Mother Jones' David Corn Discovers Secret Conservative Google Group that Plots Right-Wing Domination

[onehandle]

Last edited Thu Jul 25, 2013, 08:26 PM - Edit history (1)

For years now, the right-wing media have claimed left-wing journalists are colluding with each other on a secret email listserv. And they were half-right! As it turns out, a secretive, strategy-plotting online cabal of political journalists and party activists does exist. It's just that it's made up of conservatives.

Mother Jones' David Corn, who is like the NSA to the right-wing, has uncovered the secret Google group for "Groundswell," the right-wing coalition headed up by Ginny Thomas (pictured), conservative activist and wife of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, and boy does it sound like a fun place:

Dubbed Groundswell, this coalition convenes weekly in the offices of Judicial Watch, the conservative legal watchdog group. During these hush-hush sessions and through a Google group, the members of Groundswell—including aides to congressional Republicans—cook up battle plans for their ongoing fights against the Obama administration, congressional Democrats, progressive outfits, and the Republican establishment and "clueless" GOP congressional leaders. They devise strategies for killing immigration reform, hyping the Benghazi controversy, and countering the impression that the GOP exploits racism. And the Groundswell gang is mounting a behind-the-scenes organized effort to eradicate the outsize influence of GOP über-strategist/pundit Karl Rove within Republican and conservative ranks.

Besides Thomas, the Groundswell membership list includes former UN ambassador John Bolton, crazy Islam-hater Frank Gaffney, former GOP representative Allen West, and journalists and contributors to outlets like Fox News, the National Review Online, the Washington Examiner, and, of course, Breitbart News Network.

http://gawker.com/the-secret-conservative-google-group-that-plots-right-w-914250980

David Corn's Article:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/07/groundswell-rightwing-group-ginni-thomas

[rhett o rick]

1. Thanks for posting. But for clarification, isnt this a Conspiracy Theory?

I am not against such but just think that many here dont know a conspiracy if it cut Social Security.

[snappyturtle]

2. To me it's hardly a conspiracy theory is there's this much

evidence.

[rhett o rick]

8. I dont disagree. At some point some conspiracy theories prove out true.

Plez see my post #5.

[Civilization2]

10. "conspiracy" is real, attaching the word "theory" some how nullifies facts, only in america!

in the rest of the world "conspiracy theory" is not such a dirty word, this is a cultural invention to help actual conspiracy hide.

This site, and most americans, really need to get over the whole "conspiracy theory" meme and realize that a conspiracy is simply when more than one person get together to have a devious effect on events. This is how a great many underhanded things are done, people act in concert to have an effect they desire. No idea why this is difficult for some to believe.

[PNW_Dem]

86. Conspiracy = No, Clown Show = Yes

What a joke. How can this be a conspiracy? It’s more like a clown show. The vast majority of voters don’t care about what this group is selling: hyping the Fast and Furious gun-trafficking controversy, slamming Obama's record, the anti-gay boy scouts, and touting Benghazi as a full-fledged scandal. Nobody cares about this shit.

What a bunch of dumb fucks. I’d be concerned if they had a compelling strategy and, god knows, there’s plenty of material for them to use. With all their $ resources, this is the best they can do?

[antiquie]

3. Are you questionning Mother Jones or David Corn?

I trust MJ and Corn and haven't seen evidence of CT.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/07/groundswell-rightwing-group-ginni-thomas

[rhett o rick]

5. Absolutely not. I am trying to point out to those that fear CT that there

are conspiracies all over. People conspire, especially in politics. Therefore, Conspiracy Theories are not all bad. It's my opinion that those that disparage CT across the board, dont like anything that disturbs their status quo.

[antiquie]

9. Gotcha.

Same side, real conspiracy.

