Paul Shumaker's loyalties, outside of that to his own pocket, are often hard to ascertain.

As it has come out that Shumaker was the one involved in negotiating Burr's climbdown from going along with replacing the US Attorney investigating corruption allegations swirling around former Governor Easley.  A pliable Democrat replacement would have looked for every opportunity to sweep it under the rug.  This strongly suggests that he was in the thick on all policy decisions in Burr's office on the US Attorney replacement issue.  He is currently Burr's chief political consultant.

In 2006, as others have pointed out on TAP, Shumaker together with  disgraced former lobbyist Don Beason (he of the huge no-interest loan to Speaker Black) were the chief spear carriers in now imprisoned former Speaker Black's efforts to thwart use of mounting evidence of Black's corruption by GOP campaigns in the 2006 legislative elections.  If used effectively, the corruption issue could have well overturned Democrat majorities in both house of the legislature.  It was probably the most powerful weapon in the GOP's issues arsenal in recent times.  Beason and Shumaker, it seems, told GOP legislative and party leaders that if the GOP used that issue, then a significant list of major PAC's would cut off all contributions to GOP candidates.  Both Beason and Shumaker, both of whom worked in the Martin admiinistration, are registered Republicans but are major RINO's. It is unknown if they have actually lined up those PAC's to do that or if this was just a bluff.  Because the GOP had weaklings in both major party and major legislative positions, these ''leaders'' caved and the GOP was sandbagged on using this nuclear weapon of a political issue.  Black and the Democrat establishment's chestnuts were pulled out of the fire.  In this episode, Shumaker was clearly working against the interests of Republicans and was a spear carrier for Democrat establishment interests.

Was he doing the very same thing in trying to sandbag the US Attorney investigation of Easley, also to benefit the Democrat establishment? What exactly did he do as a campaign insider in formulating Burr's original policy?  It is the Raleigh Democrat establishment that would have benefitted if Burr had stayed on course, far more than the Obama crowd in DC.

Hooray for Burr for figuring out that he was being used and changing his position.

Anonymous said :

Paul Shumaker's loyalties, outside of that to his own pocket, are often hard to ascertain.

As it has come out that Shumaker was the one involved in negotiating Burr's climbdown from going along with replacing the US Attorney investigating corruption allegations swirling around former Governor Easley.  A pliable Democrat replacement would have looked for every opportunity to sweep it under the rug.  This strongly suggests that he was in the thick on all policy decisions in Burr's office on the US Attorney replacement issue.  He is currently Burr's chief political consultant.

In 2006, as others have pointed out on TAP, Shumaker together with  disgraced former lobbyist Don Beason (he of the huge no-interest loan to Speaker Black) were the chief spear carriers in now imprisoned former Speaker Black's efforts to thwart use of mounting evidence of Black's corruption by GOP campaigns in the 2006 legislative elections.  If used effectively, the corruption issue could have well overturned Democrat majorities in both house of the legislature.  It was probably the most powerful weapon in the GOP's issues arsenal in recent times.  Beason and Shumaker, it seems, told GOP legislative and party leaders that if the GOP used that issue, then a significant list of major PAC's would cut off all contributions to GOP candidates.  Both Beason and Shumaker, both of whom worked in the Martin admiinistration, are registered Republicans but are major RINO's. It is unknown if they have actually lined up those PAC's to do that or if this was just a bluff.  Because the GOP had weaklings in both major party and major legislative positions, these ''leaders'' caved and the GOP was sandbagged on using this nuclear weapon of a political issue.  Black and the Democrat establishment's chestnuts were pulled out of the fire.  In this episode, Shumaker was clearly working against the interests of Republicans and was a spear carrier for Democrat establishment interests.

Was he doing the very same thing in trying to sandbag the US Attorney investigation of Easley, also to benefit the Democrat establishment? What exactly did he do as a campaign insider in formulating Burr's original policy?  It is the Raleigh Democrat establishment that would have benefitted if Burr had stayed on course, far more than the Obama crowd in DC.

Hooray for Burr for figuring out that he was being used and changing his position.

Your post is proof that this blog desperately needs a "spell check" and "sentence check" and any other kind of check for correct English.
 

Tough to take you seriously.

I understand the post very well.I guess an english teacher never understands the words.

Anonymous said :

Paul Shumaker's loyalties, outside of that to his own pocket, are often hard to ascertain.

