Community | October 13, 2010 | 93 comments

(Astro) Turf Wars: How Corporate America Faked a Grassroots Revolution

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-grandia/video-disputes-charles-ko_b_761449.html?ref=twitter

ras_menelik
A video clip has been released today showing billionaire industrialist David Koch on stage getting reports from regional organizers on their efforts to rally the Tea Party movement.

David Koch, who has received a lot of attention lately for the millions he has spent over the years boosting right-wing organizations like Americans for Prosperity, has tried on numerous occasions to distance himself from the supposedly "grassroots" Tea Party phenomenon.

Case in point, David Koch told New York magazine this summer in an interview that:

"I've never been to a tea-party event. No one representing the tea party has ever even approached me."

The clip released today, taken from a new documentary called (Astro) Turf Wars: How Corporate America Faked a Grassroots Revolution, clearly shows David Koch receiving reports from regional Tea Party organizers:



In another attempt to distance Koch from the Tea Party, earlier this year I received an email from a representative from Koch Industries stating that,

"Because you have covered tea parties in the past and we imagine you will cover tomorrow's Tax Day Tea Party in DC, we want to reiterate some important facts.
"Koch companies value free speech and believe it is good to have more Americans engaged in key policy issues. That said, Koch companies, the Koch foundations, Charles Koch and David Koch have no ties to and have never given money to FreedomWorks. In addition, no funding has been provided by Koch companies, the Koch foundations, Charles Koch or David Koch specifically to support the tea parties.

Thanks for your consideration." [my emphasis]

The video released today shows organizers reporting to David Koch on their success on organizing one of the "largest tea parties in the country" on Tea Party Tax Day.

As Suzanne Goldenberg, who broke this story in the Guardian today writes:

"It [the Tea Party] likes to present itself as a grassroots insurgency made up of hundreds of local groups intent on toppling the Washington elite.
But the Tea Party movement, which is threatening to cause an upset in next month's midterm elections, would not be where it is today without the backing of that most traditional of US political supporters - Big Oil."
The filmmaker behind the (Astro) Turf Wars documentary, Taki Oldham, told the Gaurdian that:

"This is a world of shadows. In my mind, without a doubt nobody has had more influence on the anti-Obama campaign than the Koch-funded groups."
David Koch, along with his brother Charles Koch, are listed by Forbes as the 5th and 6th most wealthy billionaires in America, and run the privately-held corporation, Koch Industries which is considered the largest private energy company in America. Through their foundations they have invested millions in organizations that have fought health care reform and proposals to reduce industrial pollution and cap greenhouse gases.
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93 comments // (Astro) Turf Wars: How Corporate America Faked a Grassroots Revolution // Video

  • noxidereus
    • 0
      noxidereus  

    • The teabaggers are morons. They are so gullible. They believe claims that can be debunked with less than 5 minutes of research. They are pawns, used by the rich and enslaved by their own ignorance. Don't they realize that all they stand for is defaming social programs that benefit everyone, and supporting legislation that only benefits the rich at the expense of everyone else. I did not realize how easily people were manipulated before the teabaggers came out. I knew people were naive, but this teabagger reality is at a twilight zone level. It's surreal and macabre how stupid these people are.

    • 1 year ago
  • noxidereus
    • 0
      noxidereus  

    • Koch's idea of "Economic Freedom" = freedom for the rich, wage-slavery for everybody else; Freedom to exploit workers and consumers.

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
  • utubemafia
    • 0
      utubemafia  

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZvJ-2pgC9s

      Lyrics:

      Dragula

      Dead I am the one, exterminating son
      Slipping through the trees, strangling the breeze
      Dead I am the sky, watching angels cry
      While they slowly turn, conquering the worm

      Dig through the ditches,
      Burn through the witches
      I slam in the back of my
      Dragula

      Dig through the ditches,
      Burn through the witches
      I slam in the back of my
      Dragula

      Dead I am the pool, spreading from the fool
      Weak and want you need, nowhere as you bleed
      Dead I am the rat, feast upon the cat
      Tender is the fur, dying as you purr

      Dig through the ditches,
      Burn through the witches
      I slam in the back of my
      Dragula

      Dig through the ditches,
      Burn through the witches
      I slam in the back of my
      Dragula

      Do it baby, do it baby
      Do it baby, do it baby
      Burn like an animal

      Dead I am the life, dig into the skin
      Knuckle crack the bone, 21 to win
      Dead I am the dog, hound of hell you cry
      Devil on your back, I can never die

      Dig through the ditches,
      Burn through the witches
      I slam in the back of my
      Dragula

      Dig through the ditches,
      Burn through the witches
      I slam in the back of my
      Dragula

      Do it baby, do it baby
      Do it baby, do it baby
      Burn like an animal

      Dig through the ditches,
      Burn through the witches
      I slam in the back of my
      Dragula

      Dig through the ditches,
      Burn through the witches
      I slam in the back of my
      Dragula

      Dig through the ditches,
      Burn through the witches
      I slam in the back of my
      Dragula

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
    • -1
      utubemafia  

    • Bow down before the one you serve.