[snappyturtle]

13. +1 nt

[KoKo]

20. Agree..what's catagorized as CT seems to be overly broad here....

There really are gatherings of people who are "conspiring" to achieve a goal and have been throughout history. Who can set themselves up as Judge and Jury to figure out if it's legit or not... Or if it gores one side's Ox and not the Others...then it's CT. Taken to extremes we'd be banning books which is what the RW'ers and Dark Siders always want to do.

[rhett o rick]

55. IMO the strong disparaging of what's labeled CT is just a righteous bullying technique.

Righteous bullying is picking a side that you think is righteous and then justifying your behavior in "defending" the righteous side. Bullies need an excuse to bully. Maybe it's the color of your skin, or your religious beliefs, or looks, etc. In DU it is can be perceived fans of Ralph Nader, or Ron Paul, etc. Once the bullies have decided you are on the non-righteous side, then no holds are barred. I have challenged some on occasion telling them that ridicule of other DU members has no business in DU. They all respond with, "his/her posts deserve ridicule". Their ends justify their means. The bullies, always looking for an excuse to bully, will jump on anything that looks like CT. One of the biggest bullies here even proposed that posting CT be a banning offense. Wow, what a power trip that would be. IMO the righteous bullies lost a great tool when meta was shut down.

[KoKo]

67. You said it Well..! And, thanks for that!

K&R!

[loudsue]

87. So true.

DU has been infiltrated with bullies over the past year, seems to me.

[rhett o rick]

90. Best way to handle it is to put them on ignore. nm

[hopemountain]

30. the point is it is no longer

purported as a "theory"....it is an actual group of folks "conspiring" - evidenced by their postings at that website.

a conspiracy is one thing
a theory or posit of a conspiracy is another.

[rhett o rick]

37. My point is that before we learn the truth on these types of things they are theories. nm

[hopemountain]

44. obtuse, much?

what do you consider to be the truth and nothing but the truth?

for me:
-exposé by David Corn - whom possess a long history of credible journalistic reporting
-long history of statements by the players themselves in the media prior to exposing the group

i've been around the block a few times. i've learned to keep paying attention and heed the signs and don't wait for reality to hit (you) between the eyes or over the head... that kind of "truth" can be deadly and too f'in late.

does your gut feeling count for truth? or how your heart and mind reconcile an issue? how about discernment? i wouldn't discount the value of the gut & heart and the skill of discernment for survival. indeed, some day it may be all one has.

then again, there are those who believe so strongly in what they believe - nothing can deter them from their stance/fate. not even a wake up call. for example, those who remain in abusive relationships, folks who stay at dead end jobs, those who believe and only see good in their criminal loved ones, etc..

[rhett o rick]

50. I think we agree. What did I say to get "obtuse, much"?? nm

[Gore1FL]

51. Technically, they are hypothesis.

They aren't theories until they agree with observation.

[rhett o rick]

56. I understand, but have you ever heard of "CH" (conspiracy hypothesis)? CT is now

part of the vernacular.

[Gore1FL]

57. I understand what you meant, and why the word was used. It IS part of the vernacular, as you state.

It's just a pet peeve of mine when "Theory" is used as a synonym for "unsupported guess."

I just make an effort to stamp it out when I can!

[hfojvt]

43. I don't trust Corn

in fact, he's the reason I no longer subscribe to Mother Jones
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021888046

Too bad Corn himself was part of the conspiracy to lavish the rich by keeping most of the Bush tax cuts.

[mojowork_n]

46. I don't usually trust "attack the messenger" posts.

I mean, in perspective, I don't particularly like the New York Yankees.

But if C.C. Sabathia -- ex-Cleveland and ex-Milwaukee -- pitches a great game next
week, I'm going to be just fine with it.

...sometimes you make exceptions.

Or just hold your nose and acknowledge that, even with all those injuries this
year, those Yankees don't have a bad club. And that Nixon-backing jerk that used
to own them no longer does. (Being as deceased as the parrot at the bottom of
the bird cage in that Monty Python sketch.)

This is some kind of DLC Trojan Horse because.....?


I still subscribe to Mother Jones because of most every other writer they've got.

