Independent institute says its research is not for sale

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Dec 31, 2001 | by David J. Theroux

Given INSIGHT's reputation as a media counterweight, your article ["Who Bought Off the Think Tanks?" Nov. 19] erroneously relied on a long-discredited New York Times story shown throughout the media to be a clandestine hit-piece at the behest of Larry Ellison (of the CIA-sired Oracle Corp.). That story alleged that Microsoft's then 2-year-old support of the Independent Institute miraculously and secretly influenced our consistent critique of antitrust for the previous 10 years -- predating the Microsoft case and the Internet industry. Furthermore, we announced Microsoft's support at a press conference covered by the Times three months before its article even ran.

In addition, our "Open Letter on Antitrust Protectionism" was organized entirely by us. And none of the signing scholars were paid for any involvement.

With our many diverse organizational and individual members, each has been only a minor source of support for the institute. Although we regularly gain and lose such noncontractual support, we never have changed our peer-reviewed research for anyone. Indeed, when Oracle was cornered and admitted to the smear campaign, the Wall Street Journal wrote of the Independent Institute: "They win support precisely because they are not for sale." We challenge anyone to show otherwise.

David J. Theroux Founder and President The Independent Institute Oakland, Calif.

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