As it has come out that Shumaker was the one involved in negotiating Burr's climbdown from going along with replacing the US Attorney investigating corruption allegations swirling around former Governor Easley.  A pliable Democrat replacement would have looked for every opportunity to sweep it under the rug.  This strongly suggests that he was in the thick on all policy decisions in Burr's office on the US Attorney replacement issue.  He is currently Burr's chief political consultant.

In 2006, as others have pointed out on TAP, Shumaker together with  disgraced former lobbyist Don Beason (he of the huge no-interest loan to Speaker Black) were the chief spear carriers in now imprisoned former Speaker Black's efforts to thwart use of mounting evidence of Black's corruption by GOP campaigns in the 2006 legislative elections.  If used effectively, the corruption issue could have well overturned Democrat majorities in both house of the legislature.  It was probably the most powerful weapon in the GOP's issues arsenal in recent times.  Beason and Shumaker, it seems, told GOP legislative and party leaders that if the GOP used that issue, then a significant list of major PAC's would cut off all contributions to GOP candidates.  Both Beason and Shumaker, both of whom worked in the Martin admiinistration, are registered Republicans but are major RINO's. It is unknown if they have actually lined up those PAC's to do that or if this was just a bluff.  Because the GOP had weaklings in both major party and major legislative positions, these ''leaders'' caved and the GOP was sandbagged on using this nuclear weapon of a political issue.  Black and the Democrat establishment's chestnuts were pulled out of the fire.  In this episode, Shumaker was clearly working against the interests of Republicans and was a spear carrier for Democrat establishment interests.

Was he doing the very same thing in trying to sandbag the US Attorney investigation of Easley, also to benefit the Democrat establishment? What exactly did he do as a campaign insider in formulating Burr's original policy?  It is the Raleigh Democrat establishment that would have benefitted if Burr had stayed on course, far more than the Obama crowd in DC.

Hooray for Burr for figuring out that he was being used and changing his position.

Burr Only figured it out in cold political terms.. it was in his own self interest.
 

Because he was getting too much heat from conservtives.

Just like on the border issue.

Burr is Jim Broyhill with a better rap.

Anonymous said :

Anonymous said :

Paul Shumaker's loyalties, outside of that to his own pocket, are often hard to ascertain.

As it has come out that Shumaker was the one involved in negotiating Burr's climbdown from going along with replacing the US Attorney investigating corruption allegations swirling around former Governor Easley.  A pliable Democrat replacement would have looked for every opportunity to sweep it under the rug.  This strongly suggests that he was in the thick on all policy decisions in Burr's office on the US Attorney replacement issue.  He is currently Burr's chief political consultant.

In 2006, as others have pointed out on TAP, Shumaker together with  disgraced former lobbyist Don Beason (he of the huge no-interest loan to Speaker Black) were the chief spear carriers in now imprisoned former Speaker Black's efforts to thwart use of mounting evidence of Black's corruption by GOP campaigns in the 2006 legislative elections.  If used effectively, the corruption issue could have well overturned Democrat majorities in both house of the legislature.  It was probably the most powerful weapon in the GOP's issues arsenal in recent times.  Beason and Shumaker, it seems, told GOP legislative and party leaders that if the GOP used that issue, then a significant list of major PAC's would cut off all contributions to GOP candidates.  Both Beason and Shumaker, both of whom worked in the Martin admiinistration, are registered Republicans but are major RINO's. It is unknown if they have actually lined up those PAC's to do that or if this was just a bluff.  Because the GOP had weaklings in both major party and major legislative positions, these ''leaders'' caved and the GOP was sandbagged on using this nuclear weapon of a political issue.  Black and the Democrat establishment's chestnuts were pulled out of the fire.  In this episode, Shumaker was clearly working against the interests of Republicans and was a spear carrier for Democrat establishment interests.

Was he doing the very same thing in trying to sandbag the US Attorney investigation of Easley, also to benefit the Democrat establishment? What exactly did he do as a campaign insider in formulating Burr's original policy?  It is the Raleigh Democrat establishment that would have benefitted if Burr had stayed on course, far more than the Obama crowd in DC.

Hooray for Burr for figuring out that he was being used and changing his position.

Burr Only figured it out in cold political terms.. it was in his own self interest.
 

Because he was getting too much heat from conservtives.

Just like on the border issue.

