A prominent
Spanish-language television anchor, Alina Mayo Azze of Univision's Miami
station, should be added to the list compiled by MSNBC's Bill Dedman of more
than a hundred journalists who have made political contributions since 2004.
According to the Federal Election Commission database of individual contributors, Ms. Mayo Azze
contributed $1,000 to the U.S.-Cuba Democracy Political Action Committee in
June, 2005. (Or at the very least, a contribution in that amount was made in
her name.) The PAC's treasurer is Gus Machado owner of a Ford dealership in
Hialeah, Florida. I do not know if he currently buys time on the Univision
station where Mayo Azze is employed.
If you go
back before 2004, then you can add Telemundo network morning show anchor José
Diaz-Balart to the list as well.
It is no
secret that José Diaz-Balart's family is heavily involved in politics. His
father was a Congressman in Cuba. His brothers Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario
Diaz-Balart are both members of the United States Congress. According to the FEC, José contributed
$1000 to Mario's campaign during his first run for Congress in June, 2002. (Or,
as above, at the very least a contribution in that amount was made in his name.)
That José
Diaz-Balart faces potential conflicts of interest when it comes to covering
politics is a long-established and well-known fact. And that a South Florida
Spanish-language television anchor has strong feelings about U.S. policy
towards Cuba should surprise no one in Miami. Still, even obvious facts are
worth reporting. Particularly since plenty of other Cuban American journalists have
seen fit not to make political contributions.
For the record, I went to school with a younger
brother of Ms. Mayo Azze and I worked the weekend shift with José Diaz-Balart
at WTVJ for two years. That was a long time ago, in both instances.
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