      "Head Like A Hole" by NIN

      *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV2EUUF47Ms

      God money I'll do anything for you
      God money just tell me what you want me to
      God money nail me up against the wall
      God money don't want everything he wants it all

      No you can't take it
      No you can't take it
      No you can't take that away from me
      No you can't take it
      No you can't take it
      No you can't take that away from me

      Head like a hole
      Black as your soul
      I'd rather die than give you control
      Head like a hole
      Black as your soul
      I'd rather die than give you control

      Bow down before the one you serve
      You're going to get what you deserve
      Bow down before the one you serve
      You're going to get what you deserve

      God money's not looking for the cure
      God money's not concerned about the sick among the pure
      God money let's go dancing on the backs of the bruised
      God money's not one to choose

      No you can't take it
      No you can't take it
      No you can't take that away from me
      No you can't take it
      No you can't take it
      No you can't take that away from me

      Head like a hole
      Black as your soul
      I'd rather die than give you control
      Head like a hole
      Black as your soul
      I'd rather die than give you control

      Bow down before the one you serve
      You're going to get what you deserve
      Bow down before the one you serve
      You're going to get what you deserve

      Bow down before the one you serve
      You're going to get what you deserve
      Bow down before the one you serve
      You're going to get what you deserve

      Head like a hole
      Black as your soul
      I'd rather die than give you control
      Head like a hole
      Black as your soul
      I'd rather die than give you control

      Head like a hole
      Black as your soul
      I'd rather die than give you control
      Head like a hole
      Black as your soul
      I'd rather die than give you control

      Bow down before the one you serve
      You're going to get what you deserve
      Bow down before the one you serve
      You're going to get what you deserve

      Bow down before the one you serve
      You're going to get what you deserve
      Bow down before the one you serve
      You're going to get what you deserve

    • 1 year ago
  • CiiMONSTR
  • utubemafia
    • 0
      utubemafia  
    • Image
    • CiiMONSTR:

      *http://www.brotherhoodofsatan.com/

      We Are not for Everyone, But we might be Right for you!
      We are Seeking our Dark Brothers and Sisters who have heard the call to come Home to the Brotherhood Family!
      For those fortunate applicants whom will be chosen to join the Brotherhood of Satan, you will learn the untold secrets that few have ever known existed!
      The Ancient Brotherhood rituals for securing Wealth, Health, Love, Lust and Power that none outside of the Brotherhood have ever been taught and never will.

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
    • 0
      utubemafia  

    • *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Robert_Malthus

      The epitaph of Malthus in Bath Abbey reads:

      Sacred to the memory of the Rev Thomas Robert Malthus, long known to the lettered world by his admirable writings on the social branches of political economy, particularly by his essay on population.
      One of the best men and truest philosophers of any age or country, raised by native dignity of mind above the misrepresentation of the ignorant and the neglect of the great, he lived a serene and happy life devoted to the pursuit and communication of truth.

      Supported by a calm but firm conviction of the usefulness of his labors.

      Content with the approbation of the wise and good.

      His writings will be a lasting monument of the extent and correctness of his understanding.

      The spotless integrity of his principles, the equity and candour of his nature, his sweetness of temper, urbanity of manners and tenderness of heart, his benevolence and his piety are still dearer recollections of his family and friends.

      Born February 14, 1766 Died December 29, 1834.

      (thanks jubal)

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
    • 0
      utubemafia  

    • The "Factions" that normally resist each other in a balanced economy can be united by fundamental and idealogical motives. This time its the fear of "Change" in the direction of egalitarianism. McCarthy was driven by aspiration, not altruism because it cannot exist in the face of individualism.

      Motivated by common ideologies, the "right wing" has become a bizarre amalgamation of Tea Party factions (loyal to Ron Paul) and corporate interests (the Koch Foundation). However, the ideologies are not inherently symbiotic. The primary uniting belief is the ever pending fear of disaster.

      On the Corporatist side........... economic Armageddon

      On the Tea Party side...........ARMEGEDDON!

      It always helps to have a name to blame to combine all that is threatening.....ie..satan (anything "anti-god" or even Obama to some).

