When you claim that a grassroots group isn't a grassroots group -- beware of actual grassroots activists.
That's the lesson reporter Sharon Male of Parade Magazine learned when she attacked Patients United Now, the health care project of the free-market Americans for Prosperity Foundation, in the July 12 magazine. Under the headline "Are Grassroots Activists for Real?" she claimed that some "so-called grassroots campaigns" "are actually sophisticated marketing campaigns financed by businesses and special interest groups." Male cited the leftist Public Citizen's accusations of "astroturf" campaigns led by "ultra-wealthy individuals who have little in common with regular Americans," and the reporter bemoaned the fact that "grassroots movements are unregulated."
AFP Foundation let its members know Parade was questioning their existence, and they responded by overwhelming Male and her editor with nearly 5,000 e-mails.
One member wrote: "I am concerned about an article by Sharon Male which appeared in the last issue of Parade. Ms. Male refers to the Americans for Prosperity Foundation as an 'Astroturf' foundation and, as such, rather derisively shrugs off the concerns of many Americans who do not favor the current health care reform plans being proposed by Obama and his Congress. ... I believe a correction in your magazine is in order."
Another wrote: "I wanted to make sure Parade Magazine knows I am, in fact a real, live grassroots American who simply loves my nation and want to do my part to preserve my freedoms by stopping government-run health care. I have no affiliation to the healthcare industry except that as a citizen and concerned party and do not agree with our government's movements for nationalized plans."
AFP Foundation members reported receiving out-of-office replies from the reporter's and editor's e-mails on July 15. As of this writing, no correction has been issued online.
Patients United Now is dedicated to educating Americans about the dangers of government-controlled health care.
Parade magazine cover image via Parade.com
Amy Menefee serves as Director of Communications for Americans for Prosperity (AFP).
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Real Grassroots?
July 16, 2009 - 10:18 ET by CaringwhiteguyNow here is a "REAL" grassroots organization.
http://sfbay.craigsl...
hmmmm
July 16, 2009 - 14:03 ET by Kekela WardOddly enough, after the story hit Drudge, the post was taken down.
Too bad, the pay was pretty good for a "grassroots" kind of thing.....
Sam: "I hurt somebody's feelings once"
Re hmmm
July 16, 2009 - 14:33 ET by slickwillie2001I still see it: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/gov/1272054051.html
There may be a bunch of them in different cities.
Really?
July 16, 2009 - 10:08 ET by Red Devil DawgSo under this liberal hack's logic, moveon.org would be astroturf as well, right? I doubt she would ever make that connection, now would she? What an idiot!
"grassroots movements are
July 16, 2009 - 10:14 ET by XJ.Jon"grassroots movements are unregulated." Really???
As I see it, they SHOULD be unregulated!! What the hell is this? China? USSA????
Get these people outta here!
Americans Determined to Preserve Liberty fb group - <http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129581096180>
Parade
July 16, 2009 - 10:50 ET by ricklailWe started getting Parade in our paper last Sunday. I read the article but brushed it off as being just another Nimord claiming to be a reporter.
Semper suprene nitens
North Carolina now has the worst government money can buy.
Now hiring grassroots activists!
July 16, 2009 - 10:50 ET by slickwillie2001Related: Craigslist posting (!) to hire grassroots activists, $11-16/hr. (I doubt it offers a healthcare plan!):
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/gov/1272054051.html
Slick
July 16, 2009 - 13:30 ET by ricklailThey have taken the link down. Is this what Drudge was refering to?
Semper suprene nitens
North Carolina now has the worst government money can buy.
YES
July 16, 2009 - 13:54 ET by CaringwhiteguyYES
Here it is. I saved it to word.
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I used to read Parade but
July 16, 2009 - 11:18 ET by d1carterI used to read Parade but now it just goes in the trash...
Right. Let's Shut Everybody Up!
July 16, 2009 - 11:41 ET by rammingspeedRegulating grass roots organizations! Brilliant! That wipes out everything on the left, which is addicted to grass roots organizing. Ms. Male is representative of the thoughtless liberal stooge brigade sloshing around out there.
Come on... don't cha know?
July 16, 2009 - 11:58 ET by AJBYou can only be real if you're socialist and grass-rooting for socialist causes. Otherwise, you're liars, cheats, rich, snobby, astroturf, or tea-baggers. Thank GOODNESS the media is fair and unbiased. What would they do if they weren't?
Ms. Male is typical of the leftist libs...
July 16, 2009 - 12:17 ET by PrairieSkyThey love grassroots, "common folk" organizations so long as these organizations epsouse causes/concerns that the left agrees with...Otherwise, watch out. In those cases, the leftist libs will do whatever they can to silence those supporting a cause, and if that doesn't work, to smear and diminish the cause and its supporters.
More leftist hypocrisy...
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
"...some "so-called
July 16, 2009 - 12:45 ET by mattm"...some "so-called grassroots campaigns" "are actually sophisticated marketing campaigns financed by businesses and special interest groups."
Like, say, ah, ACORN, FairVote, Common Cause, MoveOn, etc. etc. ad nauseum...
mattm...Excellent!
July 16, 2009 - 13:09 ET by PrairieSkyExcellent! Good call.
The left's hypocrisy is so blatantly obvious, yet they either don't see it, or they just don't care...I don't know which would be worse....I really don't.
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
Grassroots?
July 16, 2009 - 14:46 ET by Joseph BrownDid I waste 12 years of my life in the military so some walking, talking human bedsore could write tripe like that? I don't think so!
But I'll give her a pass...this time.
Walking, talking
July 16, 2009 - 16:07 ET by UpNorthBedsore? LOL JB. and 1000's of solar roofs in Ca? No wonder they have electrical brown outs and rolling blackouts. How about: turn a retention pond into a swimming pool initiative? I"d suggest turning freeways into parking lots, but California is already the nation's leader in that.
Parade Rag issue a
July 16, 2009 - 16:17 ET by bigtimerParade Rag issue a correction...I'm not holding my breath.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart