Busted: Late-Night Cover-Up Follows Blogger’s Published Investigation of Anti-Palin “Astroturf” Campaign
“Astroturfing,” according to Wikipedia is…
formal public relations campaigns in politics and advertising which seek to create the impression of being spontaneous “grassroots” behavior, hence the reference to the artificial grass, AstroTurf.
A team led by By Dr. Rusty Shackleford at The Jawa Report has busted wide open an “astroturf” campaign that generated and distributed false smears about Sarah Palin. Their investigation sniffed out the source of a series of anti-Palin YouTubes designed to look like home-made videos launched as part of a “grassroots” campaign. Read the entire report, Hope, Change, & Lies: Orchestrated “Grassroots” Smear Campaigns & the People that Run Them here.
The bottom line:
While not conclusive, evidence suggests a link to the Barack Obama campaign. Namely:* Evidence suggests that a YouTube video with false claims about Palin was uploaded and promoted by members of a professional PR firm.
* The family that runs the PR firm has extensive ties to the Democratic Party, the netroots, and are staunch Obama supporters.
* Evidence suggests that the firm engaged in a concerted effort to distribute the video in such a way that it would appear to have gone viral on its own. Yet this effort took place on company time.
* Evidence suggests that these distribution efforts included actions by at least one employee of the firm who is unconnected with the family running the company.
* The voice-over artist used in this supposedly amateur video is a professional.
* This same voice-over artist has worked extensively with David Axelrod’s firm, which has a history of engaging in phony grassroots efforts, otherwise known as “astroturfing.”
* David Axelrod is Barack Obama’s chief media strategist.
* The same voice-over artist has worked directly for the Barack Obama campaign.
This suggests that false rumors and outright lies about Sarah Palin and John McCain being spread on the internet are being orchestrated by political partisans and are not an organic grassroots phenomenon led by the left wing fringe.
This suggests that false rumors and outright lies about Sarah Palin and John McCain being spread on the internet are being orchestrated by political partisans and are not an organic grassroots phenomenon led by the left wing fringe.
Michelle Malkin has a great summary report here that includes screenshots.
Once the story broke late Sunday night/early Monday morning on The Jawa Report, a swift cover-up attempt ensued, including the sudden deletion of all references to “astroturfing” in David Axelrod’s Wikipedia page.
Excellent work by Shackleford’s team at Jawa. Let’s help them force this story into the Mainstream, using REAL grassroots muscle. Here are the links again:
The Jawa Report, Hope, Change, & Lies: Orchestrated “Grassroots” Smear Campaigns & the People that Run Them
Michelle Malkin, Bloggers sniff out anti-Palin astroturf campaign– and the cover up begins
XCELLENT ARTICLE TD….thanks for posting it.
The coverup spells guilt. If this guy were just some left wing nutjob posting youtubes on his own, he would have relished the exposure to his handiwork.
The FACT that he has deleted the videos AND his whole Youtube Account, shows that he is trying to cover up something.
Looks like his close ties to Axelrod are explosive.
Would you be surprised??? Obama and the media, which breathlessly spreads it all around…creepy together….
I have an announcement, in the meantime….apropros….
IA welcomes GRAIL GUARDIAN today as a new contributor!!
Selling America: Why the MSM Can’t Tell the Truth
http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com/2008/09/22/selling-america-why-the-msm-cant-tell-the-truth/
Her take on why the MSM (among others) works to keep us uninformed…with a rallying cry to all PUMAs!!!
[...] *Breaking* Sophisticated Anti-Palin Smear Campaign Tied To Axelrod? « td blog [...]
An amazing story. Thanks for sharing it.
But it really is no surprise to us, is it?
The MSM will not cover this story, either. My local paper still has not mentioned the hacking of Sarah Palin’s e-mail account or of Bill O’Reilly’s website.
Today’s coverage of the Sarah Palin rally, where she drew a crowd of 60,000+, consisted of EXACTLY the same talking points that I read multiple times on the Web yesterday:
It was a friendly crowd, she didn’t take questions, she repeated her usual mantra, they controlled access. EVERY POINT that the Obamabots posted on blogs all over the Internet yesterday was covered by the story in my local paper. Nowhere in the story did they mention the crowd size.
Has anyone EVER seen a similar story about Obama, noting how he controls access (Invesco), won’t take questions (Sweetie, no town hall meetings with McCain), repeats himself (hope, change), goes only to friendly venues (KOS Convention)?
Not to mention that to draw large crowds he has to bookend his speeches with free concerts and provide refreshments, too?
Didn’t think so.
Everybody’s talking about the $700 billion bailout of the economy, but nobody’s talking about Obama’s $850 billion “Global Poverty Act” which is welfare for the world, courtesy of the US taxpayer.
[...] Russ. Hyscience Astroturffing from the Obama Campaign? | …gettingpaidtowatch ProLifeBlogs *Breaking* Sophisticated Anti-Palin Smear Campaign Tied To Axelrod? « td blog Who do you think is behind the Palin Smears? « Count Us Out Riehl World View miamipress.net | [...]
