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Stevens' Office: CBS "Distorts" Facts on Pork
CBS news highlighted some of Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) greatest pork hits this weekend-- including $1 million to promote salmon baby food and $500,000 to paint a jet like a flying fish.
The airplane project was sponsored by the Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board, a non-profit set up by Stevens and originally run by his son and former aide. The board hands out tens of millions in grants to promote the Alaska seafood industry.
Unsurprisingly, Stevens wasn't happy with the story. A spokesman told an Alaska CBS affiliate that they "in some cases actually distorted" facts:
Stevens' press secretary, Aaron Saunders, tells KTVA-CBS 11 News the senator is, "dismayed CBS ignored the facts."" ...we never said the salmon baby food project was designed to promote Alaska salmon. Furthermore, we emphasized that these funds were not allocated for the development of salmon-flavored baby foods, as it appeared in the story. It was to be used to explore the many health benefits of omega 3s, which certainly could help children across America, not just in Alaska," [Saunders said].
Stevens' office apparently had no comment on the half million for the Alaska Airlines salmon paint job.
Guys . . . Ya think Stevens is miffed that his industry is coming to light . . . ACTUALLY, Stevens is P.O.'d that we have only discussed a mere fraction of his good works . . .
October 15, 2007 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Turn on the lights and watch the cockroaches scurry!
October 15, 2007 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like something's fishy up there in Alaska.
Something's in the air.
October 15, 2007 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank goodness someone is on the case concerning the health benefits of Omega-3s. Next: milk - good or bad?
Anyway, fish is good if you don't mind a little mercury.
October 15, 2007 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Oh wait, did I say Omega 3's? I meant fish EYES...those are supposed to be good for you or something. Nothing to do with salmon itself though, not at all."
October 15, 2007 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
At least Pacific wild salmon is better than Chinese zinc/cadmium feedstock Atlantic salmon from Norway. Eating one of those is like smoking a pack of cigarettes.
Look on the bright side.
PS there are plenty of safe sources of omega 3s, like walnuts and flax, which our bodies can use to make all long chain omega 3s they need. No need to consume a rapidly depleting, poisonous-to-humans resource.
October 15, 2007 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dismay. An emotion Senator Stevens had better get used to.
October 15, 2007 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I imagine that comparing his potential prison sentence to his potential life-span causes him dismay too.
October 15, 2007 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sen. Stevens aide Barbara Flanders? Why does she make $150,000 doing Sen Stevens personal finances? 3 years of her salary is almost one salmon jet paint job
CBS is just now doing a story on this?
this could be told on thousands of earkmarks in Alaska
local media investigation? NOT
October 15, 2007 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Uh, actually the office did comment on the ASFMB's expenditure on the marketing scheme. Actually before, and after, the story aired.
You see those two links at the bottom of the story that you linked to? You know, the ones that say "Senator Ted Stevens' Response Prior to the Airing of the Story" and "Senator Ted Stevens' Response After Airing of the Story"
Try clicking on them.
It seems that TPM is heavy on the snark and short on journalism.
October 15, 2007 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
"No need to consume a rapidly depleting, poisonous-to-humans resource."
Ahem. Who said wild Alaska salmon is rapidly depleting or poisonous to humans? Certainly not any fisheries biologist.
Wild Alaska salmon is quite abundant. The runs are huge and healthy. This is why environmental organizations have endorsed Alaska salmon management.
Wild Alaska salmon, also, is also quite clean.
There are endangered or depleted salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest, but they are NOT in Alaska.
A little off-topic, but it's an important point.
October 15, 2007 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Flanders made $22,997.32 every 6 months to $76,493.32 every 6 months in just 4 years
223% Raise in 4 years!
http://www.legistorm.com/person/Barbara_Smyers_Flanders/7010.html
what did she do for that? what exactly is her job
October 15, 2007 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Compare Sen. Stevens staffers salaries
Christine Kurth who travel the most of Sen. Stevens staffers (http://www.legistorm.com/trip/traveler/Christine_D_Kurth/219.html) and is a lawyer
Christine makes $80,733 every 6 months
but started at $61,326
31% Raise in 4 years
http://www.legistorm.com/person/Christine_D_Kurth/7816.html
why is this
October 15, 2007 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sen. Stevens shouldn't run for reelection. The man is in his eighties. He is under investigation for corruption. His son is under investigation too. He should exit gracefully while he still can. Alaska needs honest politicians. Murkowski, Stevens and Young need to go. Young is caught up in the same investigation as Stevens and Murkowski's father is being investigated for his ties to Veco too. And why should the daughter be punished for the actions of the father? Because the father was the one who appointed her to his old Senate seat in the first place. If she thinks it's okay to benefit from nepotism, than she obviously doesn't understand what the word "corruption" means. We need to get rid of all of them. The sooner the better.
October 18, 2007 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink