Front Groups

AEI & Freedom's Watch Seek $200 Million to Sell War on Iran

by John Stauber — October 1, 2007 - 9:21am

The New York Times reports that Freedom's Watch is working with the American Enterprise Institute to lobby for war with Iran. "'If Hitler's warnings were heeded when he wrote Mein Kampf he could have been stopped,' said Bradley Blakeman, 49, the president of Freedom's Watch and a former deputy assistant to Mr.

Main Source: 
New York Times, September 30, 2007

Two U.S. States To Get "Balanced Energy" PR in their Stockings

by Diane Farsetta — September 27, 2007 - 4:20pm

The coal industry front group Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC) is seeking public relations help "in targeting the public, politicians, interest groups, and the media" on the national level, and also in Pennsylvania and Nevada. ABEC promotes coal as an "essential, affordable and increasingly clean" source of electricity.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), September 26, 2007

Animated Paper Clip Seeks Help in Establishing Front Groups

by Diane Farsetta — September 24, 2007 - 3:09pm

Alarmed at its rival Google's proposed purchase of the internet marketing firm DoubleClick, Microsoft is seeking to stoke opposition to the deal through its PR firm, Burson-Marsteller (B-M).

Main Source: 
The Observer (UK), September 23, 2007

Lobbyists Do the Darndest Things

by Diane Farsetta — September 18, 2007 - 11:42am

"Lobbyists for a business group close to the crooked government of Azerbaijan have scheduled what looks to be" a National Press Club event for a front group, according to Harper's Ken Silverstein. The event features members of the "Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan" (ACSDA), and was organized by the lobbying firm Bob Lawrence & Associates.

Main Source: 
Harper's magazine, September 17, 2007

Busting an Energy Lobby Front Group

by Sheldon Rampton — September 14, 2007 - 11:04am

"Americans for American Energy," a front group for oil and gas companies, sent around an email incorrectly claiming that Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal supports its agenda.

Main Source: 
Casper Star-Tribune (Wyoming), September 13, 2007

Democracy Now! Looks at Pro-War PR, From Freedom's Watch to Petraeus

by John Stauber — September 13, 2007 - 9:59am

Democracy Now! reports: "President Bush's prime time address before the nation tonight culminates a carefully orchestrated public relations campaign to win support for the continuation of the war in Iraq.

Main Source: 
Democracy Now, September 13, 2007

Featured Participatory Project: Help Expose the Attempts to Spin Wikipedia (Week 2)

by Conor Kenny — September 5, 2007 - 1:24am

Last week we started a new participatory project to expose the government agencies, corporations and lobbying groups that have been censoring, whitewashing or otherwise spinning Wikipedia.

Main Source: 
SourceWatch Project on Tracking Attempts to Spin Wikipedia

Outsourcing Firms Bring Lobbying Business to the U.S.

by Diane Farsetta — August 29, 2007 - 4:06pm

"As the 2008 U.S. election starts to sizzle, the Indian outsourcing firms have returned to win Washington over as veritable insiders, slicker and better connected than ever," reports Anand Giridharadas.

Main Source: 
International Herald Tribune, August 15, 2007

The Other Half of the Nuclear Industry's Power Couple: Christine Todd Whitman

by Diane Farsetta — August 27, 2007 - 9:37am
  • Topics: Front Groups, Nuclear Power, Corporations, Fake TV News, Health, Lobbying, Public Relations

    • "Was it wrong to try to get the city back on its feet as quickly as possible?" an exasperated Christine Todd Whitman asked members of Congress. The occasion was Whitman's first appearance before the House subcommittee investigating her handling of New York air quality issues post-9/11, when she headed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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