      It also helps to have a societal meme..........Ayn Rand......"Atlas Shrugged"...Individualism, Objectivism, Anti-Environmentalism.

      (master/servant acceptance) (Zoroastrianism) (threat/reward)

      BUT.......

      Greed (Satan) and altruism (God) do not co-exist.

      Or do they???

      (in the shadows)

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
    • 0
      utubemafia  
    • Image

    • *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_philosophy

      Ethics (disambiguation), also knowns as Moral Philosophy;

      *Applied ethics
      Main article: Applied ethics
      Applied ethics is a discipline of philosophy that attempts to apply ethical theory to real-life situations. The discipline has many specialized fields, such as bioethics and business ethics.

      Applied ethics is used in some aspects of determining public policy. The sort of questions addressed by applied ethics include: "Is getting an abortion immoral?" "Is euthanasia immoral?" "Is affirmative action right or wrong?" "What are human rights, and how do we determine them?" "Do animals have rights as well?" and "Do individuals have the right of self determination?"

      A more specific question could be: "If someone else can make better out of his/her life than I can, is it then moral to sacrifice myself for them if needed?" Without these questions there is no clear fulcrum on which to balance law, politics, and the practice of arbitration — in fact, no common assumptions of all participants—so the ability to formulate the questions are prior to rights balancing. But not all questions studied in applied ethics concern public policy. For example, making ethical judgments regarding questions such as, "Is lying always wrong?" and, "If not, when is it permissible?" is prior to any etiquette.

      People in-general are more comfortable with dichotomies (two choices). However, in ethics the issues are most often multifaceted and the best proposed actions address many different areas concurrently. In ethical decisions the answer is almost never a "yes or no", "right or wrong" statement. Many buttons are pushed so that the overall condition is improved and not to the benefit of any particular faction.

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Tea Partiers have always been operatives for hidden facilitators. The name of the game will always be swapped around as long as there have been traders trading in the name of profit.

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      *Corporate America is an informal phrase describing the world of corporations within the United States not under government ownership. It implies financial or ideological self-interest, greed, resistance to entitlements and the responsible promotion of counter-socialist self-interest at the expense of government and competitors. "Corporate America" is commonly used interchangeably with the phrase "Wall Street".
      *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_America

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      If moral philosophy controls decision making when voting, and the voters ultimately control the government;

      WHO CONTROLS MORAL PHILOSOPHY?

      WHY?

    • 1 year ago
  • remanns
  • jamesjdye
    • 0
      jamesjdye  

    • It was real when it started but they hijack all the movements to keep the same establishment in power no matter who wins the race.

    • 1 year ago
  • NatasRedrumDog
  • telcod
    • +4
      telcod  

    • And once again I am reminded that "no one ever went broke underestimating the stupidity of the american public." Nothing left but to eat the rich. Law of the corporate jungle and all that. Upon reflection, I have thought that just as our economy has evolved to a failed process that does not resemble either capitalism or socialism except for the myopic (more like feudal econ revisited), so might our political system be also obsolete, regards the general population. Our agricultural based forefathers did not envision the world of today and so the system they devised did not safeguard against an over throw by the evil forces of industry and centralized wealth. Time for a major revision, brothers and sisters or we will just keep flogging the same dead horse.

      A revision based on principles would be pretty straight forward, but then again I keep forgetting that our brains are collectively small. Just as we less than revere our ancestors as unenlightened and primitive, so shall we be regarded in the future.

      Good luck at the polls, suckers.

    • 1 year ago
  • cbsrf
  • remanns
  • jamesjdye
    • +1
      jamesjdye  
    • telcod:

      Well they did actually. They implicitly stated that we must safeguard against a private central bank because the corporations that would rise up around them would deprive the people of their prosperity until we "wake up homeless on the continent our forefathers conquered."

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
  • Stoneyroad
  • remanns
  • bansheewail
    • +3
      bansheewail  

    • I was just at the Georgia National Fair yesterday, in Perry Ga., and right there between the "zero gravity" chairs and the "magical fix-it tape" was a booth for the Americans for Prosperity. I wonder how much that dolt manning the table of red-white and blue stickers and pamphlets was getting paid and who signed his check??

      Keep fighting the good fight, my friends!!

      Bansheewail, over and out.

    • 1 year ago
  • antiutopia
  • artemis6
    • +3
      artemis6  
    • antiutopia:

      What matters to THEM , is that , in the long run , the WHOLE REPUBLICAN PARTY gets pulled in that direction , in an attempt to retain power and relevance . So , the corporate world gets what they want - no regulations and no responsibility to the people . Pity so many buy that c*ap .

