Let Me Call You “Sweetheart”

January 5, 2010

Hill’s Motives Called “Political” by Pemberton and “Sweetheart” comments refuted by Sen. Richards

Senate President Louis Patrick Hill says he rebid the Legislative broadcast contract to save money and address the “sweetheart” deal WDHP owner Hugh Pemberton had with previous Legislatures.

Former Senate President and current Senator Usie Richards took issue with that statement, and said that he, and the previous Senate presidents who were involved in the contract since its inception had no part in any “sweetheart” deal.

And owner Pemberton said the whole thing is “personal and political” because he refused to comply with Hill’s demand that he fire radio host Mario Moorehead and clamp down on callers who oppose the current Administration. 

“It had nothing to do with a sweetheart deal,” he said. “If I had do what I was told to do, I would have the Senate today.”

Controversy continues to swirl around Hill’s decision to terminate the contract held since 2001 by WDHP to do live broadcasts of the Legislative sessions. In a statement on Monday, Hill said he became concerned about the cost of the contract when he became Senate president last spring and decided it should be rebid in an attempt to save money. The new contract, which has been awarded to an as yet undisclosed station, is reported to save $10,000 over the agreement with Pemberton, according to Hill.

Pemberton, who responded to Hill’s comments on the Moorehead show Monday, laughed at the “sweetheart” comment, and was candid about the financial arrangement the station had with the Legislature. For a 12-hour broadcast, the station charged $28.42 per hour, compared to the $385 per hour charge for other customers.

Richards shot back at Hill’s assertions as well, taking issue with the insinuation that he, and previous Senate presidents, had made a deal with Pemberton that was financially irresponsible.

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Pemberton summarized his view of the entire situation and based on what we’ve seen, he put it best.

“This was a big foot political move,” he said. “He (Hill) has a power problem.”

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117 Responses to Let Me Call You “Sweetheart”

  1. EyesWideOpen2010! on January 13, 2010 at 10:09 am

    Democratic Chairwoman C. Burke had the nerves to call Jimmy’s show this morning after Senator Hill for whom she works and whom she fully supports pulled the contract from Mr. P.

    What unabashed nerves!

  2. The Observer on January 13, 2010 at 10:17 am

    The Legislature needs to update its website…I clicked on the link to listen to the live broadcast of the Alpine Hearing and the website for Reef Broadcasting came up…sigh

  3. The Clock Is Ticking on January 13, 2010 at 10:32 am

    Try this link.

    http://www.wiuj.com/

  4. Anonymous on January 13, 2010 at 11:18 am

    Is anyone who supports the governor and Sen. Hill public enemy#1?

  5. dont stop the carnival on January 13, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    No, not public enemy #1, just misguided.

  6. The Observer on January 13, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    Thanks, Clock…

  7. From deJongh to Donastorg in 2010 on January 13, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    I do not think Donna is that crazy to join the deJongh team . if she is her political career is over .

  8. Anonymous on January 13, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    I am happy to be one of the misguided. I will vote for the Guv to get 4 more year! I hope the team stays together. The deJongh/Francis brought prosperity and unity to the VI.

  9. Anonymous on January 13, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    I will vote now for Mapp.

  10. Anonymous on January 13, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    Night Owl,

    Your’re either a republican or a bitter white man (probably both). Nothing President Obama does would be good enough for “you people”.

    Our excellent President is doing a tremendous job for what he has inherited from the Bush Administration.

    This is coming from a Republican that is fortunate to have “seen the light”.

  11. Anonymous on January 13, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    I will vote for Donastorg.

  12. It's been a long time coming on January 13, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    MAPP 2010

  13. EyesWideOpen2010! on January 13, 2010 at 5:24 pm

    Either Donastorg or Mapp, but De jongh has got to go!

  14. Night Owl on January 13, 2010 at 8:30 pm

    To Anonymous #90:my dear friend you are batting 0 for 2 as I’m neither a republican or a bitter white man.I do not,by choice,owe any allegiance to any political party and I hail from the same geographic area (the Caribbean) as you,sir/madam,may well be from.Our president,the one for whom I did not vote,inherited,as all presidents do upon their arrival at the Oval Office,all unfinished busines from the previous administration….and that,as you should know,is how it works.But look,I tend to be
    conservative on some issues and liberal on others.This president doesn’t seem to see the value in the fostering of policy that would engender and grow small business and he fully believes,as his policies show,in the redistribution of wealth….something that the majority of Americans oppose.About the part of your having “seen the light”,I wouldn’t worry too much about that as “you people” seem to switch parties whenever it suits your fancy.Me? Well,as I said…..I’m neither here or there.
    Know what I mean?

  15. From deJongh in 2006 to Donastorg in 2010 on January 13, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    Donastorg 2010

  16. From deJongh in 2006 to Donastorg in 2010 on January 13, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    lets support Donastorg, the man with the cahones.

  17. EyesWideOpen2010! on January 14, 2010 at 8:05 am

    It is time to SEIZE THE DAY and SECURE THE WAY: Mapp or Donastorg or Donastorg and Mapp!

  18. From deJongh in 2006 to Donastorg in 2010 on January 14, 2010 at 3:32 pm

    Donastorg in 2010

  19. Anonymous on January 14, 2010 at 7:43 pm

    Dream on!

  20. T on January 15, 2010 at 12:55 pm

    I did some research on The Political Graveyard, and I noticed that in the 1984 VI elections, about 10 incumbent senators got voted out and replaced with a new batch of people. In 1986, seven senators were voted out. Can somebody explain to me what was going on during those election years for this to occur? By the way, here is the address:

    http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/VI/ofc/legis1980s.html

    I asked this question in previous post, butb I’m not sure if anyone saw it.

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