Astroturf

Oil and Gas Billionaire David Koch Funding Fight Against Health Care Reform

by Anne Landman — December 10, 2009 - 9:20am

Early in November, thousands of angry protesters flocked to Capitol Hill to listen to House Representative Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) rail against a supposed "government takeover" of health care.

Main Source: 
Boston.Com (Boston Globe), December 6, 2009

Another Brick in Boral's Wall

by Bob Burton — November 30, 2009 - 5:07am

A major Australian building products company, Boral, has been forced to publish a full-page apology for its role in an astroturf campaign against BGC, which was seeking government approval for a new brickworks.

Main Source: 
Australian Financial Review, November 30, 2009 (registration req'd)

Berman's Serious Secrecy

by Bob Burton — November 16, 2009 - 3:30am

The Employment Policies Institute (EPI), a front group created by veteran lobbyist Richard Berman, is planning an advertising blitz claiming that healthcare reform is too costly. The ads will run in Nebraska, North Dakota, Arkansas, Louisiana, Connecticut and Maine. “We’re putting some serious money behind it,” said Berman.

Main Source: 
Roll Call (U.S.), November 16, 2009

Chemical Industry Front Group Outed

by Bob Burton — November 1, 2009 - 3:09am

A freshly-minted front group, which proclaimed that it promoted "balanced chemical safety reform that protects public health, innovation, and economic growth,” has been outed.

Main Source: 
Chemicals & Nanomaterials (Environmental Defense blog), October 26, 2009

Humana's Medicare Scare Called Out

by Diane Farsetta — September 22, 2009 - 3:23pm

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking a closer look at insurance giant Humana. Humana sent alarming mass mailings to people enrolled in one or more of its plans.

Main Source: 
Huffington Post, September 21, 2009

A Web of Health Reform Opponents

by Diane Farsetta — September 1, 2009 - 4:09pm

The industry group America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) isn't just "sending thousands of its employees to town-hall meetings and other forums .... to try to counter a tide of criticism directed at the insurers," as the Wall Street Journal reported recently.

Main Source: 
Think Progress, August 27, 2009

Attack of the Living Front Groups: PR Watch Offers Help to Unmask Corporate Tricksters

by Anne Landman — August 28, 2009 - 1:14pm
  • Topics: Astroturf, Front Groups, Corporations, Energy, Health

    • Fake "grassroots" groups have started springing up like toadstools after a rain, and this time they're coming at us from every angle: they're on TV, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube: "Americans for Prosperity," "FACES of Coal, "The "Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights," "Americans Against Food Taxes," the "60 Plus Association," "Citizens for Better Medicare," "Patients First" ... It's making our heads spin! Issues affecting some of the country's biggest industries, like health insurance reform, a proposal to tax sodas and sugary drinks, and the FDA's possible reconsideration of the plastic additive Bisphenol A, have boosted corporate astroturfing up to a dizzying pace. With all these corporate fronts coming out of the woodwork, how can citizens tell true grassroots organizations from corporate fronts operated by highly-paid PR and lobbying firms? Here are some tips to help readers spot this kind of big-business hanky-panky.

    Faceless Coal

    by Bob Burton — August 28, 2009 - 12:16am

    The recently launched coal industry front group, the Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security (FACES of Coal), has been in the news for its ties to a PR firm, the Adfero Group.

    Main Source: 
    Front Porch Blog (North Carolina), August 26, 2009
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