ANWR lobbying group hires G. Gordon Liddy to spread drilling message
Published Saturday, April 19, 2008
ANCHORAGE — The lobbying group that uses state of Alaska money to push for petroleum drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has hired Watergate conspirator and talk radio host G. Gordon Liddy to broadcast live from Alaska.
Arctic Power spokesman Adrian Herrera said Liddy was hired to broadcast from Alaska for five days in mid-July. His listeners are mostly blue collar and middle-aged, Herrera said.
“That sort of demographic is very good,” Herrera said. “Those are voters. Those are people who will call their congressman and say, ’Hey look, I heard on Gordon Liddy the real truth about Alaska. And I think this is important and I think you should support Alaskan issues.”’
State Sen. Kim Elton, D-Juneau, said bringing Liddy up sounds like a “sick joke.”
“I think it’s terrible,” Elton said. “If Alaska wants to put the best face on things it’s probably best to not hire felons.”
Liddy helped plan the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. A government cover-up of the scheme led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Liddy served 4 1/2 years in prison.
Former state Rep. Mike Navarre, co-chairman of Arctic Power, said most people who listen to Liddy probably do not know the details of Watergate. Bringing Liddy to Alaska is a cost-effective way to get the state’s message out, he said.
Arctic Power is looking for corporate sponsors to offset its costs, which might be approximately $50,000, Herrera said.
The organization plans to fly Liddy up a few days before live broadcasts in Anchorage and on the North Slope. He may visit Prudhoe Bay and possibly Barrow and Kaktovik, a village within the refuge, Herrera said. Liddy might also visit the Red Dog Mine, the largest lead and zinc mine in the world, in northwest Alaska.
The effort is about promoting Alaska energy and not just ANWR drilling, Herrera said.
Herrera said a 30-second ad on national radio or television would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is a chance for Alaskans to be on the show and take live questions.
“We’ll be getting three hours a day; you can’t ask for more than that,” he said.
Arctic Power, a private, nonprofit organization, has been the state’s lobbyist to open the refuge to drilling since 1992.
The Alaska Legislature approved $250,000 this month for Arctic Power to spend in the fiscal year starting July 1. The budget faces review by Gov. Sarah Palin.
Herrera twice has been a guest on Liddy’s show. The two came up with the idea for Liddy to broadcast from Alaska. Herrera said some might object to Liddy “but you can’t pick and choose” volunteers.
“How many radio stations or television stations for that matter are going to donate this sort of access? I don’t think any. None,” he said.
Kristen Miller, legislative director for the Alaska Wilderness League, said the measures pushing drilling in ANWR sound pointless. Arctic Refuge drilling is dead on arrival in Congress, she said.
Herrera said potential remains for a push to open ANWR before a new president takes office. All three presidential front-runners oppose drilling in the refuge.
There’s also a need to battle efforts to make the ANWR coastal plain into a designated wilderness area with a permanent ban on oil drilling, he said.
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
What's next, hiring Ted Nugent to promote hunting?
Who will GGL sway on this issue? His followers? People who are already in support of drilling in ANWR. That is money well spent.
Should have hired Teddy Kennedy. That old gasbag still carries some clout. It is his side of the aisle that needs convincing. And he's never committed, strike that, I mean been convicted of a felony.
He's a good public speaker, plain and simple.
He's not a good pubic speaker, plain and simple
I'm voluntarily deleting my own post concerning G. Gordon Liddy, and the greedmongers who want to open ANWR. There's already been a vote, a decision was already made.
What is the point of democracy if those who lose continue to belabor the point ad nauseum?
Yes I know I still have a post but over one hundred expletives were deleted (and none were harmed.)
Darn Joe,
I can't even think of a hundred expletives. Maybe you repeated a lot of them.
Does anybody know from where Liddy will broadcast in July...and why he didn't come in February?
Joe Murphy, I'm a little confused by your statement? Are you refering to Democrats? :) Username, Calling Mr Liddy a bad public speaker is as silly as saying that Bill Clinton is a bad public speaker. It simply isn't true. I think Clinton is the worst of all political scum, however, he is a fantastic public speaker that can really rally the village idiots. Plain and simple.
village idiots?
