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Ars Technica Discovers Astroturf
PR departments dressed up as consumer advocates

In the course of reporting on the dispute AT&T is having with municipalities over video franchising, Ars Technica apparently discovered astroturfing. It's a well discussed tactic around here, used by both cable and phone companies to convince lawmakers, the press and the public that there's grass roots support for initiatives that frequently only support the incumbent bottom line. Their latest story tells the tale of the Advanced Technology Alliance -- one of hundreds of groups that pretend to be consumer activists but are little more than public relations firms.

They're a problem because they obfuscate their funding, and their misleading marketing talking points frequently find their way into the public discourse and the national news as objective fact. Particularly amusing is one group member's testimony before a town council, which tries to get some straight admission of funding sources:

"Do you receive any money from AT&T?" he asks.

"I am not—we have a privacy policy that we do not disclose information about our members."

"Do you receive any money from Lucent?"

"We have a privacy policy—"

"How about Alcatel?"

"I'm not at liberty to talk about our contributions."

And one similar group's testimony before Congress:
Markey: Is your organization financially supported by the Bell [telephone] companies in any way?

Johnson: No, we're not.

Markey: At all.

Johnson: Yes, and let me elaborate upon that too. We're a relatively new organization.

Markey: No, that's OK. I can go along with that answer. That's fine. Thank you. And are you compensated in any way by the Bell companies?

Johnson: I have a consulting firm that works for a variety of companies, generally in the regulatory space.

Markey: But are the Bell companies amongst those companies that pay you?

Johnson: Yes.
These groups have been around for a while, but the telco entry into the TV business has resulted in many more of them pulling strings for both telcos and cable operators (see recent Common Cause report).
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POB
Res Firma Mitescere Nescit
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1 recommendation

POB

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People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

This really isn't surprising at all - Most people are unable to think critically for themselves or ask questions. They're dumb as a box of rocks and proud of it. It's why there is a sucker born every minute, although given the current criminal occupying the WH, I would probably amend that statement to 100,000 suckers born every minute. They are perfectly content to have all their thoughts issued to them by Fox News, Crush Lardbaugh, et al. and two dimensional, puppet Congre$$men and other errand boys like FCC Martin working for corporate taskmasters.

private marco

Anon

Re: People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

Thanks Major! I hope one day to acheive your rank so I can be smarter than eeryone else too. You should edit the last part of your post to say- The TRoll

hopeflicker
Capitalism breeds greed
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join:2003-04-03
Long Beach, CA

hopeflicker to POB

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to POB
said by POB:

This really isn't surprising at all - Most people are unable to think critically for themselves or ask questions. They're dumb as a box of rocks and proud of it. It's why there is a sucker born every minute, although given the current criminal occupying the WH, I would probably amend that statement to 100,000 suckers born every minute. They are perfectly content to have all their thoughts issued to them by Fox News, Crush Lardbaugh, et al. and two dimensional, puppet Congre$$men and other errand boys like FCC Martin working for corporate taskmasters.
Well said!
vinnie97
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join:2003-12-05
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vinnie97

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Re: People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

Oh, please, let's not pin all the deception on the right alone, most of which aren't true conservatives but liberals dressed up in conservatives' clothing (high taxation, bigger government, all the while touting financial responsibility). Rush Limbaugh already admitted to being a puppet when the Repubs lost both houses of Congress. Independent, conservative thinkers are the ones who have their heads screwed on properly, NOT the nanny state,sociocrats (Pelousy) who are about to take over in January.

TScheisskopf
World News Trust
join:2005-02-13
Belvidere, NJ

TScheisskopf

Member

Re: People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

Yeah, it's all Pelosi's fault. 12 years of Republican control of Congress, 6 of the presidency, the woman has not been sworn in yet...

But it's gotta be her fault. Because. Just because.
squid7
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join:2006-09-02

squid7

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Re: People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

That isn't what he said. The point was that the last 6 years of Congressional rule were by Republicans in name only and in his opinion (I'm guessing) the solution to the nation's ills reside with more Reganesque conservatism which would be lower taxes, smaller government, some hint of fiscal responsibility and self determination...none of which were shown by the current Congress and Executive.

I get the hint that he feels that Pelosi would be more of what we had (excessive taxation, excessive spending, etc).

TScheisskopf
World News Trust
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TScheisskopf

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Re: People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

said by squid7:

That isn't what he said. The point was that the last 6 years of Congressional rule were by Republicans in name only and in his opinion (I'm guessing) the solution to the nation's ills reside with more Reganesque conservatism which would be lower taxes, smaller government, some hint of fiscal responsibility and self determination...none of which were shown by the current Congress and Executive.

I get the hint that he feels that Pelosi would be more of what we had (excessive taxation, excessive spending, etc).
Sure, Squid. The Dems just deep-sixed ALL earmarks for at least one year and of course, that means large new excessive spending. You betcha. They just gored their own, and everyone elses oxen, and they are just gonna throw that money out the window by the hundredweight.

Is there any wonder why I have marks in my forehead the same size and shape as the function keys on my keyboard?

