26 Comments

1. Sasha Lilley
   Interim Program Director
   ipd@kpfa.org

   Lemlem Rijio
   Interim General Manager for KPFA
   igm@kpfa.org

   Dear Lemlem and Sasha:

   Based on the Byrne e-mail below, I am formally requesting that the Flashpoints team be allowed to continue with the Community Business segment of Flashpoints and we have your permission to clear the air regarding events of the last week on the show.

   Best,

   Catherine Austin Fitts

   cc:

   dbernstein@igc.org
   e.c.klein@gmail.com
   nicole@pacifica.org
   nora@riseup.net

   Peter Byrne

   Peter Byrne wrote:
   >
   >
   > Dear Mr. Sakowicz & Ms. Fitts,
   >
   > I do apologize for any factual errors that may have appeared in the opinions expressed in my private emails. The substance of those private emails, of which I have not authorized publication–and I do not authorize publication in any format, including on Ms. Fitt’s website–were theories and opinions–i.e. inquiries– sent to my editor at the Bohemian with the intention of eliciting her private response. It was purely an informal matter regarding myself and an editor. It appears that my private email has fanned the flames of an internal struggle at KPFA and it is being used in ways (by multiple factions) that were not intended by me. After becoming aware of this dust-up I immediately sent a explanatory email to Ms. Fitts and the concerned parties explaining that I was not accusing anyone of nefarious activity, but that I simply had concerns about financial advisors appearing regularly on news programs if business-related conflicts are not disclosed. I appreciate the effort that you have each made to clarify your positions, and I have no further interest in pursuing this matter.
   >
   > Sincerely,
   >
   > Peter Byrne

2. It appears there are additional allegations that I have not addressed yet from earlier correspondence. I am posting comments in ALL CAPS below for the record.

   —–Original Message—–
   > >From: Peter Byrne
   > >Sent: Jul 24, 2008 2:07 PM
   > >To: Lemlem Rijio , SF Bay View , Gray Brechin , Nora Barrows-Friedman , dbernstein@igc.org, catherine@solari.com, Gretchen Giles , JR Valrey
   > >Subject: gold storm
   > >
   > >Dear KPFAers,
   > >
   > >My email on Sakowicz and Fitts seems to have had unintended
   > >consequences. I sent it to Bernstein et al hoping to open up a
   > >conversation about a problem with Flashpoint’s editorial stance on
   > >vital Wall Street matters, not to shut down Flashpoints, a program
   > >which I care about and support, as my family subscribes to KPFA.

   THE E-MAIL WAS SENT TO EDITORIAL@FLASHPOINTS.NET. IN A SUBSEQUENT RETRACTION
   MR. BYRNE SAID IT WAS A PRIVATE E-MAIL. THE TWO STATEMENTS APPEAR CONTRADICTORY.

   > >
   > >But I certainly do not have an ax to grind, nor do I have any link to
   > >KPFA management, as is being suggested. In fact, I appeared as a guest
   > >on Flashpoints a couple of years ago, after I wrote a piece for Mother
   > >Jones on the Northern Command. And I have done a number of telephone
   > >interviews with KPFA shows over the years on news I reported in print.
   > >(Sorry about misspelling your name Catherine, but it is easy to make
   > >spelling mistakes in email. Look at Bernstein: he called you “itts.”) I
   > >have also received multiple national and regional awards for
   > >investigative reporting, so it is not abnormal for people to take what
   > >I have to say seriously.
   > >
   > >On the other hand, my email letter to the Bohemian and Flashpoints
   > >editors was informal,

   EDITORIAL@FLASHPOINTS.NET IS AN E-MAIL TO LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. THIS IS A PUBLIC VENUE.

   it was not a published piece of investigative
   > >journalism, nor was it sent to anyone but the recipients. Rather, it
   > >was a broad, if provocative, take on the situation, which I regard as
   > >problematic for the reasons listed in my letter.

   WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF YOUR INCOME AND WHAT ARE YOUR POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN THIS SITUATION?

