Businessweek, “The Secret Side of David Axelrod -The master of “Astroturfing: has a second firm that shapes public opinion for corporations-

by Howard Wolinsky 3/14/08

An excerpt:

“From the same River North address, Axelrod operates a second business, ASK Public Strategies, that discreetly plots strategy and advertising campaigns for corporate clients to tilt public opinion their way.

He and his partners consider virtually everything about ASK to be top secret, from its client roster and revenue to even the number of its employees. But customers and public records confirm that it has quarterbacked campaigns for the Chicago Children’s Museum, ComEd, Cablevision, and AT&T.

ASK’s predilection for operating in the shadows shows up in its work.

On behalf of ComEd and Comcast, the firm helped set up front organizations that were listed as sponsors of public-issue ads.

Industry insiders call such practices “Astroturfing,” a reference to manufacturing grassroots support. Alderman Brendan Reilly of the 42nd Ward, who has been battling the Children’s Museum’s relocation plans,

describes ASK as “the gold standard in Astroturf organizing.

This is an emerging industry, and ASK has made a name for itself in shaping public opinion and manufacturing public support

hmmm ok, sure…Axelrod had absolutely nothing to do with the Gov Palin smear campaign…Axelrod doesn’t know what the heck the fuss is all about.

Undercover Blackman is either unaware of Axelrod’s methods (from past campaigns) or he’s just playing coy.

Wiki content should always be verified-

I check last edit dates on wiki to see when last changes/updates made.

I check the references that are posted at the end of the wiki article. For me-this is a dead give away as to how much credence I should place on particular fact passed on in the article (i.e. if statement is sourced from tabloid which writes about flying saucers versus a conservative news publication versus a liberal website).

Whenever I read any articles about topics that can be politically sensitive-I proceed with GREAT caution when reading WIKIpedia.

Again-I check the source at the bottom of article whenever I encounter any ‘fact’ that I think might be slanted.

Wiki has its good points and bad points but I think we should not throw out the baby with the bathwater .

We can’t quote wiki as an irrefutable source of info either.

In general though, I refer to to it quite often as good starting off point.

I also verify anything controversial on the site to a second source.

This story is taking a life of its own and getting more interesting.
I’ve been surfing google and getting some great info’s about it.

Erick Erickson…

“The ties from Winner & Associates trace back to David Axelrod, chief strategist for Barack Obama. As previously noted, Axelroad is a master of astroturf campaigns. After the Jawa Report broke the story, someone mysteriously edited Axelrod’s Wikipedia entry to delete all references to his various astroturfing campaigns.”

“Couple the circumstantial evidence with the ongoing coverup — Axelrod’s Wikipedia entry suddenly edited, eswinner and friends removing evidence from the internet, etc. — and it appears the Jawa Report has uncovered a real story of organized online astroturfing designed to smear Sarah Palin on behalf of the Obama campaign”

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28656&s=rcmp

Ray Robinson…

“video from the Detroit Mayor’s office produced by Mayor Archer’s political consultant David Axelrod was noted as a key part of the Winner directed effort. This revelation places Axelrod in a direct working relationship with the Chuck Winner PR firm in a past campaign.”

“Axelrod is considered by many to be a master of planting campaign messages on the internet to look like they did not originate from an organized campaign, a practice know as “astroturfing” (because of the fake grass-roots nature of the message). The joint effort on the Prop E campaign is the first public indication of a direct tie between the Obama campaign team and the Winner PR firm.”

http://www.examiner.com/x-701-National-Defense-Examiner~y2008m9d22-PR-firm-behind-Palin-smears-has-history-with-Obama-media-chief-Axelrod

Granted these two reporters aren’t mainstream, but the details in the report seems plausible.
The one that will solidify this story would be the female voices on the video ads I’m sure there’s a more of out there. If they are proven to be the same…we have an “Astroturf-gate in our hands. Ohhh I’d love to see it on MSM breaking news.

http://archives.neuralgourmet.com/2007/03/22/obama_campaign_astroturfing

Look at how Soros’financed “Media Matters’ is trying to spin this (astro turfing) story in an effort to dismiss what may have really been going on.

http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200809230002?f=h_top

Published Tue, Sep 23, 2008 9:00am ET by Eric Boehlert

an excerpt.

“Jawa was at the center of an overexcited right-wing blog launch Monday morning (“extensive research” was involved!) with a completely circumstantial report that basically accused somebody who may or may not have had indirect relations with the Obama campaign of posting an anti-Palin video on YouTube “aimed at discouraging people from voting for McCain/Palin.” Period.

We know, it didn’t make much sense to us either. We guess Jawa’s point was that the Obama campaign was somehow trying to create the perception of a viral video when in fact the clip was professionally made. We’re talking real above-the-fold breaking news, right?

Well, it turns out the Los Angeles-based public relations specialist who Jawa accused of being the Obama bag man on the YouTube clip, Ethan Winner, did in fact create the video. He did it himself and paid for it himself and the campaign was not involved in making or spreading the YouTube clip. (Even if the Obama team was involved, so what?) ”

End of excerpt.

So…they think its okay why?
Media Matters thinks this is okay?
Media Matters…Remind us again what your mission statement is please.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Matters_for_America

Excerpt from wikipedia.org

“Funding sources
In May 2004, the New York Times reported that Media Matters has received “more than $2 million in donations from wealthy liberals” and “was developed with help from the newly formed Center for American Progress”.[23] According to the Cybercast News Service, Media Matters has received financial support from MoveOn.org, Peter Lewis, and the New Democratic Network.[24]

According to Bill O’Reilly and others, George Soros is funding Media Matters through Democracy Alliance — an organization of progressive donors.[25][26] The Democracy Alliance does not collect and distribute money on behalf of its members. Alliance members donate directly to the organizations of their choice.[27] Media Matters has stated publicly on numerous occasions that Soros has never given money to the organization either directly or through another organization.”

I bet Sean Hannity would be interested in it, he would love to nail that pretensious bastard.

Thanks,
Matthew