Astroturf

Bush's Pro-War Front Group, 'Vets for Freedom', Rallies with Republican Senators

Vets for Freedom (VFF), the well-funded pro-war lobby group, is cranking-up its PR campaign on behalf of President Bush's war in Iraq with a news conference held July 17th in the US Capitol. A slate of pro-war Republican Senators including Mitch McConnell, Jon Kyl, Lindsey Graham, along with former Democratic (now independent) Senator Joe Lieberman, all participated with Pete Hegseth and other VFF lobbyists.

In June 2006, I reported that:

Citizen journalists on SourceWatch have been investigating and exposing the many Republican connections and the partisan pro-war political agenda behind Vets for Freedom,

Invasion of the Franchise Snatchers

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

While "attending an open meeting of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities," Bruce Kushnick saw "something odd. Three guys are standing in the back by the exit door and they keep shaking the hands of the speakers, most of whom testified that Verizon should get a new, statewide franchise." The three guys were Verizon employees, and many of the speakers were from groups that receive Verizon funding. Such telecom astroturf is spreading, warns Kushnick.

No
Main Source: 
Nieman Watchdog, May 7, 2007
Topics: 
Astroturf
Corporations
Democracy
Lobbying
Media

AT&T, Verizon Reach Out and Co-Opt Someone

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

Telecom analyst Bruce Kushnick writes that "Astroturf and co-opted groups representing the deaf, disabled, black, low income and others" are "touting a plan to loosen cable franchise rules for the phone companies." He asks, "What do these groups" -- including the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Consumers for Cable Choice, Video Access Alliance,

No
Main Source: 
Nieman Watchdog, April 4, 2007
Topics: 
Astroturf
Corporations
Lobbying
Politics

Pombo's Clear-Cut Path to the Revolving Door

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

"Former [U.S.] House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo has joined a lobbying and public relations firm that backed his attempts to rework the Endangered Species Act and open the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve to oil drilling," reports Josh Richman.

No
Main Source: 
Contra Costa Times (California), February 21, 2007
Topics: 
Astroturf
U.S. Congress
Environment
Lobbying
Public Relations

Turf Changes Favor Corporate "Grassroots" Lobbyists

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

"When Congress reeled in traditional lobbyists in January, it gave a boost to lobby firms and trade associations that specialize in swaying lawmakers by stirring public sentiment in their districts," writes Jessica Holzer. House and Senate bills "ban gifts and trips from lobbyists," but "lobbyists escaped having to disclose their grassroots activities when the Senate ...

No
Main Source: 
The Hill, February 6, 2007
Topics: 
Astroturf
Lobbying
Public Relations
U.S. Government

Pages

Subscribe to Astroturf