    • 1 year ago
  • remanns
  • Fr_Gregory
    • -2
      Fr_Gregory  

    • It never fails to amaze me what the Left will come up with next. There IS NO leader of the Tea Party movement. I don't care if some guy wants to pretend he is something he is not, As I recall did not AL GORE Claim to Invent the Internet?

    • 1 year ago
  • cbsrf
  • remanns
  • remanns
  • VoyagerFilms
    • +4
      VoyagerFilms  

    • Thank Goodness for Suzanne Goldenberg. The Tea Baggers are a total fraud, bought and paid for by scum.

      It was apparent the Tea Baggers were nothing more than an attempt to splinter support of the Democrats, but as it turns out the Tea Baggers might be doing more harm to the Republican party.

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
    • +4
      utubemafia  

    • *http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Organisations_listed_in_the_Exxonsecr...

      source:(March 2005) http://exxonsecrets.org/html/listorganizations.php

      60/Sixty Plus Association
      Accuracy in Media
      Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
      Africa Fighting Malaria
      Air Quality Standards Coalition
      Alexis de Tocqueville Institution
      Alliance for Climate Strategies
      American Coal Foundation
      American Council for Capital Formation Center for Policy Research
      American Council on Science and Health
      American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
      American Enterprise Institute-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies
      American Friends of the Institute for Economic Affairs
      American Legislative Exchange Council
      American Petroleum Institute
      American Policy Center
      American Recreation Coalition
      Americans for Tax Reform
      Arizona State University Office of Cimatology
      Aspen Institute
      Association of Concerned Taxpayers
      Atlantic Legal Foundation
      Atlas Economic Research Foundation
      Blue Ribbon Coalition
      Capital Legal Foundation
      Capital Research Center and Greenwatch
      Cato Institute
      Center for American and International Law
      Center for Environmental Education Research
      Center for Security Policy
      Center for Strategic and International Studies
      Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise
      Center for the New West
      Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change
      Centre for the New Europe
      Chemical Education Foundation
      Citizens for A Sound Economy and CSE Educational Foundation
      Citizens for the Environment and CFE Action Fund
      Clean Water Industry Coalition
      Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow
      Communications Institute
      Competitive Enterprise Institute
      Congress of Racial Equality
      Consumer Alert
      Cooler Heads Coalition
      Council for Solid Waste Solutions
      Defenders of Property Rights
      Earthwatch Institute
      ECO or Environmental Conservation Organization
      ExxonMobil Corporation
      Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies
      Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment
      Fraser Institute
      Free Enterprise Action Institute
      Free Enterprise Education Institute
      Frontiers of Freedom Institute and Foundation
      George C. Marshall Institute
      George Mason University, Law and Economics Center
      Global Climate Coalition
      Great Plains Legal Foundation
      Greening Earth Society
      Harvard Center for Risk Analysis
      Heartland Institute
      Heritage Foundation
      Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, Stanford University
      Hudson Institute
      Illinois Policy Institute
      Independent Commission on Environmental Education
      Independent Institute
      Institute for Biospheric Research
      Institute for Energy Research
      Institute for Regulatory Science
      Institute for the Study of Earth and Man
      Institute of Humane Studies, George Mason University
      International Council for Capital Formation
      International Policy Network - North America
      International Republican Institute
      James Madison Institute
      Junkscience.com
      Landmark Legal Foundation
      Lexington Institute
      Lindenwood University
      Mackinac Center
      Manhattan Institute for Policy Research
      Media Institute
      Media Research Center
      Mercatus Center, George Mason University
      Mountain States Legal Foundation
      National Association of Neighborhoods
      National Black Chamber of Commerce
      National Center for Policy Analysis
      National Center for Public Policy Research
      National Council for Environmental Balance
      National Environmental Policy Institute
      National Legal Center for the Public Interest
      National Policy Forum
      National Wetlands Coalition
      National Wilderness Institute
      New England Legal Foundation
      Pacific Legal Foundation
      Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy
      Property and Environment Research Center, formerly Political Economy Research Center
      Public Interest Watch
      Reason Foundation
      Reason Public Policy Institute
      Science and Environmental Policy Project
      Seniors Coalition
      Small Business Survival Committee
      Southeastern Legal Foundation
      Stanford University GCEP
      Statistical Assessment Service (STATS)
      Tech Central Science Foundation or Tech Central Station
      Texas Public Policy Foundation
      The Advancement of Sound Science Center, Inc.
      The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition
      The Annapolis Center for Science-Based Public Policy
      The Justice Foundation (formerly Texas Justice Foundation)
      The Locke Institute
      United for Jobs
      University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc.
      US Russia Business Council
      Virginia Institute for Public Policy
      Washington Legal Foundation
      Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy
      World Climate Report

    • 1 year ago
  • VoyagerFilms
  • utubemafia
  • JohnA
    • -9
      JohnA  

    • I don't know who this guy Koch is, but the Tea Party is pissed off Americans. If someone wants to donate to any canadates or try to usurp the name, which many have, that's on them. The Tea Party movement is pissed off Americans, plain and simple. Nobody is trying to distance themselves from anything. And if this dude pisses us off too, he gets the same treatment.

