Soros backs Baltimore bid for Google fiber
For what it's worth, the Baltimore branch of George Soros's Open Society Institute is putting out a release expressing Soros's support for Baltimore's application for Google gigabit fiber. It's unclear how well Soros knows the Google people. And it's unclear how much his support will help Baltimore's bid. If Soros and Google's Eric Schmidt were really that tight they'd do this behind the scenes instead of having Baltimore OSI announce it. But it won't hurt. And it'll do a lot more than having your mayor jump in a lake.
Below is Soros's comment from the release, which OSI says they'll be putting out today or tomorrow. Also, Baltimore Google Czar Tom Loveland adds this via email:
Soros sent Eric Schmidt a personal letter on Friday, March 19th urging Google to select Baltimore. We got permission last week to go public and the press release below was approved by Soros’ New York office late Friday afternoon.
Soros's statement:
"Google should consider Baltimore for this trial for the same reasons that I selected Baltimore for my philanthropic investment, and as the site of the only field office of the Open Society Institute in the United States," said George Soros. "Baltimore has strong community institutions but still many people who suffer from being disconnected from important resources. The city and its residents would benefit dramatically from enhanced communications infrastructure. An investment in Baltimore is sure to yield positive returns both for Google and for the city."
Comments
Soros' OSI serves as the flagship of a network of Soros foundations that donate tens of millions of dollars to a wide array of individuals and organizations that share the founder's agendas. Those agendas are:
1. Promote America as an oppressive nation
2. The election of leftist political candidates throughout the United States
3. Opposes virtually all post-9/11 national security measures enacted by U.S. government, particularly the Patriot Act
4. Depicting American military actions as unjust, unwarranted, and immoral
5. Open borders, mass immigration, and a watering down of current immigration laws
6. A dramatic expansion of social welfare programs funded by high taxes
7. Social welfare benefits and amnesty for illegal aliens
8. Defend the civil rights and liberties of suspected anti-American terrorists and their abetters
9. Finance the recruitment and training of future activist leaders of the political Left
10. Advocates America's unilateral disarmament and/or a steep reduction in its military spending
11. Opposes the death penalty in all circumstances
12. Promotes socialized medicine in the United States
13. Promotes the tenets of radical environmentalism, whose ultimate goal, as writer Michael Berliner has explained, is "not clean air and clean water, [but] rather ... the demolition of technological/industrial civilization"
14. Bring American foreign policy under the control of the United Nations
15. Promote racial and ethnic preferences in academia and the business world alike
16. Promote taxpayer-funded abortion-on-demand
17. Advocate stricter gun-control measures
18. Advocate the legalization of marijuana
Thanks for the endorsement to bring Google fiber to our great city.
Posted by: Mr. Golden | March 29, 2010 3:41 PM
So, basically fair treatment of all people? Sounds OK to me Mr. Golden.
Posted by: blarg | March 29, 2010 4:58 PM
Thank you, George Soros.
Posted by: NotableM | March 29, 2010 5:39 PM
While I think Soros is a left-wing radical, I'm all for bringing private sector jobs to the Baltimore area.
This probably will be the only time I agree with Soros. I'm going to savor it...
Posted by: Sean O'Donnell, Baltimore Republican Examiner | March 30, 2010 3:36 AM
Jay,
Eric Schmidt did a one-hour interview with Soros at Google HQ in August 2006. Here is the video: http://bit.ly/990HOi
You'll see from that video that Schmidt admires Soros greatly. Also, this release was put out through OSI's New York headquarters as well.
Posted by: Dave Troy | March 30, 2010 4:12 AM
Sean,
Thank you. We might disagree in political theory, but you recognize when someone is making a good call, and that's awesome. Too bad there aren't more like you on both sides.
Posted by: blarg | March 30, 2010 1:19 PM