CSPAN has this – McCaign campaign talked about it today on CSPAN- this and Ayers – it was awesome.
They’re pissed – Obama goes after any of the networks that provide anything negative about him, despite the negative news being true – and stops them from processing it further.
CSPAN carried it today – it was beautiful.
Atlas Shrugs has a comment where “Clyde” points out a connection between these companies and someone in Chicago who once belonged to the SDS. Interesting.
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/09/obama-and-co-be.html#comments
Yeah, Mr. Hopey-Changey who said he wants to change the way things are done in Washington, pulls this. I guess this is his change…he can run a dirtier and sneakier campaign than anyone on Washington ever could in the past. This is nothing more than Chicago politics gone national.
David Kernell – the son of TN Democrat Mike Kernell is at this time being credited with the Palin hack
A cross post from The New Agenda, responding to a suggestion that Senator Obama was the ONLY choice for president because he was a staunch supporter of the right to choose and equal pay for women. Suggesting that women were mistaken to be focused on sexism. Obviously, I disagree.
# # #
In the spirit of debate and fact, and in recognition of the truth that most “truths” aren’t as simple as we might like, I offer up the following:
The statement has been made that we should elect the candidate that “supports” the right to choose and equal pay and that this candidate is (stated as fact) Senator Obama. Not so fast. Bring back the silverware.
Women are accused of being myopic to focus on sexism to the exclusion of what, I presume from the tone of the referenced comment, are the two more pressing issues, overshadowing all else.
For the moment, we’ll set aside the mounting evidence that Senator Obama has no record of action on either of these topics to back up his rhetoric (I suggest reading the review in The Economist (9/18) of the Freddoso book “The Case Against Barack Obama” for more on that and the broader topic it suggests).
Rather, there are two interesting notes with respect to the comment related to the right to choose and equal pay.
I’m not sure where it has ever been stated that Senator McCain or Governor Palin are opposed to equal pay. That’s certainly a new one. But, looking at facts, looking at, for example, the staffs of the two Senators, as was done recently by some determined investigative reporters, the facts are that there is a far greater disparity in pay between men and women doing comparable work in the offices of Senator Obama than in the offices of Senator McCain.
I’m sure there are reasons that are unknown to anyone else for the disparity (which I assume will be supplied here shortly) but at least it’s a fact. More reliable, at least as a starting point, than a promise in a speech or platform. But, again, I’m not clear on the citation to McCain or Palin’s opposition to equal pay. At least in action, there is a pattern. And, it does not make Senator Obama the “only” choice as is suggested. Or even the right choice.
The other issue is more difficult, obviously. Governor Palin is certainly a “pro-life” Republican. No doubt about it and she is clear on that, both in speech and in personal action. That is her personal belief.
But, again, waving this flag to scare off female voters is simplistic and manipulative (in my opinion), especially when coupled with an implicit suggestion that we ignore Senator Obama’s shortcomings across the board and focus only on what he says, which changes by the day, polls and audience.
When asked directly about Roe v. Wade, the Kryptonite to which some would like to expose Governor Palin, thus automatically disqualifying her from ever receiving the vote of a female in this country, Governor Palin gave an interesting answer [I always like to hear what someone thinks from them rather than someone else]. She was asked, in her interview on Fox News, what she would do, as Governor of Alaska, should the federal decision in Roe v. Wade be overturned, would she support a state action in this area. Her answer was: That would be up to the people of the State of Alaska.
I thought it was a reasoned response and reflective of an elected “representative” of a citizenry.
My point? Simply that, as usual, things are not as simple as they might be made to seem.
A personal disclosure, for whatever it’s worth, if required. I’m not a woman but I was raised by an incredible woman after my dad’s passing when I was relatively young, had two amazing sisters, married a very special woman and now have two remarkable daughters. Politically, I vote the candidate. I was a very strong Hillary Clinton supporter (always thought she was the better half of that marriage — still do) and am impressed by Governor Palin. I’ve always been impressed by John McCain though occasionally exasperated by him. I did not like the “surge” idea and thought he was sinking his campaign to so doggedly support it. Well, he was right. As even Senator Obama has said, it has succeeded “beyond our wildest dreams.” McCain has always been like that. There is no question in my mind that he does what he thinks is the right thing in the circumstances. Like or don’t like his politics, that’s the man we all know. He’s been around too long for any opposition attempt to re-cast him to work.
The notion that he’s Bush III is just absurd. Senator Obama has voted far more in lock step with his party than has Senator McCain and Senator McCain’s entire political history is marked with the occasions of his bucking his own party to forge consensus.
If you’ll remember, there was even talk last time around of trying to get John McCain to switch parties and run on the DEMOCRATIC ticket. His immediate challenge this cycle came, not from the Democrats, but from the conservative wing of his own party.
