US Chamber of Commerce investigating political oppenents, their familes and their children...

[cynatnite]

Earlier today, ThinkProgress published an exclusive report that the law firm representing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a right-wing trade association representing big business, is working with set of “private security” companies and lobbying firms to undermine their political opponents, including ThinkProgress. According to e-mails obtained by ThinkProgress, the Chamber hired the lobbying firm Hunton and Williams. Attorneys for the firm solicited a set of private security firms — HB Gary Federal, Palantir, and Berico Technologies (collectively called Team Themis) — to develop a sabotage campaign against progressive groups and labor unions, including ThinkProgress, the labor coalition Change to Win, SEIU, US Chamber Watch, and StopTheChamber.com.

New emails reveal that the private spy company investigated the families and children of the Chamber’s political opponents. The apparent spearhead of this project was Aaron Barr, an executive at HB Gary. Barr circulated numerous emails and documents detailing information about political opponents’ children, spouses, and personal lives.

One of the targets was Mike Gehrke, a former staffer with Change to Win. Among the information circulated about Gehrke was the specific “Jewish church” he attended and a link to pictures of his wife and two children (sensitive information was redacted by ThinkProgress):



This tactic of targeting opponents’ personal lives and family was not simply a random event. Rather, it was a concerted and deliberate effort to use anything possible to smear the Chamber’s political opponents. To dramatize his firm’s intimidation tactics, Barr sent an email to Hunton & Williams attorney John Woods that contained personal details about fellow Hunton attorney Richard Wyatt, who was representing the Chamber. The email was intended to show Woods and Wyatt how “vulnerable” they are:



http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/10/chamberleaks-target-families/

[rucky]

1. Paging Anonymous...

I think we've found the next hack.

[drm604]

2. This was the work of Anonymous.

They hacked those emails.

[mike_c]

3. Anon already turned HBGary inside out....

What a joke. They're "security specialists," LOL. :rofl:

[NuclearDem]

9. Those "security specialists" got hacked by a bunch of teenagers and college kids

Maybe the USCC should reconsider who they have do their dirty work? HBGary seems like a bunch of amateurs! :rofl:

[Ian David]

4. We should avoid local business that are members of the local chamber of commerce, shouldn't we? n/t

[cheri010353]

6. Not necessarily...

Many local Chambers have distanced themselves from the National group and are considering dropping their affiliation with it. They are not the same.

[Newest Reality]

5. It has been looking like there is more

than just commerce involved in these COC operations, judging by their nature.

Gee, in my fantasy, where would I expect a new regime to emerge from in America, considering the financial theme here? Just ruminating.

[Octafish]

7. Corporate Gestapo

Children targeted shows we are in NAZI times.

[StarsInHerHair]

8. I remember Paris Hilton's parents investigating the DA trying to do a smear

campaign against him when she was caughtv with weed or some other drug. This doesn't surprise me, it's the wealthys' MO

[Rex]

10. Why would this be a surprise!? They sleep with the GOP every night!

I can't wait for anon to finally destroy these people. They are only interested in hurting America and since responsible people won't step in and put a stop to it, it is now up to Anonymous. Personally, I'd rather have the responsible people step up in govt - but we don't have those kind anymore. Just spineless yes men.

[frylock]

11. hbgary would be smart to dump this aaron barr dumbshit, post haste..

security expert my ass. this shitstain is a security liability.