Astroturf

Washington's Hidden Astroturf Economy

Timothy Karr | Posted 11.18.2009 | Politics


Timothy Karr

Because they're bankrolling astroturf behind a fig leaf of "public relations," large corporations aren't legally required to disclose the lion's share of their funding of these fake grassroots groups.

ConservativeTransparency.org: Peeling Off Conservatives' AstroTurf Mask

Chris Harris | Posted 11.04.2009 | Politics


Chris Harris

The 2008 elections revealed the country's appetite for change. Yet as Washington takes up the mantle of progress, powerful lobbying firms are spending millions of dollars to keep things the same.

Greens Have Finally Got the Big Mo

David Roberts | Posted 10.22.2009 | Green


David Roberts

Since the summer, greens have had one good break after another. Unlike after An Inconvenient Truth, the latest dramas are not pop culture events, but political achievements inside the Beltway.

Does Astroturf Ever Die?

Timothy Karr | Posted 10.16.2009 | Media


Timothy Karr

These fake grassroots groups have scored some amazing successes. Working together with lobbyists and a pack of sputtering media pundits, they've bullied Washington's timid leadership.

Tea Party Group Accused Of Astroturf Lobbying

The Huffington Post | Jenna Staul | Posted 10.13.2009 | Politics


The Washington Independent takes a look at the tumultuous infighting that has caused a rift in the conservative tea party movement. The paper reports...

Washington Post Needs to Come Clean on Net Neutrality

Timothy Karr | Posted 10.05.2009 | Media


Timothy Karr

On Sept. 28, the paper printed a full-fledged editorial against Net Neutrality without revealing to readers that the Washington Post Co. has an economic incentive to block online speech.

Fighting the Zombies: Ten Ways to Debunk Telco Shills

Timothy Karr | Posted 10.02.2009 | Technology


Timothy Karr

What does the debate over Net Neutrality have in common with a zombie horror flick? As the phone and cable companies send out a brainless horde of shills and lobbyists, it's not hard to make the connection.

ACCCE Coal Lobby Targeting Key Democrats In Senate Climate Debate

Brendan DeMelle | Posted 09.24.2009 | Green


Brendan DeMelle

America's Power Army, the sister organization to the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, sent an email this week to its Astroturf "army" laying out the coal lobby's plans to barrage key Democratic targets.

HHS Investigates Medicare Providers' Massive Misinformation Campaign

Dawn Teo | Posted 09.23.2009 | Politics


Dawn Teo

Today, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department took its first steps toward cracking down on misinformation disseminated by Medicare providers.

Glenn Beck: The Loon King

Robert J. Elisberg | Posted 11.17.2009 | Media


Robert J. Elisberg

It is a physical hazard watching the Glenn Beck program because you risk rolling your eyes so hard that it could cause ocular injury. Whiplash cases have increased 11 percent.

CBS: Credulous, Breathless Stenography

Matt Osborne | Posted 11.13.2009 | Media


Matt Osborne

The American Seniors Association serves a radical right agenda. If I can find this out in thirty minutes, why couldn't CBS do at least that much?

Cooking up Lies with Dirty Coal

Javier Sierra | Posted 11.11.2009 | Green


Javier Sierra

Big Coal and Big Oil are determined to cover our ears so we can't hear about the overwhelming advantages of the climate and energy bill, especially for us Latinos.

Green News Report - September 8, 2009 (Audio)

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen | Posted 11.09.2009 | Green


Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen

In today's report: the rising cost of fighting wildfires, and is Jaws back?

What if They Held an "Energy Citizen" Rally and Nobody Noticed?

Chris Savage | Posted 10.23.2009 | Business


Chris Savage

Could it possibly be that they held an "Energy Citizens Rally" in Michigan and nobody actually noticed? Not one single media source picked it up?

Consumerist/Ctr for Media & Democracy Protect the US Against Front Groups

Craig Newmark | Posted 10.18.2009 | Politics


Craig Newmark

"Front groups," sometimes called "swiftboaters," are people paid by shady politicians or corporate executives to deceive citizens.

Green News Report - September 1, 2009 (Audio)

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen | Posted 10.17.2009 | Green


Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen

IN TODAY'S AUDIO REPORT: Fires rage across California as Hurricane Jimena bears down on Baja; Lights out for incandescent lightbulbs; The Summer of...

WaPo Slow to Cover Real Grassroots Climate Actions

Gillian Caldwell | Posted 10.16.2009 | Politics


Gillian Caldwell

Local and regional media have been on point about what's going on in their backyards. Unfortunately, local media does not create a national theme

Bonner & Associates Never Contacted Rep. Perriello and Several Charities Defrauded In Forged Letter Scandal

Brendan DeMelle | Posted 10.16.2009 | Green


Brendan DeMelle

This latest evidence of insincerity and misinformation adds to a growing heap of scandals plaguing the coal industry's attempts to weaken action on climate and energy security.

Astroturf Attack on Democracy Is Intentional -- and Should Be Illegal

James Hoggan | Posted 10.16.2009 | Green


James Hoggan

Astroturfing specialists and PR firms Adfero Group and Bonner & Associates have demonstrated that they are guilty, even if what they are doing is -- at this point -- not technically a crime.

NYT: Time to Make Net Neutrality the Law

Timothy Karr | Posted 09.29.2009 | Media


Timothy Karr

Allowing Internet service providers to become gatekeepers would undermine the democratic nature of the Web, which has made it such a great engine for free speech and economic growth.

Bonner & Associates Coached Employees To Lie To Generate Letters to Congress - Will Congress Reign In Such Astroturf?

Brendan DeMelle | Posted 09.28.2009 | Green


Brendan DeMelle

The clear solution: end the astroturf loophole in the Lobby Disclosure Act

Bonner & Associates Spin Machine in Full Gear To Defend Sullied Brand

Brendan DeMelle | Posted 09.28.2009 | Green


Brendan DeMelle

Where is the rogue temporary employee to defend himself and shed light on the way Bonner's sweat-shop pro-coal lobby operation operates?

ACCCE Coal Lobby Drops Bonner & Associates Over Forged Letters

Brendan DeMelle | Posted 09.21.2009 | Green


Brendan DeMelle

Bonner & Associates has a long record of shady Astroturf work on behalf of many polluting industries, pharmaceutical companies and Big Tobacco.

Support Our Troops: Combat Climate Change

Charles London | Posted 09.21.2009 | World


Charles London

Displaced, vulnerable populations are a breeding ground for extremism and contribute to the instability and failure of states. Now, U.S generals say climate change acts as a "threat multiplier."

WATCH: Front Goup "Energy Citizens" Locks Out Real Grassroots: Why Does Big Oil Hate America?

Andy Wilson | Posted 09.21.2009 | Green


Andy Wilson

Though the Netroots has gotten the message loud and clear: these are really just company picnics, not uprisings of real grassroots support