Right Wing

Judge Who Ruled Health Reform Law Unconstitutional May Have Conflict of Interest

by Anne Landman — December 14, 2010 - 1:26pm

District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson, who issued the ruling that the new health reform law's individual mandate is unconstitutional, has at least a $15,000 ownership interest in the Republican consulting firm ''Campaign Solutions, Inc." Since 2003, Judge Hudson has pocketed dividends between $32,000 and $108,000 from that interest. Campaign Solutions played a big part in the 2009 elections in helping Republican legislators like John Boehner, John McCain and Michele Bachmann devise public messages to help turn public opinion against health care reform. All three legislators made dismantling health reform a part of their campaign platforms. In another potential conflict of interest, Virginia Attorney General Tom Cuccinelli, who challenged the new health reform law and on whose case Hudson ruled, paid Campaign Solutions $9,000 in the last election, so Judge Hudson decided a case in which one of the litigants was a client of a company he owns.

Main Source: 
Gawker.com, December 13, 2010

A Win in Spin for the Corporate-Backed Tea Party

by Anne Landman — November 5, 2010 - 2:16pm
  • Topics: Right Wing, Media, Politics

    • In the weeks before the 2010 mid-term elections, the Tea Party and its activities dominated the media, but there was a decided lack of discussion about exactly what the Tea Party is. Major media seemed sold on the idea that the Tea Party is one big homogenous, spontaneous grassroots uprising, but this was not the case. Apart from a single, exhaustive article in the August 30, 2010 edition of The New Yorker (aptly titled "Covert Operations,") that linked the wealthy billionaire Koch Brothers' and their corporate interests to the Tea Party, few media outlets discussed which factions of the movement were truly grassroots, which were corporate-backed, and to what extent corporations supported the "movement."

    Here at PRWatch, we strove to tease out the difference between various Tea Party factions, like the GOP-backed Tea Party Express, the grassroots Tea Party Patriots and the for-profit corporation called Tea Party Nation. We found out which factions were getting the big money, who their PR operatives were, what types of PR tricks they were engaging in, and more.

    Tea Party Under Cover in Washington State

    by Anne Landman — November 3, 2010 - 1:40pm

    Americans for Prosperity, the conservative front group founded by oil billionaire David Koch that funds the Tea Party, quietly worked in the background to undermine Democratic candidates in Washington state.

    Main Source: 
    Publicola.net, October 26, 2010

    Anti-Abortion Group Runs Over-TheTop Ad for Egg-Rights Amendment

    by Anne Landman — October 26, 2010 - 3:03pm

    The anti-abortion group Personhood Colorado, now known as "Personhood USA," is once again pursuing a ballot initiative in Colorado -- Amendment 62 -- that would change the state's constitution to declare a fertilized human egg a human being.

    Main Source: 
    Care2.com, October 21, 2010

    Fox News' Fear Mongering

    by Anne Landman — October 18, 2010 - 3:07pm

    Fox News Channel turned a brief investigation of a flashlight found on the Brooklyn Bridge into a potential terrorist attack by the Pakistani Taliban, and then later dismissed the whole affair as though it didn't happen.

    Main Source: 
    Talking Points Memo, October 15, 2010

    What's The Matter With America?

    by Anne Landman — October 10, 2010 - 10:37am

    After the November, 2008 general election, former House Majority leader Tom Delay commented that rather than hold a formal inauguration, Barack Obama should have "a nice little chicken dinner, and then we'll save the $125 million." Then rumors emerged that Obama wasn't born in the U.S.

    Main Source: 
    The Village Voice, September 29, 2010

    Foreign-Funded "U.S." Chamber Spends Big to Influence U.S. Elections

    by Anne Landman — October 7, 2010 - 4:42pm

    ThinkProgress has discovered that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is funding political attack ads from its general account, which includes funding from foreign entities. As a 501(c)(6) organization, the Chamber can legally raise and spend unlimited funds without disclosing its any of its donors.

    Main Source: 
    ThinkProgress, October 5, 2010

    New Film Shows How Corporate America is Faking a Grassroots Revolution

    by Anne Landman — October 7, 2010 - 3:18pm

    The documentary film "(astro)Turf Wars: How Corporate America is Faking a Grassroots Revolution," explains the bizarre situation we face as America drowns in fake, corporate-funded "grassroots" movements.

    Main Source: 
    Huffington Post, October 4, 2010
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