I don't begrudge opinions. At all. We all got 'em and they all stink. That said, my eyes tend to cross when I see posts here that are read as if they are ripped from the transcripts of radio bloviators. "Ohhhh! This one or that one is gonna kill your mother, rape your father and eat the family dog!!! And drive your car off a bridge! Run Away!!!"

I guess I am just a crochety old idealist: I look for better out of this joint.

Last but not least: Do look into the deficits left behind after the tenure of The Sainted One. Those were not thrifty times, by any means.

squid7
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squid7

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Re: People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

We'll see if they cut spending. My guess will be no. My guess is they'll raise spending and cut a deal with Bush just as they did his dad and raise taxes.

I would love nothing more than to be proven wrong about this.
vinnie97
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vinnie97

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Re: People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

oh, un-PC of you!

*applause*
squid7
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squid7 to Anon

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You are an embarrassment to Conservatism.
Expand your moderator at work
squid7

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said by POB:

...I would probably amend that statement to 100,000 suckers born every minute.
And 435 whores born every 2 years.

qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
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qdemn7

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Re: People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

said by squid7:
said by POB:

...I would probably amend that statement to 100,000 suckers born every minute.
And 435 whores born every 2 years.
Uh no. 435 + 33 = 467 whores every 2 years. 468 whores every 6 years. You forgot about the Senators.
squid7
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squid7

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Re: People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

My bad.
nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD

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although you will rarely go wrong in banking on the dumbness of the great unwashed masses, you can't blame it all on them.

A lot of these astroturf groups take great pains to obscure their links to the groups bankrolling them. Fortunately, to those with some modicum of intelligence and curiousity, most astroturf groups are obvious because of the zeal in which they support their masters.

Be careful, the masses may be dumb, but there's a lot of them.

cableties
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join:2005-01-27

cableties to POB

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to POB
Ha! You can't just cut off the head and think it will die.
All the lawmakers are on the take. They write the laws to obfuscate and mislead, meanwhile lining their own pockets.

They (political-machine) do not care about you or I unless it stops the flow (of cash) into the (pre-estimated) tax coffers.

And corporations are selling us out even more. Soon, China will own a great deal (of our politicos and properties and corps), along with other countries, and those that sold us out by then, will be long dead and (given a really nice) burial (again, you pickup the cost).

(Cough) Oh look someone from the "Made In Cal-e-phorn-ya" responding! Gee. Shouldn't it now be the Country of California? Gee, your Dems there do a world of good. Wish I could be that laid back...dude!
caco
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Whittier, AK

caco to POB

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said by POB:

This really isn't surprising at all - Most people are unable to think critically for themselves or ask questions. They're dumb as a box of rocks and proud of it. It's why there is a sucker born every minute, although given the current criminal occupying the WH, I would probably amend that statement to 100,000 suckers born every minute. They are perfectly content to have all their thoughts issued to them by Fox News, Crush Lardbaugh, et al. and two dimensional, puppet Congre$$men and other errand boys like FCC Martin working for corporate taskmasters.
It is always funny when you don't agree with some body it is always because "People are dumb". Your comments really have nothing do do with topic at hand.

Oh well, Merry Christmas.

qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
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join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX

qdemn7

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Re: People Are Just Dumb: No News Flash There

said by caco:

It is always funny when you don't agree with some body it is always because "People are dumb". Your comments really have nothing do do with topic at hand.
Marco isn't prejudiced, he hates everybody!

PolarBear03
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
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PolarBear03

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Arguments

Those discussions are absolutely hilarious!

It reminds me of arguing with my ex-wife!
squid7
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join:2006-09-02

squid7

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See it every day...

On Cox I see neutrality commercials from the cable industry all the time; Net Neutrality: a scheme to make silicon valley fat cats rich at the expense of cable customers. It's a joke but it will be a message passed on to Congress by one of these astroturf groups claiming that consumers not having cable/telco competitor services degraded is somehow bad for consumers.

Muni Wi-Fi the same thing...that better service and cheaper prices are bad for consumers.

jslik
That just happened
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join:2006-03-17

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jslik

Premium Member

Considering....

...how much of the rhetoric from these front groups is parroted (including on this site), it's not surprising that more companies are getting into astroturfing.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: Considering....

quote:
...how much of the rhetoric from these front groups is parroted (including on this site)
I'm afraid you'll have to provide me an example where we've ever parroted a fake consumer telecom astroturf group....

jslik
That just happened
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jslik

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Re: Considering....

said by Karl Bode:

I'm afraid you'll have to provide me an example where we've ever parroted a fake consumer telecom astroturf group....
Sorry, I meant the comment threads, not the posts.

TScheisskopf
World News Trust
join:2005-02-13
Belvidere, NJ

TScheisskopf to Karl Bode

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said by Karl Bode:

quote:
...how much of the rhetoric from these front groups is parroted (including on this site)
I'm afraid you'll have to provide me an example where we've ever parroted a fake consumer telecom astroturf group....
Oh gawrsh, Karl! There is never, ever, ever the aroma of astroturf emanating from the comments. Nope. Never. Not one bit.