Front Groups

"Change" Meets Front Groups for the Status Quo

by Diane Farsetta — February 26, 2009 - 3:10pm

Following President Barack Obama's first address to Congress, which highlighted policy goals "ranging from expanding health-care coverage to cutting farm subsidies to cutting wasteful defense projects," corporate front groups are fighting back.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), February 26, 2009

Free Kick for Clothing and Footwear Front Group

by Bob Burton — February 10, 2009 - 12:15am

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which was passed in the wake of controversy over the manufacturing standards of Chinese toy companies, set new lead limits for toys, clothes and other products which are aimed at children under 12. Associated Press reports that the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Childrenswear -- which it states "represents manufacturers and family business workers" -- is leading the protests against the new standards.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, February 4, 2009

Berman Huddles with His Bailout Buddies

by Diane Farsetta — January 30, 2009 - 11:04am

"Three days after receiving $25 billion in federal bailout funds, Bank of America Corp. hosted a conference call with

Main Source: 
Huffington Post, January 27, 2009

Front Group King Rick Berman Gets Blasted by his Son, David Berman

by Anne Landman — January 30, 2009 - 11:00am
  • Topics: Front Groups, Ethics, Lobbying

    • Washington, D.C. lobbying scourge Richard B. "Rick" Berman is facing steadily increasing pushback these days, and some of it is coming from a surprising source -- his own son, musician David Berman.

    Berman has long been the front man through which corporations have aggressively attacked their opponents without leaving fingerprints. Known to his own friends and enemies alike as "Dr. Evil," Berman has perfected the art of setting up non-profit "charitable" groups to advance corporate interests. The groups have deceptively helpful-sounding names, like "Guest Choice Network," the "Employment Policies Institute" or the "Center for Consumer Freedom," but really serve as well-funded attack dogs for the tobacco, alcohol, chain restaurant, tanning and other industries. The groups' non-profit status makes their funding hard to trace, which has permitted Berman to operate in the shadows for decades while pocketing millions from unpopular industries for his work thwarting public interest legislation.

    Coal Industry Front Group's Dirty Tactics

    by Diane Farsetta — January 30, 2009 - 9:49am

    "Our goal is straightforward," wrote the head of the Center for Energy and Economic Development, now called the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. "Persuade states that voluntary sequestration activities and technology investments are appropriate policies to address climate change concerns, while government mandatory controls are not." The 2004 memo (pdf), written to the head of Peabody Energy, also details the industry front group's efforts to "sow discord among the RGGI states," the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative by ten U.S. states. That was done via front group-sponsored research that concluded the RGGI states would face "negative economic consequences" for reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while having "an infinitesimal affect on global GHG concentrations." On the federal level, the memo boasts, "We activated the Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC) citizen army to call targeted U.S. Senators," in opposition to the McCain-Lieberman climate change bill.

    Main Source: 
    DeSmog Blog, January 16, 2009

    CORE Shills Still Pushing for Drill, Baby, Drill

    by Diane Farsetta — January 6, 2009 - 12:19pm

    The industry-funded former civil rights group Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) continues to bash environmentalists, to the benefit of the energy industry.

    Main Source: 
    Deseret News (Utah), December 31, 2008

    Grassfire's Blitzkrieg of Fear Aimed at President-Elect Obama

    by John Stauber — November 19, 2008 - 4:15pm

    Analyst Meg White examines the "blitzkrieg of fear mongering and misinformation" being whipped up against President-elect Barack Obama. "One phalanx in the fight belongs to Grassfire.org. ... Grassfire sent out an e-mail designed to scare people into joining its 'army that is ready to take on Obama's agenda.' ...

    Main Source: 
    Buzzflash website, November 19, 2008

    How David Axelrod May Be Like Karl Rove

    by Diane Farsetta — November 13, 2008 - 6:08pm

    "If David Axelrod decides to join the Obama White House, he'll ... have to take an enormous pay cut and possibly reveal the extent of his lucrative corporate public relations work," reports Politico.

    Main Source: 
    Politico.com, November 13, 2008

    Lobbyist's Front Group Joins the Anti-ACORN Bandwagon

    by Diane Farsetta — October 30, 2008 - 12:58pm

    A full-page ad in the New York Times "accuses ACORN of a list of abuses that suggest hypocrisy on some of the group's signature issues: intimidating and firing its own employees if they try to unionize, misappropriating millions of dollars from taxpayer-funded government grants and advocating minimum wage hides while paying its own employees less than minimum wage." While the ad "does not indicate who or what organization paid for it," it comes from one of lobbyist

    Main Source: 
    ProPublica, October 29, 2008
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