Burr is Jim Broyhill with a better rap.

Well, THANK GOD he got the message.  Chalk up one GOOD thing that came out of someone realizing it was politically expedient to DO THE RIGHT THING, for a change.
 

Anonymous said :

Anonymous said :

Paul Shumaker's loyalties, outside of that to his own pocket, are often hard to ascertain.

As it has come out that Shumaker was the one involved in negotiating Burr's climbdown from going along with replacing the US Attorney investigating corruption allegations swirling around former Governor Easley.  A pliable Democrat replacement would have looked for every opportunity to sweep it under the rug.  This strongly suggests that he was in the thick on all policy decisions in Burr's office on the US Attorney replacement issue.  He is currently Burr's chief political consultant.

In 2006, as others have pointed out on TAP, Shumaker together with  disgraced former lobbyist Don Beason (he of the huge no-interest loan to Speaker Black) were the chief spear carriers in now imprisoned former Speaker Black's efforts to thwart use of mounting evidence of Black's corruption by GOP campaigns in the 2006 legislative elections.  If used effectively, the corruption issue could have well overturned Democrat majorities in both house of the legislature.  It was probably the most powerful weapon in the GOP's issues arsenal in recent times.  Beason and Shumaker, it seems, told GOP legislative and party leaders that if the GOP used that issue, then a significant list of major PAC's would cut off all contributions to GOP candidates.  Both Beason and Shumaker, both of whom worked in the Martin admiinistration, are registered Republicans but are major RINO's. It is unknown if they have actually lined up those PAC's to do that or if this was just a bluff.  Because the GOP had weaklings in both major party and major legislative positions, these ''leaders'' caved and the GOP was sandbagged on using this nuclear weapon of a political issue.  Black and the Democrat establishment's chestnuts were pulled out of the fire.  In this episode, Shumaker was clearly working against the interests of Republicans and was a spear carrier for Democrat establishment interests.

Was he doing the very same thing in trying to sandbag the US Attorney investigation of Easley, also to benefit the Democrat establishment? What exactly did he do as a campaign insider in formulating Burr's original policy?  It is the Raleigh Democrat establishment that would have benefitted if Burr had stayed on course, far more than the Obama crowd in DC.

Hooray for Burr for figuring out that he was being used and changing his position.

Burr Only figured it out in cold political terms.. it was in his own self interest.
 

Because he was getting too much heat from conservtives.

Just like on the border issue.

Burr is Jim Broyhill with a better rap.

Understand that shumaker is a robot that ONLY looks after his and Beason's pocket.
 

Burr didn't change his decision in a few days because it was the right thing - he did it because he knew what would come if he didn't.  And so did RNC and NCGOP.

Does anyone here know who Burr's other recommendation for federal justices, attorneys and marshalls will be?  Does anyone know why it matters?

Anonymous said :

Burr didn't change his decision in a few days because it was the right thing - he did it because he knew what would come if he didn't.  And so did RNC and NCGOP.

Does anyone here know who Burr's other recommendation for federal justices, attorneys and marshalls will be?  Does anyone know why it matters?

So, vote for Burr's opponent then.  I mean, would it matter what ANYONE said with regard to your questions?  Whatever. 
 

No, just wish to ensure that the truth and the character of this man be known.

Something else - there are people who have great intellect but they may not write well, have faulty spelling or grammer, or might just be dyslexsic or hard of seeing.  I doubt most of us are here composition professors and this is a comfortable freedom of speech blog.  So maybe we should lighten up on the self-righteous, better than thou criticism of those who make a few mistakes.

BTW, the original poster is spot on if anyone cares about what, how and by who.

If the NCGOP had any decent conservative candidates Burr would be taken out in a primary.Burr will lose against Cunningham and take down a lot of other republicans along with Burr.

With a difficult race facing him in 2010, it looks like Burr would realize that being associated with someone with as much political baggage as Shumaker would be a political liabiity.  Shumaker's close association with party turncoats Morgan and Brubaker is enough to turn a lot of loyal Republicans off.

GUWonder said :

With a difficult race facing him in 2010, it looks like Burr would realize that being associated with someone with as much political baggage as Shumaker would be a political liabiity.  Shumaker's close association with party turncoats Morgan and Brubaker is enough to turn a lot of loyal Republicans off.

