:
Report Post »http://michellemalkin.com/2011/09/16/we-need-a-green-energy-loan-moratorium-plus-the-optics-of-a-solyndra-default-will-be-bad/
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:20amMichelle Malkin on Hannity yesterday said the same thing about Solyndra. Obama was having visits from Solyndra and pressuring the (Budget office?) to give Solyndra 500 Million in stimulus money, even after being told that it was guaranteed that they would fail. Solyndra was also a big Obama supporter and their biggest investor was Obama’s money bundler.
Report Post »Obama is one crooked SOB and needs to be put away for life if this is all true.
Dismayed Veteran
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:15amBravo for General Shelton. While he is Air Force, he held true to the US Military Academy, West Point, NY. Duty, Honor Country.
Report Post »Falcon05dad
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:55amAs a 1976 Air Force Academy grad, General Shelton lived up to the USAFA creed “Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do”. He’s a fine officer.
Report Post »RR_indy
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:11amthe size and scope of #Lightsquared puts SOLYNDRA in penny ante league. Private PILOTS are the ONES that caused FCC to conduct ANY TESTING!!!!!!
Report Post »http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/LightSquared_GPS_Interference_Reported_204668-1.html
Nauss
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:08amIt’s so obvious that this government that we called USA is corrupt. Disgusting. The American people who believe in freedom is what is keeping this country together, if it weren’t for us, we would turn nto a thrd world country.
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:23amThis is the most corrupt administration in history. obama better start preparing his pardon list he and his minions are going to need it . I hope the incoming President’s AG dedicates several floors of the Justice Dept. to prosecuting everyone of these criminals up to and including obama if possible. These commies make Watergate look like a quaint little nothing from yesteryear.
Report Post »MBA
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:08amanything proposed and supported by this communist and antiAmerican administration has to be corrupt and just plain bad for this country. When is Congress and the Senate going to man up and start charging these criminals as deserved? start with the lying obamy piece of crap and work through the entire democratic party. Geez. If the ordinary US citizen pulled any of this crap he or she would be slapped in jail and forced to pay restitution immediatley. Time to put a stop to political corruption at the USA’s expense and reputation.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 10:53amOnce the integrity of the military is compromised it won’t be long afterwards that more chaos will follow.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:01amNot sure if that has happened yet. There has been a lot of news about how DoD and the Admin disagree…but in the end the agencies are subordinate to the President…so it is all about OBOZO…people are coming forward and telling the truth is a good thang.
It takes time to take down a president, more so for Obama for the obvious reasons. The solargate one is going to eat his lunch big time. JIMHO
Report Post »Cruzan
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:48pmSounds more like pay-to-play, only this time WE are the ones paying, and the companies involved use their tax dollar funded mney to make rather nice donations to Obama.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 10:49amThe good news is that the general is telling the truth. Encouraged is a polite word for, my way or the highway baby. He can now retire, write a book and do a movie.
Report Post »TxMadMac
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 10:43amWhen the pig is greased and you can’t get ahold of him, go to plan B
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 10:41amobama is starting to topple, just like the statue of saddam in his city park. timberrrrrrrr!
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 10:59amPeople as far away as Missouri are being warned of the potential earthquake that may happen if they succeed in toppling Michele obama.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:25pmMooschelle’s fall is devastating. The earthquake caused by the falling of her immense bulk will indeed cause massive damage. However, scientist say that the real problem will be ‘where her face will hit the earth’. That unfortunate place will experience a century of scorched, desert like conditions, and basically a sterile landscape where nothing will grow for 400 miles around the spot where her face touches the ground. God help those people.
Report Post »localwildlife
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 7:51am@ TheGreatCarnac + I.Gaspar : Tisk, tisk tisk… :o)
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 10:38amThis makes my head spin……………………….so much crap going on with this Administration. Everyday it’s something else. 2012,,,,,,,,,,,,tic tock, tic tock.
Report Post »team1blazer
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 10:30amMore corruption from the most corrupt, anti-America, anti-capitalist administration ever. 2012 can not get here fast enough. I pray that we still have a country left to fight for in 14 months.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 10:29amCrone capitalism, knock me over with a feather.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 10:27amAh the carpet runners are many,and the scandals are only just beginning to come to light.Bravo General for exposing the corruption and cronyism.
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