[DirkGently]

4. Seems more like an actual conspiracy. They do exist. n/t

[rhett o rick]

7. That's exactly my point. Plez see my post #5. nm

[DirkGently]

11. Aha. Good point. Remember we can't see your

quizzically raised eyebrow out here, rhett.

[rhett o rick]

16. Well the NSA probably can. nm

[Jackpine Radical]

18. So, if there's a gravitational theory, that means

gravitation doesn't exist?

I'm missing some logic here.

For example,

If I propose a description of how, say, the ripoff of California by Enron was accomplished, that would be a theory of the crimes. If my explanation involves a conspiracy among the principals, then it is obviously a conspiracy theory. But if it's a conspiracy theory, then it can't be true.

[DirkGently]

29. I think you were aiming for rhett's post. And he was being

facetious. I don't have any problem separating conspiracies from theories or from Conspiracy Theory!(s).

[Jackpine Radical]

34. No, I was aiming at yours.

You were contrasting "true conspiracies" with "conspiracy theories" to the disadvantage of the latter.

My point is that, in your usage, the term "conspiracy theory" implies an adjective like "crazy." I'm sort of trying to rehabilitate the original term by saying just because the theory involves a conspiracy, that doesn't make it necessarily false, and certainly not necessarily crazy.

[DirkGently]

38. Well, you missed, because my post implied

exactly what you're saying.

[Enthusiast]

52. We are positively dripping with conspiracies.

Right now.

[rhett o rick]

68. Conspiracies are a major part of politics. To pretend otherwise, as some here do, is naive,

no it's willfully ignorant.

JFK was assassinated. That was a huge shock to Americans. Most of our reality bubbles had difficulty handling that event. And most of us really wanted to think that it was the act of a crazy Oswald, and he was dead, therefore, all was right again in America. Therefore, to suggest otherwise was a challenge to most of our realities. We live in the USof(fucking)A. We need to believe that this was a one time event and will never happen again. But in my mind, the chances that this event wasnt some kind of conspiracy is remote. But the deniers among us, cant handle anything but their own defined reality. So they not only dont want to hear theories about what happened, they will strike out at anyone that doesnt fall in line with their version of reality. These are not politically liberal people and have no business in DU.

[Enthusiast]

71. I agree completely.

They might want us to think them naive.

Even a cursory examination of the events surrounding the Kennedy assassination would tell anyone that it did not happen as the official version tells us. Sorry to say it, but the same can be said for 911.

They are not politically liberal. I suspect they are employees of.....someone.

[pscot]

78. There' a conspiracy to suppress conspiracy theories

I know this is true because I read it on the internets.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

61. Half right,...minus the "theory" part.

[blackspade]

76. Well, there's conspiracy theory, and then there's conspiracy fact.

[BlueManFan]

6. Dumb and Dumber

[Spazito]

12. David Corn's article at Mother Jones is a very interesting read...

Well worth taking the time, imo.

Thanks for the heads-up OP, it is much appreciated.

[arely staircase]

14. Gaffney, West and Bolton

an unholy trinity of crazy

[calimary]

19. I believe gaffney and bolton are PNACers.

West is simply out-to-lunch.

My question would be - "and what is our side doing to blunt what these people are trying to do?"

[arely staircase]

21. I don't know I haven't been in such circles in years

our equivalent would be occurring among leftish/Democratic mover's and shakers equivalent to these right wingers. and unless some RW equivalent of David Corn writes about it we won't know. Politicos generally don't publish the minutes to their strategy meetings; kinda defeats the purpose.

[cantbeserious]

15. Validation Of What Many Have Suspected For Years

eom

[Link Speed]

17. Yeah, but Slappy don't know nuthin'

Uncle Thomas is just trying to do his job, don'tchaknow?

And he is there for life.

[secondvariety]

22. Good thing

Thomas is too stupid to find his ass with both hands. That goes for Bolton, too.

