FCC Candidate Moncrief Criticized Trump in Since-Deleted Tweets
C Spire Vice President Ben Moncrief, a candidate for the open Republican slot on the FCC (see 1703100061), may have a Twitter problem. Moncrief recently closed @BenMoncrief. Making the rounds in Washington is a compilation of his deleted Tweets, some of which were critical of President Donald Trump, before and after he was elected.
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Meanwhile, a new name emerged as a candidate for the FCC -- former Republican State Sen. Judson Hill of Georgia, industry lobbyists told us. Hill is already a candidate for the congressional seat once held by Tom Price, Trump’s new secretary of Health and Human Services, according to local news reports. Hill had to resign from the state senate to run for Congress, according to an email from his former email address. He didn’t comment.
Moncrief said as part of a December tweet on Trump “creating divisions w/in a team or organization is one way for guy on top to maintain control.” Moncrief tweeted in October: “you just used ‘restraint’ and ‘Trump’ in the same sentence.” In September he observed: “RT @jmartNYT Presidential candidate uses debate to promote his personal business interests. #2016.”
As late as January Moncrief tweeted: “RT @Peggynoonannyc Anthony Bourdain: Blame Smug Liberals for Trump Election https://t.co/yHyatvZQm6” and “RT @blippoblappo SENATOR: how do we stop Trump STAFFER: well, we know cute slogans like ‘Dangerous Donald’ certainly dont work. SENATOR: https://t.co/sY0ehRK8k4.”
Moncrief has the support of Republican Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker from Mississippi where C Spire is based. Industry lobbyists said Thursday Moncrief is generally well liked, though as an active member of the Competitive Carriers Association may face opposition from AT&T and Verizon, the nation’s two largest wireless carriers. Moncrief has been a member of the CCA board since 2014 and opposed in particular AT&T's failed buy of T-Mobile. C Spire has historically been one of the more active companies inside CCA. Moncrief didn't comment by our deadline.