Fmr AAR exec Tom Athans stopped in prostitution sting (Senator Debbie Stabenow)

What is it about Democratic politicians and those linked to them, anyway? Has Howard Dean completely broken the intern system or something?

I ask because in February, Tom Athans - the husband of Senator Debbie Stabenow (a Democrat) and also a co-founder of Democracy Radio and a former Air America Radio executive - was caught by police leaving a Troy, Michigan hotel where an alleged prostitute had set up shop. For those in the area, that would be the the Residence Inn near Big Beaver and Interstate 75. He admitted to paying her $150 for 15 minutes, a higher rate than many Beltway hacks make. He wasn't charged, but should the case against the oppressed lady of the day go to court, he'll have to testify. Bagmen are probably jetting to MI as I type. He was also driving on a suspended license. At least crack wasn't involved, at least as far as we know. On the power to the people side of things, he was a generous gent, apparently giving the painted lady of Troy 50% more than her going rate. He was also driving an American-made Cadillac, so expect union support.

Athans is a radio producer who's spent the past several years trying to launch liberal talk shows that could counter popular conservative radio programming.

Before starting his current firm TalkUSA Radio in 2006, Athans was the head of syndicated programming at Air America, the liberal network that declared bankruptcy that year. TalkUSA launched one syndicated talk show last year.

Athans has strong ties to Democratic Party officials and liberal activists; Sen. Hillary Clinton publicly acknowledged him during her speech in Detroit last month.

According to the Washington Post, Clinton and other senators attended a fund-raiser in 2004 for Athans' previous network, Democracy Radio, which raised $1.8 million to launch the talk show of Ed Schultz. Athans dissolved Democracy Radio in May 2006.

Posted in Meta at April 2, 2008 11:10 AM