Welcome to Kevin Martin’s world. A world in which the only possible, rational reason to vote for consolidation is to corruptly do the bidding of the largest media companies, with their campaign contributions and high-powered lobbyists that have greased the wheels of Washington for time immemorial.

There is a simple elegance to all of this. The administration is so corrupt, so completely willing to sacrifice the needs of regular Americans and democratic discourse itself, that virtually no amount of reason, ethics, or rationality is required.

Brace yourself. Today’s vote - if Congress doesn’t overturn it - means more coverage of Paris Hilton’s latest drunken binge and less government and corporate accountability in the U.S. media.

Josh Silver of Free Press, writing for Common Dreams:

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin was joined by his two Republican colleagues in favor of the proposal, while the commission’s two Democrats voted against it.

Martin pushed the vote through despite intense pressure from House and Senate members on Capitol Hill to delay it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071218/media-ownership/

Facing growing criticism of his agenda and tactics, a defiant Kevin J. Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, refused senators’ requests Thursday to delay a vote next week on his plan to loosen restrictions on owning a newspaper and broadcast station in the same city.

Martin endured three hours of aggressive questioning from the Senate Commerce Committee, with members accusing him of rushing to help big media companies at the public’s expense.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/14/fcc-chief-defiant-refu_n_76781.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/10/lone-operator-martin-th_n_76037.html