    • 1 year ago
  • ozoneocean
  • utubemafia
  • VoyagerFilms
    • +3
      VoyagerFilms  
    • JohnA:

      Tea baggers are for hire just as those nut jobs who showed up at campaign rallies with guns in 2008.

      These Koch guys are the kind of guys who would have people who presented resistance to their greedy ambitions murdered in other countries. This is what they look like here in America when they don't have the power they so greedily desire.

    • 1 year ago
  • VoyagerFilms
    • +4
      VoyagerFilms  
    • JohnA:

      The subject matter here is the deception of the American people by corporate America and the Tea Baggers. Pissed off Americans? Are you serious? Didn't you read this article?

      Doesn't the fact the "Tea Bag" movement is a fraud mean anything to you? What do you think the Billionaire paid for? Doesn't the fact this scummy piece of crap is dishonest, manipulative, corrupt and corrupting our system of governance.

      A corrupt man, David Koch would only want another corrupt man or in this case party in power. A corrupt man would only be fearful of those with integrity and the power to prosecute or seek his prosecution.

    • 1 year ago
  • artemis6
    • +2
      artemis6  
    • JohnA:

      Hitler harnesses the anger of the German people , too . He just used a different target . And they gave up reason to follow him , asked no questions about it . It also happened in Japan . Even wearing gold became "unpatriotic" because it should be donated to the empire to make weapons ...... Did you think this country was above that ? Anger makes people feel powerful , good in a way . Especially if they are fearful deep down and want to hide it from themselves . self mastery is the greatest and most difficult power ....

    • 1 year ago
  • JohnA
  • JohnA
    • -1
      JohnA  
    • VoyagerFilms:

      Corporate America is not the American people. The American people are pissed. This guy Koch is a fraud, but that doesn't mean the feelings of the American people are fraudulent. They are real.

    • 1 year ago
  • VoyagerFilms
    • +1
      VoyagerFilms  
    • JohnA:

      Agreed. The American people are angry and afraid. But, I am afraid their fears and discontent is fueled in large part by the rotten apples among us. Additionally, while Obama spent nearly a trillion dollars helping the American economy, corporate America is simultaneously withholding investment and expansion and sitting on over a trillion dollars.

      Watch and see after the elections, the economy will miraculously pick up as these corrupt corporations stop holding out on America for political gain, i.e., to make Obama and the Democrats look bad in order to unfairly aid the Republican / corporate agenda.

    • 1 year ago
  • JohnA
    • -2
      JohnA  
    • VoyagerFilms:

      Agreed that the economy will pick up after the election to some extent, it always does after a national election, because you have stability for two years. That's why America is withholding investment and expansion and sitting on over a trillion dollars, they don't know what the taxes they have to pay will be, they don't know how costly the regulations they are forced to abide by will be. Why would you put out risk in that enviroment? You wouldn't, no one would.

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
    • 0
      utubemafia  

    • *sourcewatch.org

      Reason Foundation

      Board of Trustees
      Harry E. Teasley Jr., Chairman

      William A. Dunn, Chairman-elect and Vice Chairman, Dunn Capital Management

      Thomas E. Beach, Beach Investment Counsel, Inc.

      David W. Fleming, Latham & Watkins

      C. Boyden Gray, Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering

      James D. Jameson

      Manuel S. Klausner, Law Offices of Manuel S. Klausner

      David H. Koch, Koch Industries

      James Lintott, Sterling Foundation Management, LLC

      Stephen Modzelewski, Maple Engine, LLC

      Sarah O'Dowd, Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe

      Robert W. Poole, Jr., Reason Foundation

      Randall N. Smith, InSite MediaCom, LLC

      Al St. Clair, Procter & Gamble

      Walter E. Williams, George Mason University

      Frank Bond, Trustee Emeritus

      Funding
      Between 1985 and 2006, the Foundation received $6,318,421 in 162 separate grants from only eleven foundations. [2]

