Credo Mobile Exposes AT&T’s Right-Wing Agenda

Credo Mobile names list of conservative groups phone giant has donated thousands to.

The largest phone company in the United States, AT&T is a corporation with money, power and influence at its disposal. But the telecommunications giant came under fire Sunday when Credo Mobile — a phone company and subsidiary of Working Assets that advocates for social change — blasted it in an email for giving tens of thousands of dollars to right-wing causes and organizations.

Just who is AT&T funding and for how much? The Tea Party is among the groups that Credo identified.

See who else made the list.

Republican Governors Association: To say that AT&T is a fan of this group is an understatement. The company has given more to RGA than any other on this list — a whopping $1.96 million. AT&T has also given money, $588,500, to the Blue Dog Democrats, but don’t let the name fool you. The Blue Dog Democrats are a conservative branch of the party that opposes reproductive rights, marriage equality and gun control.

George W. Bush Presidential Library: AT&T has given a million dollars to the library. What’s more Jim Cicconi, its senior executive vice president of external and legislative affairs, is vice president of the library foundation.

Tea Party Congressional Candidates: AT&T has dropped $638,000 on these right-wing extremists.

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Republican presidential nominees: AT&T has given money to every GOP nominee from 1996 to 2008. Will Mitt Romney be next? The last time AT&T gave money to a Democratic presidential nominee was in 1988. The company has also donated $215,000 to conservative congressional PACS.

A.L.E.C.: AT&T doesn’t seem to mind that this shadow organization is a huge advocate for voter I.D. laws, which many civil rights groups have criticized for potentially disenfranchising the poor and people of color. It has also given $100,000 to the Heartland Institute, a right-wing think tank that supports a free market agenda.