[Kingofalldems]

23. Never trust a republican.

[davidpdx]

88. farther then you can throw them

[1StrongBlackMan]

24. It would seem ...

the Democratic/Liberal/Progressive response should be ... Ont the eve of the 2014 campaign season (immediately following the first republic ad), an FEC suit alleging unlawful campaign coordination. You can't have congressional staffers at the strategy sessions, without some level of campaign coordination.

I would start by deposing the lowest level staffer and work my way up ... offering deals to those leading to bigger folks and jail (or steep fines) for those that don't.

[jaysunb]

27. Bingo ! n/t

[dorkzilla]

42. Perfect response! But sadly, it ain't gonna happen n/t

[JoeyT]

54. +1 n/t

[davidpdx]

89. What about racketeering?

I know, I know, I'm dreaming.....

[matthews]

25. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Anyone who would join an organization with those

whacks in it has to be nuttier than a fruitcake in the first place. And in the second, only rabid right-wingers would even want to be associated with them. The stuff that comes out of Clarence's wife's mouth is pure crazy.

Remember when she told Anita Hill to apologize? That made her look like the ignorant fool that she is. These are some pretty high profile nutjobs. It sounds like another bunch like the Talibaggers but with money and (some) clout.

[mountain grammy]

26. No theory here, they're conspiring against Americans..

[Agnosticsherbet]

28. A vast right wing conspiracy group, well funded, plotting to take and hold power...

They are hardly the only ones to do this. Consider Phyllis Schlafly and Grover Norquist did the same thing. This is just Same old, same old.

But it does work.

[hopemountain]

31. so glad david corn does not

hold back. he is a true investigative journalist...

[vanlassie]

32. I'm picturing their little TROLL DU sub committee...

Wannabes!!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

62. Some of them I picture with a pee bottle like the kids in "Monster House"....

After all,...this place needs constant monitoring.

[Incitatus]

33. heh

[Scurrilous]

35. K & R

[AgingAmerican]

36. I was reading that on Rawstory this morning

They listed ten 'ideas' to carry out this plot

1. “At its weekly meetings, the group aims to strengthen the right’s messaging by crafting Twitter hashtags.”

2. Defeat the nomination of Labor Secretary nominee Thomas Perez by convincing people that he is “is extremely antagonistic toward whites.”

3. Convince Americans that John Kerry cannot be trusted as Secretary of State because “Kerry’s son in law is an Iranian American with extensive family still in Iran.”

4. “If we were all gay illegal aliens, the party likes [sic] us.”


5. Re-brand efforts to restrict access to the polls through voter ID programs and strict scrutiny of minority voters as a “Voter Rights” campaign.

6. Win the hearts and minds of “minorities” by re-positioning themselves as “Fredrick Douglas[sic] Republican[s],” instead of tea partiers or conservatives.

7. Refer to immigration reform as “OBAMAGRATION”

8. Hype the “Fast and the Furious” controversy and the Benghazi embassy attack some more.

9. “A 15 sec internet [YouTube ad] featuring ethnically diverse children on a merry-go-round [soft music]… Nuclear explosion.”

10. “Write articles on [sic] 4th grade level!”

[theHandpuppet]

39. Thanks for posting this

Having just seen "7 Days in May" for the umpteenth time reminded me that the threats we most have to fear are right here at home.

[Recursion]

40. Does this mean DUers will stop posting their talking points?

Or am I being too hopeful?

[bluestate10]

65. No. I am convinced that several persistent Obama attackers here on DU are either

true right wingers under cover, or paid professional plants. They won't stop their attacks, so prepare to constantly confront them.

[Hekate]

72. ~~*~~

<-- this is me not whining about DU, because noticing these things is not the Done Thing

[Waiting For Everyman]

41. They come off like a bunch of dopes.

With Ginni Thomas as a "mastermind", they have a bigger problem than they realize. The only thing significant about them is their money and access. But their views are childish and their ideas are lame.