      Earhart Foundation
      JM Foundation
      Koch Family Foundations (David H. Koch Foundation, Charles G. Koch Foundation, Claude R. Lambe Foundation)
      John M. Olin Foundation, Inc.
      Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
      Scaife Foundations (Scaife Family, Sarah Mellon Scaife, Carthage)
      Smith Richardson Foundation

      Selected Corporate Supporters (2000)
      3M
      American Forest & Paper Association
      American Petroleum Institute
      Bank of America
      Bayer Corporation
      California Association of Realtors
      California Water Service Company
      Ken and Colleen Butler, Capital Partnerships
      Chevron Corporation
      Coca-Cola Co.
      Consulting Engineers & Land Surveyors of California
      Council of New York State, Inc.
      Continental Airlines
      Corrections Corporation of America
      DaimlerChrysler Corp.
      Dart Container Corporation
      Delta Air Lines
      Dow Chemical USA
      Eastman Chemical Company
      Eberle & Associates, Inc.
      Edison Electric Institute
      ENRON
      ExxonMobil Corporation
      Ford Motor Company
      Freedom Communications
      General Motors Corporation
      LCOR Incorporated
      Lehman Brothers, Inc.
      Eli Lilly and Co.
      Microsoft Corporation
      National Air Transportation Association
      National Beer Wholesalers Association
      Nossaman, Guthner, Knox & Elliott
      Pfizer, Inc
      Philip Morris Companies
      PricewaterhouseCoopers
      Privatized Emergency Services Association
      Procter & Gamble
      Shell Oil Co.
      Southern California Water
      Techcentralstation.com
      Union Carbide Corporation
      Virco
      Wackenhut Corrections Co.
      Watson Land Company
      Western States Petroleum Association

    • 1 year ago
  • JohnA
  • UtopianSky
    • +9
      UtopianSky  

    • Stuff like this needs to be on mainstream news,
      and talked about so much that FOX News has to address it.

      Only then will the teabaggers ever even hear about it.

    • 1 year ago
  • JohnA
    • -7
      JohnA  
    • UtopianSky:

      Hear about what, that someone is trying to use the brand "Tea Party" for personal gain? You think they don't know that already? And keep your homophobic references to yourself, please.

    • 1 year ago
  • Fr_Gregory
    • -2
      Fr_Gregory  
    • UtopianSky:

      The story is nonsense. Only liberal current readers and posters will find anything to moan about.
      Why is it that the Democrats make rediculas allegations they can not back up? You make allegations and then turn around when confronted and say " prove our lie is not true! "
      Why would mainstream media bother? Propaganda is just that Propaganda.

    • 1 year ago
  • UtopianSky
    • +3
      UtopianSky  
    • JohnA:

      No one is trying to use the Tea Party for personal gain- the Tea Party was CREATED for personal gain. The teabaggers are just ignorant puppets under corporate control.

      And any homophobia in this conversation comes from you.
      If you think being a teabagger is something derogatory, then stop being one.

    • 1 year ago
  • UtopianSky
    • 0
      UtopianSky  
    • Fr_Gregory:

      In other words, you are so brainwashed that when you hear rock solid proof that you have been manipulated, you claim it's "rediculas [sic] allegations" and propaganda.

      You are a good little puppet for your masters.

    • 1 year ago
  • astroturfwars
    • +2
      astroturfwars  

    • Utubemafia - Yeah I interviewed Tom somebody from this group, him and a group of foreign kids who were in the USA being trained in "liberty" were handing out pamphlets at a university campus in Pittsburgh right before the G20 meeting last year. I'm pretty sure Atlas is part of the Kochtopus

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
    • +3
      utubemafia  
    • astroturfwars:

      "The Reason Foundation describes itself as a "libertarian" [1] think tank which challenges strict environmental regulations: "A national research and education organization that explores and promotes public policy based on rationality and freedom."[1] The Reason Foundation's projects include NewEnvironmentalism.org and Privatization.org. It is part of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation network."

      from sourcewatch.org

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
    • 0
      utubemafia  

    • *http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Atlas_Economic_Research_Foundation

      For over two decades, a Virginia-based organization has been quietly working s the Johnny Appleseed of conservative think tanks. With a modest $4 million dollar budget in 2003 and a staff of eight, Atlas Economic Research Foundation is on a mission to populate the world with new "free market" voices. In its 2003 review of activities, quaintly titled its "Investor Report," Atlas boasted that it worked with "70 new think-tank entrepreneurs from 37 foreign countries and several states of the U.S.," including Lithuania, Greece, Mongolia, Ghana, the Philippines, Brazil and Argentina.