That is probably true.  But, the general voting population hasn't got a clue who Morgan and Brubaker are with the exception of the most politically active among us. 

dap916 said :

GUWonder said :

With a difficult race facing him in 2010, it looks like Burr would realize that being associated with someone with as much political baggage as Shumaker would be a political liabiity.  Shumaker's close association with party turncoats Morgan and Brubaker is enough to turn a lot of loyal Republicans off.

 

That is probably true.  But, the general voting population hasn't got a clue who Morgan and Brubaker are with the exception of the most politically active among us. 

Activists know that shumaker plays both sides of the aisle.
 

From a party perspective Burr should understand that having Shumaker on board is a non-starter.

Key donors hould refuse to give money as long as Shumaker is on Burr's team

Anonymous said :

dap916 said :

GUWonder said :

With a difficult race facing him in 2010, it looks like Burr would realize that being associated with someone with as much political baggage as Shumaker would be a political liabiity.  Shumaker's close association with party turncoats Morgan and Brubaker is enough to turn a lot of loyal Republicans off.

 

That is probably true.  But, the general voting population hasn't got a clue who Morgan and Brubaker are with the exception of the most politically active among us. 

Activists know that shumaker plays both sides of the aisle.
 

From a party perspective Burr should understand that having Shumaker on board is a non-starter.

Key donors hould refuse to give money as long as Shumaker is on Burr's team

Fetzer should insist that shumker not be involved.
 

Who is Paul Shumaker?
You Decide
 
In 2004, Paul Shumaker, political campaign consultant and owner of Capital Communications, Inc. and NC Representative Richard Morgan formed the North Carolina Republican Main Street Committee, a §527 organization. Mr. Shumaker  operated as the committee’s advisor and paid consultant.  

sophomore said :

Who is Paul Shumaker?
You Decide
 
In 2004, Paul Shumaker, political campaign consultant and owner of Capital Communications, Inc. and NC Representative Richard Morgan formed the North Carolina Republican Main Street Committee, a §527 organization. Mr. Shumaker  operated as the committee’s advisor and paid consultant.  

On May 23, 2004, Main Street Republican and House Speaker Richard Morgan was removed from NCGOP executive committee, for 'Party disloyalty.'    Soon thereafter, two other null Republicans officers, Reps. Harold Brubaker and Danny McComas, resigned publicly citing their support of him.  [Mainstreet Republicans, often referred to as Republicans In Name Only or RINOs, refer to themselves as 'progressive' and 'moderate' Republicans. However, the case has been made that a check of their voting records, routine modes of operation in committee and on floor debates, campaign financial records, special interest attention might evidence behavior more akin to that of Democrats.

 
On opening day of Session in 2003 Shumaker was in Speaker Black's office negotiating the Speaker deal for Morgan. The 'Morgan Coalition' (ranging from 12 to 17) was formed and joined up with Democrats. Under Paul  
Shumaker's advisement, the Coalition defected from the GOP House Caucus in direct violation of NCGOP Directives. As consultant to Morgan and the Mainstreet Republicans, Shumaker recruited and supported candidates to run
against Republicans who were in good standing and voted consistently in keeping with Republican principles, practices and Platform, but who did not vote as Morgan directed - with the Democrats.

 

Check out the election results for 2004 - Shumaker's Mainstreet lost eleven seats. Employed by a Democrat, Shumaker attacked Paul Coble and Jesse Helms in the 1999 Raleigh Mayoral race.
 
Taking Richard Petty's campaign, with Richard Petty's 95% + name ID, raising lots of money, but with no money left for media after Labor Day lost to a one term state Senator, who lost to Dan Paige in her home district, but beat Petty. Her name, Elaine Marshall.
 
What about Richard Vinroot's gubernatorial races?  Three strkes; and from highland to lowland folks blamed Paul Shumaker. In 1994, NCGOP hired Shumaker, but fired him after about two weeks. (Great House victory in '94.)
 
What did Shumaker do for the House Republicans once he and Brubaker joined up? Brubaker and the Shumaker took the majority of 67 they inherited in 1994, down to 61 in 1996, and into the minority in 1998 - but Shumaker made
money. Remember Farmers for Fairness? Shumaker was being paid by both Farmers for Fairness and Speaker Brubaker when that scandal was born.
 
