ConservativeTransparency.org: Peeling Off Conservatives' AstroTurf Mask

Over the past year, and especially since the tea party protests on April 15th, there's been a lot of chatter about "AstroTurfing" (fake grassroots activism). As these "AstroTurf" organizations sprouted up, progressive operatives and bloggers scrambled to link them to big business and political players in Washington. Well, the scrambling days are over.

As Congress enters another stage in the debates over health care and clean energy, Media Matters Action Network is launching a brand new database that tracks the money flowing into the coffers of conservative groups from the nation's largest corporations and conservative foundations. The database, found at ConservativeTransparency.org, presents data in a way that is easily digestible by bloggers, reporters, researchers and the public-at-large.

Most databases tracking money in politics focus on Federal Election Commission reports filed by candidates and party committees, but we went a different way. Instead, we compiled IRS data off of 990 forms filed by conservative think tanks, nonprofit activist groups, and foundations.

The 2008 elections revealed the country's appetite for change. Yet as Washington takes up the mantle of progress, powerful lobbying firms and interest groups are spending millions of dollars to keep things the way they are. Businesses, industry groups and well-funded conservative foundations funnel money - in the name of grants - to inside-the-beltway political players and national organizing groups that serve only to derail the change the American public demanded last November.

We hope Conservative Transparency will enable progressive activists and bloggers to to discover the interconnected web of funders, board members and employees linking conservative organizations to one another. With the painstaking research involved in delving through years of IRS reports out of the way, the progressive community will be able to instantaneously expose the real forces behind the conservative movement.

 

Comments

[Karoli]

This is a great start but it's incomplete. The problem is that many of these organizations do not have to file 990s, so you have about half the information. I'd suggest that anyone researching conservative orgs start with this database, then head over to opensecrets to pick up the FEC info, then look into the corporate records. As a start. I've been researching these orgs for the past 3 months more or less non-stop. It goes deep, wide, and in a very wide circle.

[JusticiaParaTodos]

If one digs deep enough one will see that organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan are funded by local businessmen, especially in the South.

The guys in $1,500 suits don't have the cojones to do their own dirty work, so they hire thugs with IQ's of a gorilla to do it for them. Same thing occurred in the 30's when labor was organizing. The bosses hired thugs to beat, tar and feather union organizers.

Not much has changed in 70 + years. Only now the thugs have computers and are fully protected by the reactionary Supreme Court.

[Dodgeyaussie]

I wonder if after Obama has made changes, and we have lived with them for a while, and everyone has engineered new ways to scam money out of it all, will the same lobbyists be out there fighting again to keep things the same?

[ewoman]

Chris, thank you - I was searching for a database like this just tonight while learning more about McDonnell's transition staff in Virginia. Bravo.

[Texas4Obama]

That front page of that website it too bland.
It does not say anything about 'astroturf' or 'teaparties' or 'teabaggers'

[mummblemouth]

Another research tool that conservatives will turn a blind eye to because it 'reeks' of the truth.

[TJCole]

Dick Armey is one of America's sleaziest most crooked unethical politicians...!

[Solja]

He hasn't changed since he was in Congress.

[Countess]

This is great and I hope they also show how much lobbying money is being paid to all members of congress regardless of party.

[PatLow]

http://www.opensecrets.org/

Here is your website.

[biglimes]

The usual suspects. No surprises.

[NielsH]

May I suggest adding The Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation to the database.

[sagondo]

I've been awaiting this list. Walmart and EXXON are just two of the big shots funding this Astro-turf cartel.
Their goes my Sam's Club membership!

[Dbos]

Where do you think the teabaggers get their out dated clothes . Many have to pay 2 bucks more for triple x sizing

[WeCanDoMore]

Excellent idea, can't believe it took us this long to come up with this. My only suggestion is to think hard about every way they could possibly get money to their sham companies, and work hard to cover them all.

[digdeeper]

Don't you just love it?

[Vyvjala]

One of the absolute funniest quotes here on HP pertains to DICK ARMEY being the name of jean hannity's fan-club..­..........­..........­.

[jan4insight]

LOL! I just got it ;)

[Ron44]

crazy's are crazy's no matter what they call themselves­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!

[DennyCrane]

I'm sure the right will come with their own version of this, much the same way they came up with their version of Media Matters. The difference is their transparency network will have questionable evidence to back up their claims.

[Solja]

Exactly, because they are the Party of Liars.

[Smithn]

I absolutely love this idea--if for no other reason than keeeping all the tricky names of who's who straight like "Net Neutrality", "Value Voters", and so on. And who is behind them like Dick Army et al. I posted this announcement to NewsTrust to help get the word out. :D