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Gigi Song, who was nominated by President Biden for the vacant seat on the Federal Communications Commission, withdrew his nomination today.
“When I accepted his nomination more than 16 months ago, I was a legion of cable and media industry lobbyists, their bought and paid agents, and the politics of dark money with bottomless pockets. I could never have imagined that the group would distort my 30-plus-year history, which has a history as a consumer advocate in ridiculous caricatures of blatant lies,” Song told Ars and other media organizations. said in a statement provided.
According to a recent letter from an advocacy group to the senator, Son’s nomination “was met with homophobic rhetoric and attacks against herself and her family.” “The unrelenting, dishonest and cruel attack on my character and career as an advocate for the public interest has caused me and my family a great loss,” Song said in her statement. .
“It’s a sad day for our country and our democracy.The dominant industry will get backed by unlimited dark money to choose regulators. Cable companies and media companies have done just that,” Song said.
Manchin voiced his opposition today
Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., announced today that he will vote against Song. With Republicans opposing her nomination, she will need the support of all remaining members of the Democratic caucus to be confirmed.
In a statement, Manchin criticized Song for “years of partisan activism, inflammatory statements online, and collaboration with far-left groups”. He did not give an example of a “sounding remark”. “Working with far-left groups” may be a reference to Son’s board of directors for the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
“Especially now, the FCC must stay on top of the toxic partisanship that Americans are sick of. Song made it clear she’s not the one to do that.” Therefore, I cannot support her nomination for the FCC and urge the Biden administration to put forward a candidate who can unite us, not separate us.”
The FCC has been stuck in a 2-2 partisan battle for Biden’s entire term as president. He nominated Sohn, a longtime consumer advocate and former FCC employee, in October 2021 and January 2023 after the previous Senate failed to vote on the nomination.
“I think it’s important that at least one member of the FCC has been a consumer advocate and has made a career out of the public interest,” Son told the Senate Commerce Committee at a hearing last month. I believe,” he said.
