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Billionaire Bidding for Tribune Company a Friend of Bill, Former Black Panther Supporter

By Mark Finkelstein | March 30, 2007 | 06:23

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Just in time for the 2008 presidential race, a certified "Friend of Bill" is bidding to acquire the Tribune Company, which owns the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. As reported in this New York Times article , FOB Ronald W. Burkle and Eli Broad sumbitted their bid yesterday to Tribune management.

According to his Wikipedia entry:
  • Burkle is a well-known political contributor and longtime Democratic fundraiser.
  • He supported the Black Panthers in the Sixties.
  • Burkle has supported California State Treasurer Phil Angelides and employed former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown
  • Burkle is a close friend of former President Bill Clinton, who calls Burkle's Boeing 757 private jet "Ron Air."
  • Clinton, who is a senior adviser to Burkle's company, Yucaipa, wrote in his memoir, "My Life", that Burkle "became one of my best friends."
  • Burkle and Steve Rattner helped finance Al Gore's cable Current TV network.
Burkle has also given over $200,000 to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. But given the Terminator's terminal veer to the left, that hardly makes Burkle GOP-friendly.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

About the Author

Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters Senior Contributor. Click here to follow Mark Finkelstein on Twitter.
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