   I was rather hoping
   > >that it would engender a two-sided debate on Flashpoints about the
   > >merits of investing in precious metals, etc. It would be interesting to
   > >hear a counter point to Fitt’s schtick.
   > >
   > >Your draft letter to me was forwarded to me, Catherine, and I certainly
   > >accept your factual self-description, although it does show you owning
   > >gold

   YES, OF COURSE.

   and promoting investment in gold, etc.

   I AM NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY ‘PROMOTING’. I RECOMMEND GOLD AS SAFE HAVEN WITH CAVEATS THAT IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE AND SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS IT IS UNDERSTOOD. I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU LISTEN
   TO OUR AUDIO SEMINARS “POSITIONING” AND “PRECIOUS METALS MINISERIES” (SEE http://WWW.SOLARI.COM/STORE) FOR THE FACTS OF WHAT I SAY.

   A letter that I viewed from
   > >one of your clients on your web site thanks you for giving her advice.

   I MOST CERTAINLY DID NOT GIVE HER ADVICE. SAYING THAT I GAVE THAT PERSON INVESTMENT ADVICE
   IS LIBEL. THE PERSON THAT POSTED THAT POST IS TO MY KNOWLEDGE NOT A CLIENT OF MINE OR MY COMPANY. IF THEY LISTENED TO MY RECOMMENDATION THAT GOLD WAS AN AREA OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY AND RESEARCHED IT AND MOVED FORWARD, THAT IS NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE.

   > >Her portfolio is now 80% gold, 10% precious metals, 10% oil, as I
   > >recall. (That sounds imbalanced to me.)

   ARE YOU AN INVESTMENT ADVISOR OR STRATEGIST. EACH PERSON IS UNIQUE. WE DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING
   ABOUT THIS PERSON, OR THEIR INCOME, ASSETS OR PORTFOLIO. GIVEN THEIR OTHER HOLDINGS, THIS MAY
   OR MANY NOT BE IMBALANCED. AGAIN, MR. BYRNE, IT IS BEST NOT TO JUDGE WITHOUT FACTS.

   IS AN ASIDE, IF YOU HAD LISTENED TO MY AUDIO SEMINARS YOU WOULD KNOW THE EMPHASIS I PLACE ON DIVERSIFICATION. YET, THERE ARE NUMEROUS INVESTORS IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT WHO ARE NOT DIVERSIFIED WHO HAVE DONE QUITE WELL. THIS IS THERE CHOICE. THAT IS WHAT FREEDOM IS ABOUT.
   > >
   > >Sakowicz, on the other hand, discloses founding an “multi-billion
   > >dollar” off-shore hedge fund, Battle Mountain Research Group, (does the
   > >off-shore fund pay taxes? is it’s gold and other business transparent
   > >to the public? did it short Fannie May?) In his recent BoHo article
   > >Sakowicz steered people to gold investment brokers, and to Ms. Fitt’s
   > >website, where she sells investment services strongly rooted in
   > >promoting gold (which is a very questionable practice; I mean, if it is
   > >so “safe,” then everybody would be in it, n’est pas?)

   I AM BUILDING A FINANCIALLY SOUND BUSINESS HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND INVESTMENT.
   GOOD FOR ME!

   > >
   > >It is problematic for KPFA or any news organization to give a platform
   > >to financial “experts” that have inherent conflicts of interest. I do
   > >not know if Ms. Fitts regularly discloses on her radio segments, and in
   > >print, that she stands to gain if people believe what she says,
   > >especially if they are drawn to pay for her investment services, but,
   > >even if disclosures have been made, it does not seem ethical to me to
   > >regularly feature editorial comment on the nature of a business, i.e.,
   > >Wall Street, by persons whose business is based in investing in Wall
   > >Street–and selectively trashing financial portfolios in which they do
   > >not invest.
   > >
   > >Furthermore, it is not like GOLD is, somehow, politically cleaner than
   > >bank stocks. Gold mining devastates the environment, leaving behind
   > >pools of cyanide-laced tailings for African kids to play around in, and
   > >gold mining corporations horribly exploit third world workers. The
   > >sooner the world gets rid of gold, and the depredations of market
   > >capitalism, which gold epitomizes, the better, I say.