Golly Oly,
I'm referring to all those who are seeking to open ANWR, regardless of political affiliation. I'm sure that includes a number of democrats as well as republicans. At least Clinton confined his immoral acts to the Whitehouse. He didn't involve us in a horrible war, promote torture, or invade our privacy with illegal wiretaps.
This guy actively subverted the U. S. Constitution and hiring him now negates any positive that can come from the state giving Arctic Power any money.
Joe-
"There's already been a vote, a decision was already made. What is the point of democracy if those who lose continue to belabor the point ad nauseum?"
You mean like the local sales tax issue?
The school bond issues of the past, when they'd get voted down three times, only for the strategic set-ups to hold the votes in special elections? Then they'd win.
Wasn't the Carlson Center voted down initially? (I think it would be worth it to tear it down because it's an architectural monstrosity, but anyway...)
Our Fearless Leaders did say it would be self-supporting in something like three years...
It's late. I'm sure I could think of plenty examples of others...
Oh, how about the votes to move the capitol? Until the anti-group devised the ridiculous 'covered-bubble'
$ billions plan.
OHHHHH MANNNNNN!! I love it! Wiping laughter tears from eyes, GGL = PRICELESS!!
YouMustBConfused
Olypopper is right. G Gordon Liddy is a great speaker and propagandist. But he's only going to be "preaching to the choir. Hiring him to promote development of the 1002 area would be a bit like the Northern Alaska Eco-mental Center hiring Al Gore to convert conservatives to the religion of human induced global warming.
Pictures of cute baby polar bears verses a picture of G.Gordon Liddy. One poster can speak a thousand words.
This falls into the 'Thanks, but, No Thanks' catagory. People in the lower 48 are confused enough about Alaska. We don't need GGL - or any other convicted fellons, rapists, rock stars, child molesters, or terrorists to speak up for us. This is a joke right?
What's he gonna do? Oh, I know! It will be like a slick Geico commercial:
Start:
Hello, This is the State of Alaska - a normal place to live. So, we've hired fellon and radio host G. Gordon Liddy to tell their story:
Alaska - Opening AMWR will provide more energy for the USA.
GLL - Alaska needs more Energy Power Bars
Alaska - Opening ANWR will create jobs for Alaskans.
GLL - Alaskans might stop clubbing baby seals if they had other things to do.
Alaska - Alaskan's need access to less expensive forms of energy
GLL - If Alaskans had more energy their igloos would melt.
Alaska - Opening ANWR will contribute greatly to the economy of the USA and help offset the trade deficite.
GLL - Alaskans use Alaska money or still trade in furs and beads. If ANWR were open they could use US money.
Alaska - Opening ANWR will not hurt the tundra or enviroment. Look at the track record of the 30 year old TAPS pipeline.
GLL - Hey, they only have 1 bullet hole in their pipeline after 30 years. How many of you can say that for your house????
Alaska - Alaskans should decide what is done with our reasources.
GLL - Too funny!! Alaskans think they have a say in what happens to them!! Keeping Alaska closed is the weekend pastime of New Yorkers....what would they do on the weekend then?
Alaska - Alaska is a state like the rest of the union.
GLL - Alaskan's want to open ANWR and ruin Alaska Land. Wouldn't that be like drilling in Disneyland? Do you want to park next to an oil rig on your next vacation to Florida?
GLL to represent Alaska. Who dreamed this up? What's next - Charles Manson selling Ginsu knives on TV, Catholic priests doing public service adds for the Boy Scouts?
The article is totally erroneous. Arctic Power is NOT hiring Gordon Liddy. The ADN reporter who wrote the original story got it totally wrong. This pulp news story generated from his is factually incorrect puts words in peoples mouths they never said. Liddy will come to Alaska under his own volition. His travel and accommodation will be provided but he will not be compensated in any way by Arctic Power or anyone else.
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.