Astroturf

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.

    Canada's Canned Conservative Calls

    by Sheldon Rampton — March 27, 2008 - 12:15pm

    If you hear pro-Conservative Party callers to radio shows in Canada, their opinions "might not be as spontaneous as they sound," reports Alexander Panetta. "Some of those apparently ad-libbed musings are actually being choreographed at the Conservative Party of Canada's national headquarters.

    Main Source: 
    Globe and Mail, March 25, 2008

    Monsanto-Funded Front Group Fights Milk Labeling

    by Anne Landman — March 10, 2008 - 5:33pm

    A new "grassroots" farmers' group with close ties to Monsanto has been formed to outlaw labels that would notify consumers they are buying milk from cows not treated with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH). Monsanto genetically engineers rBGH, called Posilac, which is injected into cows, forcing them to produce more milk.

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, March 9, 2008

    The Truth About Lying

    by Sheldon Rampton — February 23, 2008 - 8:12pm

    Gawker.com, the media gossip blog, recently had a testy exchange with Richard Edelman, CEO of the giant Edelman public relations firm, after Gawker published an item which quoted an unnamed Edelman employee who reportedly advised a client, "Sometimes, you just have to stand up there and lie.

    Main Source: 
    Gawker.com, February 14, 2008

    Controversy Grows over Canadian Skeptics Ad Campaign

    by Bob Burton — February 22, 2008 - 1:18am

    The fallout from the SourceWatch profile on the Canadian global warming skeptics group, Friends of Science (FoS), continues to grow.

    Main Source: 
    Canwest News Service, February 21, 2008

    CMD and Consumer Reports WebWatch Launch Full Frontal Scrutiny

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — January 29, 2008 - 2:42pm
  • Topics: Astroturf, Internet, Front Groups, Third Party Technique, Corporations, Democracy, Environment, Health, Pharmaceuticals, Public Relations, Science, Secrecy, Tobacco

    • "The American public deserves to know when someone is trying to persuade them." — U.S. Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, Thursday, January 17, 2008

    Front Groups Beware of Full Frontal Scrutiny

    Today, the Center for Media and Democracy and our partners at Consumer Reports WebWatch launched an exciting new project: Full Frontal Scrutiny. The site seeks to shine a light on front groups -- organizations that state a particular agenda, while hiding or obscuring their identity, membership or sponsorship, or all three. Google the term "front groups" and the number one return is CMD's extensive articles on its SourceWatch site.

    Heckuva Huckabee Non-Recollection

    by Anne Landman — December 17, 2007 - 5:54pm

    Mike HuckabeeBaptist preacher and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee denies knowing about a financial boost he received from the R.J.

    Main Source: 
    Newsweek, December 17, 2007

    Amgen Website Invites Testimonials, Posts Off-Label Claims By Patients

    by Paul Goldberg — November 19, 2007 - 2:28am
  • Topics: Astroturf, Internet, Ethics, Lobbying, Marketing, Pharmaceuticals

    • To mobilize elderly Americans in an effort to overturn the new Medicare coverage policy for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs, which boost red blood cell production), Amgen Inc. appears to have borrowed a strategy from the purveyors of alternative medicine.

    The company launched a "Protect Cancer Patients" website, where visitors were invited to submit testimonials about the healing powers of ESAs. Also, they could contact members of Congress, or review the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services coverage decision and the House and Senate resolutions to vacate it.

    Though the Internet designation ".org" suggests that the site is operated by an advocacy group, the "privacy policy" section notes that "this site is owned and operated by Amgen Inc." and can be used for communications with the company.

    On the home page, the site is described as "online headquarters of a national campaign to protect cancer patients on Medicare from a decision denying them ... coverage for needed medicines."

    "Amgen's mission is to serve patients, which is why we openly support the Protect Cancer Patients website," Kelley Davenport, an Amgen spokesman, said in an email. "The site educates cancer patients on Medicare and their caregivers about a Medicare policy that impacts cancer patients, so that their voices and concerns are heard by government policymakers.

    Anti-Tax Lobby Not Just in Kansas Anymore

    by Diane Farsetta — October 22, 2007 - 12:28pm

    "According to the Americans for Prosperity Web site, some 28 Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature signed a 'no tax increase' pledge with the organization," along with two Democrats, writes Dave Zweifel. He blames pressure from no-tax groups on delays with Wisconsin's state budget, now more than three months overdue.

    Main Source: 
    The Capital Times (Madison, Wis.), October 22, 2007
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