   IMO, GOLD IS INDEED CLEANER THAN STOCKS IN BANKS ENGAGED IN FINANCIAL FRAUD OR SYSTEMIC CENTRALIZATION

   http://www.solari.com/blog/?p=196
   http://www.solari.com/blog/?p=858

   > >
   > >I do not know what the internal politics of KPFA are, but they appear
   > >to be brutal, and not based on trust and professionalism. As a
   > >subscriber and a journalist, who witnessed the terrible time when
   > >radical conservatives hijacked Pacifica, and were defeated by mass
   > >support, I urge management and Flashpoints staff to learn from the
   > >Fitts affair. Flashpoints provides vital reporting services, especially
   > >of topics blacked-out by the MSM. But everybody makes a mistake now and
   > >then. The trick, Dennis, and LemLem, is to learn from it and move
   > >forward in way that benefits the listeners, not just one or another
   > >KPFA faction.
   > >
   > >In solidarity,
   > >
   > >Peter Byrne
   > >tel: 707.338.6534
   > >www.peterbyrne.info

3. If Peter Byrne is the award winning investigative journalist he claims to be, he should spend more time doing his homework before firing off emails like the one that started this mess.

4. My censorship (see previous blog posts) is your financial opportunity.

   KPFA was going to provide our 2-CD audio seminar Positioning Your Assets for Growth in Uncertain Times as a premium for donations of $120.

   Solari sells it for $50 for mp3 and for $60 for CD. You can learn more and purchase at: http://www.solari.com/store/audio-seminars/positioning_your_assets/ .

   The Positioning Your Assets audio seminar is an accumulation of our responses to thousands of questions we have received from our listeners and readers over many years.

   Will we make money from this audio seminar? You bet! Are we proud to do so? You bet! We think sustainable small businesses are a terrific thing. We are proud to be a small business. We are proud to make money doing things that help you make money. We are proud to generate revenues that translate into income for employees, vendors and contractors and generate tax revenue for state and local government.

   Our audio seminar pricing goal is to capture a portion of the value we create for our listeners and network. We believe that the price of this audio seminar is less than you will lose this month as a result of a falling dollar. If you listen to Positioning Your Assets with your neighbors and families, your purchase can help you save even more losses that are happening right now and impacting your quality of life and finances.

   Thank you for your questions and your support. We appreciate your feedback and your business.

   In abundance,

   Catherine

5. I have followed Ms. Fitts various interviews, and she seems to be quite knowledgeable and balanced in her approach to personal finance and investing. One problem I have with the webiste, though, is that their appears to be no way to email her – all the email addresses I’ve tried have bounced!

6. Hello to all 🙂 I can’t understand how to add your site in my rss reader. Help me, please

7. So, can someone explain what the complaint was about and why KPFA managers
   took such punitive action against Catherine?

   Dave Goodman
   WMBR, Cambridge, MA

   ________________________________________
   From: owner-grc@peak.org [mailto:owner-grc@peak.org] On Behalf Of Scooter
   Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 5:55 AM
   To: pnb@pacifica.org
   Cc: ipd@kpfa.org; igm@kpfa.org; catherine@solari.com; dbernstein@igc.org;
   nicole@pacifica.org
   Subject: [grc] Open Letter on Catherine Austin Fitts-KPFA Fiasco

   As a proud, long-standing satirist on Pacifica’s airwaves , I must bow down
   humbly to the astounding clueless rocket surgery displayed by the ‘Who’s
   in charge? committee’ at WTF KPFA.

   In my lifetime, the death of irony has been pronounced by notables from
   Kissinger’s Nobel Peace Prize to George W Bush’s Peace plan for the Middle
   East.

   Irony did not end there.

   It is alive and well at KPFA. These asshats and their insipid arbitrary
   fumbling have left me speechless.

   I would attempt to exaggerate this into a hilarious farce, but there’s no
   way to improve upon this fiasco.

   It mainstreams Dada.

   It trumps satire.