They are not formidable, they are impostors in the positions they are in. Take-able, I'd say. I'd bet the ranch that not one of them could stand a stiff investigation, because those types are as dirty as the day is long. I used to know a lot of people of their ilk years ago, and every one was a cesspool of some sort.

[Berlum]

45. Ugly anti-democracy a-holery up the wazoo (R)

Dangerous Chickenhawk RepubliDicks opposed to all that is good and noble about America.

[JEB]

58. Pretty much verbatum

what I was thinking.

[ctsnowman]

47. Snipped from the article:

"We're Failing the Propaganda Battle"
The Groundswellers feel that they too often lose the political narrative to their progressive rivals. One memo that circulated among members declared, "We must reclaim the language and put 'a face' on our messages; tell stories. Write articles on 4th grade level!"

So they are going to try writing a full grade level above their intellectual capabilities? That should be fun to watch.

[KamaAina]

48. Should be called "Headswell"

[Cha]

82. Yes. And, Groundsmell..

as has been suggested.

[davidpdx]

91. No, it should be

Operation Headshill

[Fire Walk With Me]

49. I'm sure all of the spy agencies are well aware of this and will leap into action at any moment

to protect the country.

[Gothmog]

53. Juanita Jean had some fun with this story

http://juanitajean.com/2013/07/26/11-get-a-bucket-of-water-and-dump-it-on-peoples-heads-when-they-least-expect-it/

In case you were ever wondering what would happen if you got Clarence Thomas’ wife Jenni, John Bolton, Allen West, a top aide to Ted Cruz, and my neighbor Cathy Engelbrecht of True the Vote all together in one room and told them to form a group named Groundswell and make a list of Things To Do … today is your lucky day.

1. “At its weekly meetings, the group aims to strengthen the right’s messaging by crafting Twitter hashtags.”

2. Defeat the nomination of Labor Secretary nominee Thomas Perez by convincing people that he is “is extremely antagonistic toward whites.”

3. Convince Americans that John Kerry cannot be trusted as Secretary of State because “Kerry’s son in law is an Iranian American with extensive family still in Iran.”

4. “If we were all gay illegal aliens, the party likes [sic] us.”

5. Re-brand efforts to restrict access to the polls through voter ID programs and strict scrutiny of minority voters as a “Voter Rights” campaign.

6. Win the hearts and minds of “minorities” by re-positioning themselves as “Fredrick Douglas[sic] Republican[s],” instead of tea partiers or conservatives.

7. Refer to immigration reform as “OBAMAGRATION”

8. Hype the “Fast and the Furious” controversy and the Benghazi embassy attack some more.

9. “A 15 sec internet [YouTube ad] featuring ethnically diverse children on a merry-go-round [soft music]… Nuclear explosion.”

10. “Write articles on [sic] 4th grade level!”

Hey, they’ve got #10 down pat.

[Cha]

83. LOL! Mahalo, Gothmog..

Funny stuff.. here another bit that's hilarious..

That may make Groundswell sound kind of scary, but there's reason to believe these right-wing activists -- surprise, surprise -- aren't especially sharp.

Notes from a February 28 Groundswell gathering reflected both their collective sense of pessimism and desire for aggressive tactics: "We are failing the propaganda battle with minorities. Terms like, 'GOP,' 'Tea Party,' 'Conservative' communicate 'racism.'" The Groundswellers proposed an alternative: "Fredrick Douglas Republican," a phrase, the memo noted, that "changes minds." (His name is actually spelled "Frederick Douglass.&quot The meeting notes also stated that an "active radical left is dedicated to destroy those who oppose them" with "vicious and unprecedented tactics. We are in a real war; most conservatives are not prepared to fight."

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/25/19681021-facing-a-groundswell

"The meeting notes also stated that an "active radical left is dedicated to destroy those who oppose them" with "vicious and unprecedented tactics."

How about you.. feeling "vicious" and "unprecedented" today? I know OFA is going to have an Unprecedented onslaught on the gop in 2014 and they're gonna think it real vicious!

