Zuckerberg, tech stars explore multi-million $ SuperPAC to push immigration, issues

[Natural Citizen]

From Lauren Weinstein over at Vortex.com...


Zuckerberg in bed with right-wing slimeballs? You be the judge. - Some people are raising their eyebrows over the choice of a hard-right Republican consultant — one who produced a famed spot deriding liberals as a “latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York Times-reading” freak show — to handle the Silicon Valley SuperPAC’s work.

Sources say the group is bringing on Jon Lerner, the Republican strategist who founded Maryland-based Red Sea LLC and who is behind Grover Norquist and his Club for Growth. Joining him will be ultra-conservative GOP consultant Rob Jesmer, a former strategist with Texas Sen. John Cornyn and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.



From the paper itself...


Among valley luminaries who joined Zuckerberg in signing a letter to Obama and Congress were Hewlett-Packard CEO (and former GOP gubernatorial candidate) Meg Whitman, venture capitalist John Doerr, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt, Cisco CEO John Chambers, Intel CEO Paul Otellini and Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer.

Their goal: to attract and better develop “a workforce of highly skilled immigrants.”

Zuckerberg also recently hosted a fundraiser for Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Cristie in his Palo Alto home (http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Christie-bash-a-big-step-for-Zuckerberg-4273669.php) that included many of the same tech stars.

Jesmer served as Cornyn’s chief strategist during the four years he headed up the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). (http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2012/12/sen-john-cornyns-top-nrsc-aide-rob-jesmer-joins-gop-consulting-firm.html/)Before that, he managed Cornyn ‘s successful 2008 re-election campaign.



http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2013/03/22/excloo-silicon-valleys-newest-start-up-zuckerberg-tech-stars-explore-multi-million-superpac-to-push-immigration-issues/

Was reminded of Massie's recent speak on the FOX Business channel when I read this.

[gwax23]

Whats the problem? Highly Trained and educated immigrants? You have to be kidding me.

[Natural Citizen]

I'd rather see American youth educated and trained to produce and compete in today's technological world. Not repeat the same mistakes of the Apollo days. Which is exactly what this does. At least to some effect.

[gwax23]

I'd rather see American youth educated and trained to produce and compete in today's technological world. Not repeat the same mistakes of the Apollo days. Which is exactly what this does. At least to some effect.

By who? Educated by whom? The Government? Well they are failing clearly at that so this forces companies to look elsewhere. Should the private companies be hurt because the government is too busy dumbing down Americans? No they shouldnt.

Even in the ideal case where the government was out of the way and more Americans were qualified for these positions I would still reiterate my point that immigration should be open so there can be a more competitive labor market.

[Natural Citizen]

By who? Educated by whom? The Government? Well they are failing clearly at that so this forces companies to look elsewhere. Should the private companies be hurt because the government is too busy dumbing down Americans? No they shouldnt.

Even in the ideal case where the government was out of the way and more Americans were qualified for these positions I would still reiterate my point that immigration should be open so there can be a more competitive labor market.

Private companies in the field of some aspects of education want to interfere with NASA and it's role in education. Which is the heart of the S.T.E.M program and applied in the classrooms all over America. And it cannot be placed into comparison with the historical perception of education (for which I would agree with you). Although many would like for that to remain the narrative it simply cannot be. The actual curriculum is making an impact. One of the few things to be positive about in the public education system.

Although, I would agree with you regarding competency and immigration.

This will be a very fierce battle moving forward. The space program has historically maintained 100% bipartisanship.

Of course, the private sector has a lot to offer too. I'm not debating that. But there be just as many vampires in that brood as in the public platform. Is how the military industrial complex has become what it is, unfortunately.

[Natural Citizen]

Mark Zuckerberg’s New Political Group Spending Big On Ads Supporting Keystone XL And Oil Drilling (http://thinkprogress.org/immigration/2013/04/26/1925921/mark-zuckerbergs-new-political-group-spending-big-on-ads-supporting-keystone-xl-and-oil-drilling/)


Mark Zuckerberg’s new political group, which bills itself as a bipartisan entity dedicated to passing immigration reform, has spent considerable resources on ads advocating a host of anti-environmental causes — including driling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and constructing the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.The umbrella group, co-founded by Facebook’s Zuckerberg, NationBuilder’s co-founder Joe Green, LinkedIn’s Reid Hoffman, Dropbox’s Drew Houston, and others in the tech industry, is called FWD.US (http://www.fwd.us/). Its initial priority is the passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill (http://www.fwd.us/immigration_reform), including enhanced border security, more visas for workers with special skills, and a pathway to citizenship for those living in the U.S. without legal status. Other long-term priorities (http://www.fwd.us/about_us) for the group include education reform and expanded scientific research.

FWD.US is bankrolling two subsidiary organizations to purchase TV ads to advance the overarching agenda — one run by veteran Republican political operatives and one led by Democratic strategists. The GOP-lead group, called Americans For A Conservative Direction (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/www.americansforaconservativedirection.com), has created an ad in support of Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) which praises him for supporting construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and expanded drilling elsewhere. The ad, which does not mention immigration policy, also attacks Obamacare, “wasteful stimulus spending,” and “seedy Chicago-style politics.” Politico reports the group plans a seven-figure buy (http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/mark-zuckerberg-immigration-group-launches-tv-blitz-90511.html) with this and other ads.

[Natural Citizen]

If you want to get a feel for how American politics really works, as opposed to the way they tell you it works, look no further than what's going on behind the scenes at the new political action group started by Facebook (http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/facebook) founder Mark Zuckerberg (http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mark-zuckerberg) and dozens of other Silicon Valley tech leaders.This organization, FWD.us, describes itself as a nonpartisan entity dedicated to promoting immigration reform, education reform, and the "knowledge" economy (http://www.fwd.us/about_us).
The knowledge economy, Mark Zuckerberg explained in a recent Washington Post (http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/washington-post) editorial, is based on education and technology and is distinct from the old economy, which was based on natural resources (oil, gas, etc.)




http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-political-group-promotes-oil-and-gas-2013-4

[Weston White]

America has far too many immigrants, illegal or otherwise. America has far too many highly educated CITIZENS that are either out of work or unable to find work within their specially trained occupational fields.

The real underlying truth is that immigration paves the path for social justice programs; it perpetuates entitlements and socialistic wants, meanwhile, subjugating its very own.

There is a very fine line when immigration goes beyond merely providing a “competitive labor market” and that line was crossed long ago, as has been the American populace, doubly crossed—and by its so-called elected leaders no less.

[Natural Citizen]

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