Big Money, Little Truth
Some Republicans are finally acknowledging the role of anonymous corporate money in buying influence, but ads funded by those dollars remain misleading. The $50 million "House Surge Strategy" is largely funded by anonymous corporate donors, including the billionaire-managed American Action Network, the Karl Rove-affiliated American Crossroads, and a relative newcomer, the Commission on Hope, Growth, and Opportunity.
It's Not Your Local Chamber
Contrary to what most people believe, and what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. would like people to think, it has no relationship at all to most local chambers of commerce. It is the biggest lobbyist in D.C., but pays no taxes, and forty percent of its money comes from just 26 corporations who seek to anonymously attack U.S. legislators whose stands on issues threaten their interests.
Republican Front Group Urges Latinos NOT to Vote
A front group called Latinos for Reform is running a 60-second ad on Nevada TV that urges Latinos NOT to vote in the upcoming mid-term election, telling them it is the way to punish Democrats for failing to pass immigration reform within the first years of Barack Obama's presidency. The group's treasurer, Susan Arceneaux, was active in Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the treasurer of FreedomWorks and was an aide to Dick Armey.
Millionaire Insiders Hide Behind Group Attacking Feingold
An activist group called SpeechNow.Org is running ads against Senator Russ Feingold. It blames him for the deficit and claims that clean election laws he spearheaded are “attacking free speech.” But who’s really behind SpeechNow’s folksy, cartoon attack ads?
Special Report on Outrageous Election Spin and Misinformation
Doesn't it seem like there are more negative political campaign ads than ever before?
It's difficult to watch almost any TV without being bombarded with repetitive ads "paid for" by some group that claims to be just like you, or like someone you want to be, like "Americans for Prosperity" and its so-called "Prosperity Network." But you can help fight back.
With most everyone else tightening their belts as the economy staggers back from the meltdown caused by Wall Street gambling, who can afford to blanket our airwaves with scary "independent" political ads? Wall Street. But these fat cats are trying to hide their role in this obscene wave of mid-term election spending by funneling their profits through front groups. Together we can shine a light on their efforts to take control of our democracy.
Anti-Abortion Group Runs Over-TheTop Ad for Egg-Rights Amendment
Clip from Amendment 62 video that portrays Obama as the "Angel of Death"The anti-abortion group Personhood Colorado, now known as "Personhood USA," is once again pursuing a ballot initiative in Colorado -- Amendment 62 -- that would change the state's constitution to declare a fertilized human egg a human being. The measure would classify embryos as "persons" under the law, outlaw abortion, and make illegal all forms of contraception except barrier methods. Personhood USA is circulating an over-the-top video to promote Amendment 62 that credits the state of Colorado with initiating the "decline of America." The ad falsely claims that the new health reform law "contains massive abortion funding," refers to the "billion-dollar abortion industry," and says Roe v. Wade resulted from "men in black robes... plotting in Washington, D.C." who "hated traditional American values, especially life and liberty." Against scary music and a dark background, the ad portrays President Barack Obama as the "Angel of Death."
The Ubiquitous "Too Much Big Government" Theme
We hear it everywhere this election season. Candidates, ads and TV pundits say we have "too much big government!" Virtually any attempt to regulate or tax any industry is a government intrusion into our lives. Candidates say they want less government. What's up with this ubiquitous, anti-government theme?
The "Government intrusion" argument is a powerful propaganda theme that has been around for a long time, and one that big businesses often use to manipulate public opinion. As with so many other corporate-derived propaganda tools, the anti-government theme originated largely with the tobacco industry, which has relied on it for decades to get its way in public policy.
The Kochs, Glenn Beck and Titans of Industry Met to Plot 2010 Elections
ThinkProgress has discovered that the oil billionaire brothers, David H. and Charles G. Koch, who played a key role in creating and funding the Tea Party movement, hold a quiet annual, invitation-only gathering where they coordinate their political agenda with other titans of industry -- including the big health insurers, oil executives, Wall Street investors, real estate tycoons, conservative journalists and TV opinion show stars like Glenn Beck. ThinkProgress obtained a memo (pdf) that gives details about the Koch's last gathering in June, 2010. It exposes a symbiotic relationship between multi-billion dollar corporations and much of America's conservative infrastructure. Corporations represented at Kochs' meeting include businesses with a strong profit motive to block the progressive reforms President Obama is pursuing, like in areas of health care and clean energy. Participants also include consultants, like Tim Phillips, who specialize in creating fake grassroots "movements. The memo also shows that Fox News Channel opinion star Beck has been collaborating with the Kochs and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which explains why Beck asks his viewers to donate to the Chamber and why he claims that the Chamber -- the biggest and best-funded business lobby in the country -- simply "defends the little guy."