      The mission of Atlas, according to John Blundell (president from 1987 to 1990), "is to litter the world with free-market think-tanks."

      Named after the Greek god condemned to bear the heavens on his shoulders, Atlas identifies, screens and offers initial support to individuals and groups who want to create local think tanks. "Our ideal 'intellectual entrepreneur,'" says Atlas, is "someone who communicates effectively with businessmen, academicians and the general public." By facilitating the establishment of local think tanks, Atlas increases both the reach and local credibility of their "free market" message, thereby having "the most cost-effective impact."

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
  • astroturfwars
    • +4
      astroturfwars  

    • Talking of Ayn rand. Its funny. For those who have seen the film you will know I do a lot of driving around, quite often with the camera on. I used this time to listen to audio books of Ayn Rand's writings to try and get a sense of what the "anti statist" viewpoint was. I came to the conclusion that while it is quite seductive, it all comes down to the title of one of her books: "the virtue of selfishness" - and how to react to that. As I sat in the editing suite I would often hear the tapes in the background from the car stereo. Ah the memories.

    • 1 year ago
  • astroturfwars
    • +6
      astroturfwars  

    • Hi all, Taki Oldham here, director of (Astro) Turf Wars from which this clip is taken. Just wanted so say what a pleasure it is to read your reactions.

      I'm a fan of Current and it is great to have something on here.

      Taki

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
  • timetide
  • AJILIVIZION
    • -1
      AJILIVIZION  
    • utubemafia:

      How is it that I have lived twenty three years without ever knowing the name Ayn Rand? I watched the videos posted here and was intrigued. So I searched for more material. Finally, a person that not only embodies objectivism, but defines it! On top of all this excitement, I found a copy of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged that is printed with a piece by Tamara de Lempicka, which is hanging on my wall not more than ten feet away! Oh the synchronicity!

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
  • utubemafia
  • figgdimension
  • utubemafia
  • TheEmpireGuy
    • +4
      TheEmpireGuy  

    • The "Tea Party" is a hollow shell of it's former self, filled with ignorant neo-conservatives trying to paint themselves as some new movement to "Retake our Government", or something along those lines.

      They just bash democrats and liberals all day and talk about how Obama is destroying America, or something.

      Regardless, that is not the tea party I first knew during the 2008 elections. The real tea party was high-jacked some time ago by neo-cons. You will not find any liberty-centered people there any more. Just Republican morons.

      It's sad, really...

    • 1 year ago
  • JohnA
  • UtopianSky
    • +5
      UtopianSky  
    • TheEmpireGuy:

      As astroturfwars said, it was always corporate controlled, from the beginning.
      Some of the people you knew may have had good intentions, but that was not the purpose of the group as a whole.

    • 1 year ago
  • ozoneocean
  • Fr_Gregory
  • macready
  • James_Barilla
  • utubemafia
  • utubemafia
  • utubemafia
  • utubemafia
  • TheEmpireGuy
  • UtopianSky
  • utubemafia
    • +1
      utubemafia  
    • Image
    • TheEmpireGuy:

      Institutes
      In 1985 Leonard Peikoff established the Ayn Rand Institute, which "works to introduce young people to Ayn Rand's novels, to support scholarship and research based on her ideas, and to promote the principles of reason, rational self-interest, individual rights and laissez-faire capitalism to the widest possible audience."[198] In 1990 David Kelley founded the Institute for Objectivist Studies,[199] now known as The Atlas Society. In 2001 historian John McCaskey organized the Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scholarship, which provides grants for scholarly work on Objectivism in academia.[200] The foundation has supported research at the University of Texas at Austin,[201] the University of Pittsburgh, Duke University and other schools.[202]

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand#Institutes

    • 1 year ago
  • utubemafia
  • mik661
  • zHellas
  • utubemafia
  • utubemafia
  • utubemafia
  • maasanova
    • -7
      maasanova  

    • It's the same as how Soros infiltrated the anti-war movement through Move-On, J-Street and Michael Moore types and divert their attention to healthcare and "global warming" when the anti-War movement was gathering serious steam and opposition to Bush.

      The non-infiltrated original Tea Party had very strong liberatarian, anti-War, 9/11 Truth elements and was gathering very serious steam and they had to be neutralized. So they the Koch Brothers and other organizations infiltrated them and made caricatures and cut-outs of the Tea Party who focus on taxes and smaller government and not anti-war. just like the GOP.

