Lobbying

SourceWatch Provides More Disclosure than Congress

by Diane Farsetta — April 30, 2008 - 5:32pm

The post-Abramoff lobbying disclosure reforms have started -- and so far, they're underwhelming. "Confusing shortcuts are already being mapped and loopholes mined," reports Jeanne Cummings.

Main Source: 
Politico.com, April 29, 2008

Toyota: Mean and Not So Green?

by Anne Landman — April 25, 2008 - 1:20pm

As a manufacturer of gas/electric hybrid cars, Toyota has enjoyed a public image as an environmentally responsible company. Toyota runs television ads playing up the "green" appeal of its Prius hybrid.

Main Source: 
Corporate Accountability International, April 25, 2008

Featured Participatory Project: Who Are the Pentagon's Pundits?

by Diane Farsetta — April 22, 2008 - 4:02pm

On Sunday, the New York Times outed the Pentagon's "military analyst program," an extensive effort to cultivate retired military officers as "message force multipliers" or "surrogates" spouting Bush administration talking points on Iraq and other hot-button issues. We've compiled a list of known participants, and started SourceWatch profiles on each. Can you help us uncover more about the Pentagon's pundits? What did they say, on what news programs?

Main Source: 
SourceWatch, April 23, 2008

Auto Racing for Clean Air?

by Diane Farsetta — April 22, 2008 - 12:15pm

Swiss auto racer Simona De Silvestro isn't only "the second woman in the 34-year history of the Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda to win a race with her victory in the Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach." Believe it or not, there's another sponsor involved -- the U.S.

Main Source: 
Champ Car Atlantic News, April 20, 2008

Media's Military Analysts Involved in "Psyops on Steroids"

by Diane Farsetta — April 21, 2008 - 11:46am

In early 2002, as "detailed planning for a possible Iraq invasion" began, then-Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Victoria Clarke launched the Pentagon military analyst program as "the main focus of

Main Source: 
New York Times, April 20, 2008

State Legislators Have a Telecom Front Group's Number

by Diane Farsetta — April 16, 2008 - 1:25pm

"Mywireless.org," a group that's "working hard to kill a cell phone reform bill at the Minnesota legislature," describes itself as "a non-profit consumer advocacy organization" formed to protect cell phone users' "freedom, value, security and mobility." But it's "staffed almost entirely by telecommunications industry executives, drawn mainly from the ranks of the

Main Source: 
Minnesota Monitor, April 11, 2008

Colombia's Three Amigos Rustle Up Support for Free Trade Deal

by Bob Burton — April 11, 2008 - 5:46pm
  • Topics: Election 2008, U.S. Congress, International, Labor, Lobbying, Politics, Public Relations, U.S. Government

    • Clumsy maneuvering by Burson-Marsteller CEO Mark Penn -- who met with Colombian officials about the U.S. - Colombia Free Trade Agreement while serving as the chief campaign strategist for trade deal opponent Hillary Clinton -- drew unwanted publicity to the controversial pact.

    Colombia's $300,000 a year contract (pdf) with Burson-Marsteller stated the PR firm would "provide ongoing strategic communications counsel to the Ambassador and key Embassy officials"; develop "key messages, talking points and briefing materials"; give "advice and communications counsel to the Ambassador and Embassy staff"; and "co-ordinate media interviews and public events with relevant news media in Washington D.C. on behalf of the Embassy."

    Colombia ended the contract after Penn described his meeting as "an error in judgment." But the country isn't hurting for lobbying power in Washington, D.C. -- especially among Democrats.

    The Legion of Lobbyists Behind a "Consumer" Group

    by Bob Burton — April 8, 2008 - 12:50am
  • Topics: Astroturf, Citizen Journalism, Front Groups, Democracy, Lobbying, Politics, Public Relations, U.S. Government

    • Consumers for World Trade (CWT), which describes itself as being a "network of consumers," is enthusiastic about everything from the right of the U.S. President to negotiate free trade agreements, slashing import duties and quotas on items such as footwear and apparel and opposing mandatory country-of-origin labeling. You'd be right in thinking this doesn't sound like a normal consumer group, but exactly who they are is not immediately obvious. A little digging though, reveals that CWT is just another front group trying to wrap a self-serving corporate message in a public interest name.

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