What about Shumaker's 'great job' as the Jim Martin's Campaign Manager for re-election in 1988? Not true, Brad Hayes would not let him be the Campaign Manager.  In the 2004 Republican primary campaign Morgan and his allies ran ads produced by political consultant Paul Shumaker, saying they cut taxes by voting for an increase in the state's child-tax credit and doing away with its marriage-tax penalty.

It's malarkey," said John Hood of the non-partisan John Locke Foundation.  "It makes a bill that raised taxes into an apparent tax cut. I find these ads the most odious ... telling a deliberate falsehood based on the assumption that people won't check it out."
 
#1 PRIMARY FIGHT: "The chief political consultant for House Co-Speaker Richard Morgan is making no bones about the fact that he is gunning for Morgan's rivals within the Republican Party."
 
"Paul Shumaker recently told those attending a breakfast sponsored by NC FREE, a nonpartisan, business-sponsored group that analyzes political trends, that Morgan will run ads leading up to the primary election targeting House Republicans who have opposed his leadership." 

---

-The Insider TM - North Carolina State Government News Service Vol. 12, No. 47 
 

Is Paul Shumaker growing GOP voter bases or his client bases? 
 
"Now, as a result of robust population growth, Republican ranks have swelled with people who have recently moved into the state. These days, candidates like Richard Burr start out their campaigns assured of only about 60 percent of their party's vote. As a result, statewide Republican candidates have to build a base within their own party, while also facing Democratic candidates who try to reach out and win cross-over votes from registered Republicans."

 

- "The Republican Base and Crossover Appeal" - Paul Shumaker

 
To read Shumaker analysis of GOP effectiveness and future go to http://www.southnow.org SOUTH NOW, April 2005 Data Net, pg 3. 

From the publications from the UNC Program on Southern Politics, Media and Public Life. 
 
[Provided courtesy of NC Right Stuff - a politically conservative statewide grassroots volunteer communications and action initiatives network.  E-mail ncrightstuff@rocketmail.com.]

Good copy & paste, Soph.  Very informative.  Excellent.
 

Anonymous said :

sophomore said :

Who is Paul Shumaker?
You Decide
 
In 2004, Paul Shumaker, political campaign consultant and owner of Capital Communications, Inc. and NC Representative Richard Morgan formed the North Carolina Republican Main Street Committee, a §527 organization. Mr. Shumaker  operated as the committee’s advisor and paid consultant.  

On May 23, 2004, Main Street Republican and House Speaker Richard Morgan was removed from NCGOP executive committee, for 'Party disloyalty.'    Soon thereafter, two other null Republicans officers, Reps. Harold Brubaker and Danny McComas, resigned publicly citing their support of him.  [Mainstreet Republicans, often referred to as Republicans In Name Only or RINOs, refer to themselves as 'progressive' and 'moderate' Republicans. However, the case has been made that a check of their voting records, routine modes of operation in committee and on floor debates, campaign financial records, special interest attention might evidence behavior more akin to that of Democrats.

 
On opening day of Session in 2003 Shumaker was in Speaker Black's office negotiating the Speaker deal for Morgan. The 'Morgan Coalition' (ranging from 12 to 17) was formed and joined up with Democrats. Under Paul  
Shumaker's advisement, the Coalition defected from the GOP House Caucus in direct violation of NCGOP Directives. As consultant to Morgan and the Mainstreet Republicans, Shumaker recruited and supported candidates to run
against Republicans who were in good standing and voted consistently in keeping with Republican principles, practices and Platform, but who did not vote as Morgan directed - with the Democrats.

 

Check out the election results for 2004 - Shumaker's Mainstreet lost eleven seats. Employed by a Democrat, Shumaker attacked Paul Coble and Jesse Helms in the 1999 Raleigh Mayoral race.
 
Taking Richard Petty's campaign, with Richard Petty's 95% + name ID, raising lots of money, but with no money left for media after Labor Day lost to a one term state Senator, who lost to Dan Paige in her home district, but beat Petty. Her name, Elaine Marshall.
 
What about Richard Vinroot's gubernatorial races?  Three strkes; and from highland to lowland folks blamed Paul Shumaker. In 1994, NCGOP hired Shumaker, but fired him after about two weeks. (Great House victory in '94.)
 
What did Shumaker do for the House Republicans once he and Brubaker joined up? Brubaker and the Shumaker took the majority of 67 they inherited in 1994, down to 61 in 1996, and into the minority in 1998 - but Shumaker made
money. Remember Farmers for Fairness? Shumaker was being paid by both Farmers for Fairness and Speaker Brubaker when that scandal was born.
 