    • 1 year ago
  • astroturfwars
    • +6
      astroturfwars  
    • Image
    • maasanova:

      Hi, maasanova, Taki Oldham here, the director of (Astro) Turf Wars, from which this footage it taken. I am afraid you couldn't be more wrong. As I show in the film, the original tea party (unless your are referring to that event in Boston) was totally created by corporate funded libertarian groups. The day after the infamous Santelli Rant, AFP, Freedomworks and a bunch of their buddies created this facebook page:
      http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=69428711302
      There was no spontanious grassroots uprising. Highly funded and orchestrated groups are behind this from day 1. As the movement picked up steam, everyday people, many with totally valid gripes joined in, but the movement has always been guided by corporate funded free market groups. Sorry to burst your bubble.
      Taki

    • 1 year ago
  • ThatCrazyLibertarian
  • astroturfwars
    • +3
      astroturfwars  
    • ThatCrazyLibertarian:

      Hi crazylibertarian, thanks for your comment. To be honest I think you guys should be the most pissed of anybody at what the likes of Koch have done. While I am not an economic libertarian (although do lean that way socially I guess, live and let live etc.), I totally respect the right of people to think that way. That is the essence of democracy. I have no problem with Ron Paul.
      What is not democracy is groups selling out their own supposed libertarian ideals by taking money from tobacco companies/insurance companies/ oil companies etc etc which Grover Norquist , Americans For Prosperity and others have been doing and then lying to people about why they are getting them to fight for certain causes. That is not democracy. Moreover, it totally undermines the very essence of free market ideology which dictates that the market decides things, not some shady propaganda campaign telling the world (for example) that climate change is a lie and not revealing you are being paid by Exxon to do it. OR as in the case of Citizens For A Sound Economy (the precursor group to both FreedomWorks and Americans For Prosperity) taking money from Big Tobacco to oppose 'Clintoncare'. As a libertarian you should be furious both on a personal level for what they have done in your name, and on a purely market level as artificially propping up existing interests goes against the very nature of your beliefs.
      Taki

    • 1 year ago
  • s_peak
    • +9
      s_peak  

    • I'm tired... so very tired of how brainwashed people are by all of this divisive bullshit that the leaders of this empire keep coming up with to enslave them without them even realizing it. Organizations just like this have existed all throughout America's history... and it's basically a mobilization of big business, pretending to be fighting for "economic freedom"... but what that actually means is... they don't want to be regulated. They want to fight the laws that are in place to keep labor fair. They want to be free to enact any level of tyranny, slavery and destruction of the environment that they see fit... History is PACKED with examples of groups JUST like this who murdered civil rights group leaders, members, and children of these leaders... in order to keep the money coming in.

      and they have always been protected by judges and presidents... because judges and presidents are rich property owners, to whom these regulations have specific impact on. I'm tired... so please read up about the damage done by these groups in the past:

      -Major corporations formed the America First Comitte to oppose intervention against Hitler in 1938. James Watson and Henry Ford both accepted Nazi medals.
      -Corporate leaders mobilized support from the KKK to "save america from labor radicals" and hired people to beat the shit out of union leaders or kill them.
      -The business advisory council... founded in 1933 was a roundtable of elites who molded our laws.
      -the Trilateral Commission ... was also a roundtable of elites that molded laws here, and with the support of several other nations.

      The list goes on and on... these groups only have personal interest in mind. They are the same groups of evil men who murdered Union leaders in the 10s, 20s and 30s... probably up to the present... and they're at it again.

    • 1 year ago
  • artemis6
    • +6
      artemis6  
    • s_peak:

      Thank you ! You just saved me from all that typing . And you typed it well too . I guess that is why old Ronnie gutted the education system first . Kids grow up believing TV and not asking any questions . Sad .

    • 1 year ago
  • s_peak
    • +6
      s_peak  
    • artemis6:

      Education is one of the biggest enemies of the capitalist state. The other enemy is unity.

      The second lesson we learn from history here is that when unions started to organize, big business found it necessary to vilify certain groups (blacks, women, communists) in order to keep people from banding into large groups. When people cooperate... it threatens the fabric of empire.

      This is, without a doubt, the reason why we see all these divisive tactics now... racism, sexism, homophobia, republicans, democrats, libertarians... it's all just a method of keeping people from working together. That's why I don't support the use of any titles. Democrats lie, republicans lie... everyone lies in self interest... and self interest is crucial to the tightening of empire's grip... but self interest is also the enemy of peace and freedom.

    • 1 year ago
  • artemis6
  • kennymotown
    • +3
      kennymotown  

    • This guy is an enemy of the United States and it's citizens, the Chamber of Commerce now has joined that same list of enemy's of the people!

    • 1 year ago
  • littlwarrior
  • remanns
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