Anyway, this is about the notion that Senator Obama is the ONLY choice a woman could make because of two issues: right to choose and equal pay.
I obviously disagree, I can see any number of reasons for women — and men — to vote the McCain/Palin ticket in November. Throwing Roe v. Wade and Bush-Clone around isn’t going to change that. It rings hollow.
Call it woman’s intuition. Which I wish I had. For me, it’s just calling it like I see it and trusting my gut. Oh, and looking under the surface for “the rest of the story.”
td or anyone
can we still access post about how to file a phil berg type lawsuit in separate states?
thanks
Hey TD
and everyone- been out of the loop lately- here’s something you’ll want to read if you haven’t already:
http://jaltcoh.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-obama-lost-me.html
rosettasister, presumably the underlying purpose of your inquiry into filing lawsuits in each of the separate states to question BO’s eligibility for POTUS; is to keep him out of the White House. But if you want to keep him off the ballot, the simplest way is to keep him off the ballot. And while the deadline for contesting the eligibility of candidates appearing on state ballots has passed in most states, in some states, challenges can be filed up to the date of the election. You can either look up the law for your state or call your S of S. (In most states, the S of S oversees elections.)
Wow, once you think they’ve pushed the limit of nasty things to try and win this election they push the limit and do something else. I can’t believe they’d even doing this, it’s freaking childish.
The democratic party is a sad, sad pitiful thing right now -.-;
That’s probably the case. Axelrod, Plouffe and Obama’s other cronies have daily communication with NBC and other main media networks including MSNBC, NYTimes, the Associated Press, dailykos, moveon.org, etc.
Axelrod, Plouffe, etc, are very evil people.
Axelrod may have had Jewish heritage, but he’s not a real Jew. If it were up to him, Israel would be destroyed.
McCain has paid his female employees higher salaries than Obama would pay his so the line by Obama’s supporters amount “equal pay” is crap.
jbjd
Thank you.
Very kind of you to reply.
Obama will be taking the next three days off for his “debate tutorial” basking in Tampa, or so he says.
Why is it I get a gut feeling that he (or his minions representing him) might be in Philly before a Judge to submit his true COLB plus other documents which he was instructed to do by Sept. 24th, and not in Tampa?
This was just a spontaneous thought on my part. Maybe Phillip Berg will post more on this issue.
I actually wrote an article on some of Axelrods smear tactics a while ago… and found out that he is especially well known for playing the race card. I know… your shocked LOL.
The background info I found was actually pretty shocking, especially the Mayorial race in Philly a few years back.
Some good info for ya here…
http://texashillblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/why-did-mccain-come-down-hard-on-race-card-axelrod-is-famous-for-it/
Bill O’Reilly was carrying Obama’s water again last night. He covered this story, which amazed me, but he talked over the woman who was trying to explain it, especially whenever she made a good point about the ties to Obama’s campaign.
Now I think that the only reason O’Reilly covered the story might be to tamp down the fire for Obama.
O’Reilly pooh-poohed any connection to the Obama campaign. He said that Axelrod used that PR firm 10 years ago, so that’s not a good enough indication that Obama was involved.
Then he had the nerve to point out that Sarah Palin’s address to that convention “tied her” to the party, but he didn’t explain anything about the nature of those “ties”. He left the impression that at least part of the video was true.
Suddenly, I got the notion that the Obama camp feeds talking points to O’Reilly. Could this be because O’Reilly has a lot of “independent” viewers? Is the Obama camp courting him?
O’Reilly has had a bug in his rear for a long time because he thinks that he’s unfairly characterized in the MSM (he is). Maybe he’s flattered by attention from Obama. He really seemed to fall under Obama’s spell, when he interviewed him. O’Reilly claims to “admire” Obama because of his “story.”
Yeah, it’s a story, all right.
The reason that I suspect that O’Reilly might be getting talking points is mainly because of that “10 years ago line.”
It sure sounds to me like the “I was 8 years old when Ayres set bombs” excuse.
I don’t know what’s up with O’Reilly. I used to think that he was just giving lip service to Obama until he could score that big interview. But he still seems to bend over backwards to protect Obama from criticism, especially when it seems to have a basis in fact.
I’m going to stop watching and listening to him, except that I do so enjoy those Dennis Miller rants.
TD: People need to see the post @ NoQuarter (and the front page of FoxNews.com). The lead:
“. . . Gwen Ifill, who is currently slated to moderate Thursday’s vice-presidential debate, has written a pro-Obama book that is to be published on January 20, 2009. Yes, Inauguration Day!”
Not only is the book about Obama, it’s about the rising AA stars in American politics, with him as the centerpiece.
Can you imagine what will happen to her book sales based on whether he WINS or LOSES?!
This is madness!!!!
And, no, the McCain campaign was not told about the book.. Ifill is also an Oprah pal. This is like letting the Obama campaign run the debate. Who are these people that they don’t see anything wrong with this.