What about Shumaker's 'great job' as the Jim Martin's Campaign Manager for re-election in 1988? Not true, Brad Hayes would not let him be the Campaign Manager.  In the 2004 Republican primary campaign Morgan and his allies ran ads produced by political consultant Paul Shumaker, saying they cut taxes by voting for an increase in the state's child-tax credit and doing away with its marriage-tax penalty.

It's malarkey," said John Hood of the non-partisan John Locke Foundation.  "It makes a bill that raised taxes into an apparent tax cut. I find these ads the most odious ... telling a deliberate falsehood based on the assumption that people won't check it out."
 
#1 PRIMARY FIGHT: "The chief political consultant for House Co-Speaker Richard Morgan is making no bones about the fact that he is gunning for Morgan's rivals within the Republican Party."
 
"Paul Shumaker recently told those attending a breakfast sponsored by NC FREE, a nonpartisan, business-sponsored group that analyzes political trends, that Morgan will run ads leading up to the primary election targeting House Republicans who have opposed his leadership." 

---

-The Insider TM - North Carolina State Government News Service Vol. 12, No. 47 
 

Is Paul Shumaker growing GOP voter bases or his client bases? 
 
"Now, as a result of robust population growth, Republican ranks have swelled with people who have recently moved into the state. These days, candidates like Richard Burr start out their campaigns assured of only about 60 percent of their party's vote. As a result, statewide Republican candidates have to build a base within their own party, while also facing Democratic candidates who try to reach out and win cross-over votes from registered Republicans."

 

- "The Republican Base and Crossover Appeal" - Paul Shumaker

 
To read Shumaker analysis of GOP effectiveness and future go to http://www.southnow.org SOUTH NOW, April 2005 Data Net, pg 3. 

From the publications from the UNC Program on Southern Politics, Media and Public Life. 
 
[Provided courtesy of NC Right Stuff - a politically conservative statewide grassroots volunteer communications and action initiatives network.  E-mail ncrightstuff@rocketmail.com.]

Good copy & paste, Soph.  Very informative.  Excellent.
 

Very informative should be sent to every Repulbian county chairman and legislator.
 

This document was first distributed via email and at NCGOP Convention (1,000 copies) during 2005-2006.  It was sent statewide and to all Republican elected officials (to include county and city levels).

sophomore said :

This document was first distributed via email and at NCGOP Convention (1,000 copies) during 2005-2006.  It was sent statewide and to all Republican elected officials (to include county and city levels).

many folks have changed leadership postions

would be beneficial in my view to let them know who they are dealing with as well as the history of double dealing

John Locke Foundation "non-partisan"?  You've got to be kidding with that one.

Russ

Anonymous said :

John Locke Foundation "non-partisan"?  You've got to be kidding with that one.

Russ

John Hood is a puppet for Pope

Anonymous said :

John Locke Foundation "non-partisan"?  You've got to be kidding with that one.

Russ

Like ACORN is non-partisan and a tax-free organization.
 

Yes, it is being re-sent across the state to existing GOP local, county and district leadership.  Mr. Fetzer is in receipt as is Sen Burr's office.

The next question - What role the Consultant-Advisor?

Locke is Libertarian which they state within their charter, but that doesn't change the fact Hood states.  The entire Dem House Membership spun this bill as a tax cut, with the support of Morgan and their RINO friends.

Anonymous said :

Anonymous said :

John Locke Foundation "non-partisan"?  You've got to be kidding with that one.

Russ

 

John Hood is a puppet for Pope

Well who pays his salary?

Anonymous said :

Anonymous said :

John Locke Foundation "non-partisan"?  You've got to be kidding with that one.

Russ

Like ACORN is non-partisan and a tax-free organization.
 

There are better comparisons but yes.  JLF is a partisan think-tank and there are plenty of Democratic think-tanks.  But it is by far the most powerful think-tank in NC with no others having nearly the influence it has.  How often do lazy reporters go to John Hood for a quote or to their reports for information to use in a story without taking into consideration their particular perspective or fact checking their conclusions?  It happens all the time.  Considering that these are just a handful of people in an office with a handful of financial backers (primarily Art Pope of course) that's a lot of pull in the hands a few.

Russ