REUTERS / Lucas Jackson
Forget fast-forwarding through the commercials. New York Congressman Anthony Weiner clearly watches his news broadcasts live, because he’s seen some ads that have really ticked him off.
Weiner is calling for an investigation into precious metals seller Goldline, a company Weiner claims employs conservative broadcast talkers to scare viewers into investing in gold -– at grossly inflated prices.
“On numerous occasions, Glenn Beck has dedicated entire segments of his program to explaining why the U.S. money supply is destined for hyperinflation with Barack Obama as president. He will often promote the purchase of gold as the only safe investment alternative for consumers who want to safeguard their livelihoods. When the show cuts to commercial break, viewers are treated to an advertisement from Goldline,” Weiner says in a report released Wednesday.
Also mentioned by name in the report: Fred Thompson, Dennis Miller, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, Lars Larson, Michael Smerconish, Monica Crowley and Mike Huckabee. All paid Goldline spokespeople, all taking to the airwaves to tell people to invest in gold — and fast.
Weiner says Goldline’s most egregious, misleading sales tactic has involved the standard pricing of its gold – which he claims is 90 percent above melt value. That means the value of gold would have to double for the buyer to simply break even on the purchase. Beyond that, Weiner says, Goldline representatives present themselves as financial advisors even though they have no license to do so.
Goldline has already caused something of an ethical stir over at Fox News. Beck was a paid spokesperson for the company, until he was forced to step down in order to conform to network ethics policies. Even after that mini-scandal, however, Goldline remains a major sponsor of Beck’s show. If Weiner has his way, those ads will change quite a bit — and fast.