   Just repeating the facts as they occurred leaves no room for improvisation,
   which would take away from the hideous mangling of lucid cognition displayed
   by tin pot reach-a-rounders who actually get paid to stumble around FCC
   approved installations waving their hands and gnashing their teeth, and
   crawling around on the floor, looking for their car keys.

   It suggests that Scientology is rational by comparison, and Pat Robertson
   is a philanthropist.

   I have been left frighteningly speechless in the face of this ludicrous
   display of clueless grasping at straw persons.

   The best I can do is suggest that we not let KPFA deciders manage our
   National Zippers, lest the human race die out.

   -scooter
   http://acksisofevil.org/innerside.html
   programmer
   KPFT Houston weekly
   WBAI Monthly

   — On Mon, 8/4/08, amanda bellerby wrote:
   From: amanda bellerby
   Subject: Fwd: Letter of concern regarding censorship at KPFA
   Date: Monday, August 4, 2008, 1:28 PM

   ———- Forwarded message ———-
   From: amanda bellerby
   Date: Aug 4, 2008 11:26 AM
   Subject: Letter of concern regarding censorship at KPFA

   Dear Ms. Sawaya,

   It’s disturbing to learn that censorship has once again reared its ugly mug
   at “free speech” radio, KPFA. I am writing as part of a growing chorus of
   KPFA / Pacifica supporters and programmers around the country who are
   deeply concerned about the unceremonious yanking of Catherine Austin-Fitts
   from the “Flashpoints” program by interim management at KPFA. The complaint
   against Ms. Fitts being on the show, which was tepid to begin with, has
   since been retracted by the listener who made it.

   Yet the ban against Catherine remains, which, according to Peter Phillips of
   Project Censored, amounts to a clear case of censorship. (he should know).
   This is both distressing and confounding to the “Flashpoints” team, along
   with scores of supportive fellow programmers and producers around the
   country who are equally alarmed by these proceedings.

   As producer of the weekly “Best of Flashpoints” show and contributing
   national producer to the daily program, I am privy to a lot of excellent
   feedback, from listeners and fellow radio workers alike. The weekly
   “Community Business” segment with Carherine Austin-Fitts is an especially
   popular part of the “Flashpoints” lineup, and I often included it in the
   weekly “Best of FP” digest. Catherine was gaining listeners by the minute in
   recent months due to the ravaged state of the US economy.

   Catherine’s contributions to Pacifica radio are legend at other stations as
   well, like KPFT, and she helped us raise tens of thousands of dollars for
   KPFA in a single pledge drive. Listeners have told me directly that they
   appreciate her clarity, gentleness and ability to inspire mutual aid within
   our communities, fiscal responsibility and financial security in these
   troubling times. She is a valuable resource to us all.

   KBOO in Portland has just picked up the daily “Flashpoints” program, airing
   in Democracy Now!’s former time slot. The weekly “Best of FP” show I produce
   is also gaining in popularity, with three new stations on board in just the
   past week.

   The listeners have always loudly applauded the weekly “Community Business”
   segment with Ms. Fitts, and have pledged generously in $ support during
   every fundraiser. Catherine appeals to intelligent, educated listeners with
   good consciences, progressive politics, and considerable financial
   resources. Surely this particular slice of the American demographic should
   be welcomed into the KPFA fold. Having such an esteemed and well-regarded
   guest on the “Flashpoints” show on a regular basis can only serve to make
   that community part of KPFA’s loyal membership.

   As always, it’s the listeners who suffer most from our internal confusion by
   getting abruptly cut off from an information source they have come to trust
   and value very highly.

   I hope that you are able to help us resolve this strange situation, Nicole,
   and will encourage clear, open and respectful communication along with fair
   treatment of all workers from the interim managers at at our beloved KPFA.
   Let’s work together to put fair practices back into the workplace so we can
   all get on with the hard work of producing excellent programming, to appeal
   to the widest possible audience, while staying true to our mission and
   purpose at Pacifica.

   Respectfully,

   Amanda Bellerby
   National Producer, “Flashpoints”
   Producer, “If You Love This Planet” with Dr. Helen Caldicott

Comments are closed.