Energy interests to fund ‘astroturfing’ efforts during congressional break

[Shallah Kali]

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-08-07-fossil-fuel-backed-groups-plan-massive-astroturf-effort-over-con/

Grist reported yesterday that the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, the group whose money ultimately funded the forged letters, has planned a $1 million ad and “volunteer” blitz over the August congressional recess aimed at Senate Democrats in coal-dependent states. The group plans to organize 225,000 “volunteers” in what its calling “America’s Power Army,” to attend town hall meetings, fairs and other functions attended by members of Congress. ACCCE’s paid staff will work to round up volunteers, providing them with “information or T-shirts” and encouraging them to ask questions of the legislators.

The group is also leading a “road trip in search of a better climate solution” over recess, which you can follow on Twitter. The tour is stopping in the states of various fence-sitting Democrats. Via Twitter, ACCCE staffers offer such insight as, “Team Ohio love Dougs Claaaic burgers and Affordable Energy” and “Leroy, who works at a local steel company thinks affordable clean coal is the future.”

ACCCE spokesman Joe Lucas maintains that “this is the purest form of grassroots .... It’s facilitating constituents to talk one-on-one with members of Congress.” Except, ACCCE has the pockets of Big Coal backing it, with its members including giants like Southern Company, Peabody Energy Corp, and Arch Coal.

ACCCE officials also said that despite the forged letters fiasco (which has prompted a congressional investigation and a campaign urging the Department of Justice to investigate whether wire fraud was committed), they intend to work with Hawthorn Group on this new project. Hawthorn, if you haven’t been following the play-by-play, is the ACCCE contractor that in turn subcontracted with Bonner & Associates, the group that sent the forged letters. “We’re not going to throw the baby out with the bath water here,” said Lucas.

snip

Americans for Prosperity is also funded largely by Koch Industries. It also received funding from ExxonMobil, back when the organizations was known as Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation, before changing its name in 2003. Tim Phillips, the group’s leader, tried to deny their relationship to Exxon on the Rachel Maddow Show on Thursday, in a segment detailing how AFP and other astroturf groups are using a variety of tactics create the impression that most Americans are opposed to action on health care and energy.

Not to be forgotten, Newt Gingrich’s American Solutions for Winning the Future (of “Drill Here, Drill Now” fame) is also jumping into the astroturf game, running an anti-climate bill petition on its website and providing “tools” for the recess. His group is heavily funded by Peabody, American Electric Power, and other oil and gas producers. Gingrich has also signed on as an official cosponsor of the tea-baggers movement.

Please go to the link to read the entire article w/links to info cited:
http://www.grist.org/article/2009-08-07-fossil-fuel-backed-groups-plan-massive-astroturf-effort-over-con/

[aquart]

1. Finally the Republicans have a jobs program!