[HumansAndResources]

84. Obammigration ??? Really ???

It was President Reagan who gave the last multi-million amnesty - Don't forget to remind Republicans about that. It has always been the corporate-class that wants "more immigration" to drive down wages - going back to the 1800s., Paul-baiters out there might note Rand Paul's support.

The sick part of the equation is getting working-class Democrats to think it is "humanitarian" to flood the labor-pool. If some useful-idiot bigots don't like immigration, then we should be "for" it, right? Consider who suffers most; statistically, poor black communities. Just ask those who used to earn a living wage in construction, food-packaging, etc. Those were good middle-class jobs a few years back, but not anymore. This was a union-busting strategy and it worked like a charm, a GOP-DLC partnership operation in action.

And just because I love to show the duplicity of Reagan / GOP and how the race-game is used to divide us - let us not forget who enthusiastically signed California's "No Open Carry" gun-law. Yep - the 'Gipper' did that as Governor. But he had a "good reason" - it was "blacks" who were open-carrying.

[Generic Other]

59. Rats scurry into hiding to nibble butt cheese

That's the closest I can come to visualizing this little google gang.

[Bonhomme Richard]

60. All of a sudden I support Drones. n/t

[Spitfire of ATJ]

63. Bet they're all on Windows too.

[WinkyDink]

64. They all laughed when she sat down and said it was "vast."

[olddots]

66. My guestion to these turd maggots

If you're so rich why aren't you smart ?

[maddiemom]

69. And yet ANOTHER reason why Clarence Thomas should not be a Supreme Court Justice.

[John2]

77. Has this man

ever made a decision that went against to Republican Party or the right? It seems like he was placed on the Court for an agenda. Who were the Democratic Senators that approved Clarence Thomas position on the Supreme Court?

[blkmusclmachine]

70. Christian Dominionists' 7 Mountains Strategy for Converting America into the King James version of

Afghanistan.

They've been organizing for this since their very first Presidential Prayer Breakfast in the US in 1952 (a couple years or so after we kicked their asses in Germany).

[L0oniX]

73. "journalists and contributors to outlets like Fox News" Journalists contribute to Fux News? LOL

No real journalist! Fux hates them ...and let me know when Jeremy Scahill shows up on Fux and Friends.

[Coyotl]

74. I'm always amazed at what passes for big plans in small minds

Meanwhile, they are making the right less relevant all the time.

[blackspade]

75. Completely not surprised.

No conspiracy is to low or loathsome for this crowd.

[MADem]

79. Are half those Groundswell assholes posting here?

Makes you wonder!!!

[hue]

80. K&R!!!!

[Initech]

81. They might want to remove their tin foil hats.

[certainot]

85. talk radio is instrumental to everything these nuts push but there's NO organized opposition

to it from the left outside of the great but specifically targeted stoprush boycott.

until liberals and dems stop ignoring talk radio, wackos like these will continue to chip away at democracy and obstruct.

benghazi, sequestration, IRS and most scandals (always the dems) are mostly talk radio successes possisble only because the left ignores it.

for instance, the upcoming attempt to stop government (because we have a black president) around the debt ceiling is going to go a lot further than it would merely because the whole issue is being 'debated' and blown up with no recognition of the importance of the talk radio blowhards enabling of it.

dems don't know limbaugh was vital to pushing the teabaggers to the edge in 2011 with weeks of telling them default was no big deal and it would force obama to make cuts so we end up with sequestration and obama and they get to blame obama for it- limbaugh should be getting credit for it . the media and analysts were asking how the teabaggers could do it, would they go all the way, etc, and it should have been clear - it's in limbaugh's daily transcripts from the weeks before the deadline. if he was getting the credit he deserves as their economic guru they could have been shamed out of going forward- we could have avoided it then and it wouldn't be a problem now.

considering the time lost on global warming, ignoring the talk radio monopoly has been the biggest political mistake in history.