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Archive for 10 August, 2009

A heads up for iPhone users

Julie| August 10, 2009 11:33 am

I just got an ad from CREDO Mobile, a different kind of wireless company by the same folks that brought you Working Assets back in the 80′s. According to their website, “[t]o date, the company and its members have donated more than $60 million to amazing groups — groups that members themselves help select — like the ACLU, Doctors Without Borders, Global Fund for Women, Greenpeace and Planned Parenthood.”

But that’s not what was interesting. CREDO’s competitors include AT&T, which currently holds a monopoly on providing wireless service for the iPhone – hence the title of my post. The ad I received contained some eye-opening facts about AT&T along with Verizon Wireless. I’ve reproduced the comparisons word for word below:

does your phone company help…	AT&T	Verizon Wireless	CREDO Mobile
to end the war?	NO. Made maximum campaign contributions to the pro-war Bush and McCain campaigns.	NO. Contributed to the Texas Freedom Fund, a PAC that supports vocal pro-war politicians like Michele Bachmann.	YES. We opposed the war before it began. Since then, we’ve mobilized our customers to send letters, faxes and e-mails, urging Congress to withdraw our troops. And we’ve donated to anti-war groups.
to stop global warming?	NO. Contributed to Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), who called the threat of global warming the “greatest hoax ever perpetuated on the American people.”	NO. Contributed to Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), House Republican Leader, who recently described the scientific consensus on CO₂, as “comical.”	YES. CREDO has donated more than $10 million to environmental groups committed to solving our climate crisis, including Greenpeace, Sierra Club and Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection.
to protect a woman’s right to choose?	NO. Contributed to Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), author of the Right to Life Act.	NO. Contributed to Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), who earned 0% on Planned Parenthood’s pro-choice scorecard.	YES. CREDO is the largest corporate donor to Planned Parenthood.
to reform political campaign financing and influence?	NO. Donated $31 million to federal candidates in 2008.	NO. Gave $138k to federal candidates in the 2008 election cycle.	YES. CREDO members have taken action against corporate campaign contributions and supported nonprofit groups working to clean up campaign finance and lobbying influence.
to protect your freedom of speech?	NO. Censored Pearl Jam’s criticism of Bush during a concert Webcast.	NO. Blocked text messages from NARAL Pro-Choice America.	YES. CREDO donates to First Amendment heroes like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Democracy Now!