Grassroots or Astroturf?

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   chasingcarsposted 13 years ago

   In an article I recently read about telecom activity to block a net neutrality which would benefit Internet users, three groups posing as Grassroots movements were identified as Astroturfers and their funding was revealed:  The League of United Latin American Citizens (funded by AT&T), Americans for Prosperity (funded by oil billionaire David Koch and telecom interests), and Americans for Tax Reform (reported as being corporately funded).  My question is, how do we smoke out these Astroturfers and their funding.

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      Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Valid point. Former GOP speaker and now lobbyist Dick Armey and FreedomWorks is behind a lot of the activity.
      
      In 2003, Armey became co-chairman of Citizens for A Sound Economy, which in 2004 merged with Empower America to become FreedomWorks. "FreedomWorks" is a common Armey saying and the organization is dedicated to advancing a "Freedom Agenda" of "lower taxes, less government, and more freedom." FreedomWorks states that it has 700,000 members nationwide and full time staff in 10 states. In his role as Chairman, Armey continues to be a national political figure and grassroots leader. He travels widely, meeting with activists and legislators. In 2005, for example, he testified before the President's Advisory Panel on Tax Reform and debated Governor of Colorado Bill Owens on a tax increase ballot measure.

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   lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

   Yeah--you have to be careful!
   Mitt Romney has a pac too that has some phony name...Americans for Freedom or something....
   And he's supporting a man who covered up for a sexual deviant when he was a cop.
   It's really true..the best place to hide evil is under the cover of good!!
   
   Just say the truth:
   
   Prosperity=Mucho bucks for Koch and his oil buddies
   
   Freedom= Freedom to take your rights away
                       Freedom to lock you up in jail
                       Freedom to not pay any taxes, while you pay more
                       Freedom to hike the prices up at any time
                       Freedom to rip you off while telling you it's your duty to shut up and take it
   
   Just know...if it's bragging about how "good" or how "free" or how "American"....it's astroturf!!

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      Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I have had great luck just googling the name of the organization. A wealth of information about the source of funds - who is behind it, etc. Most of the time you just have to be willing to check.

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