Group Fighting Terrorism Trials in Virginia Tied to GOP Firm

[babylonsister]

Group Fighting Terrorism Trials in Virginia Tied to GOP Firm
"Citizens for a Safe Alexandria" Looks More Astroturf Than Grassroots
By Spencer Ackerman 6/11/09 6:00 AM


As a substantial portion of about 250 detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay’s prison facility prepare to face trial in the United States, the alarm that has defined the Washington debate over civilian trials for terrorism detainees has spilled across the Potomac River. A new organization has formed in Alexandria, Va., to advocate that the federal court there, which has already heard several prominent terrorism trials, is an undesired venue for trying detainees. The founder of the two-week-old Citizens for a Safe Alexandria, Sara Raak, appeared on local TV news Monday night to tell the Obama administration and lawmakers not to “put those of us in the Alexandria neighborhood at risk” by transfering detainees to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

But while the newscaster interviewing Raak called her group a “grassroots” organization — and while Raak explained its origins by saying “we wanted to have an organization that kept the citizens of Alexandria aware of things that were happening at the federal, state or local government level” about dangers to the area — the group shows signs of being an “astroturf” effort, an attempt at making an issue pushed by powerful sponsors appear like a spontaneous outpouring of public will. Raak, who has a substantial pedigree in conservative politics and works for a Virginia communications firm, denies the charge.

Citizens for a Safe Alexandria’s website has a number of features that raise the eyebrows of astroturf experts. Its domain is listed as owned by DomainsByProxy, which conceals the identity of websites’ owners. The site doesn’t feature any contact information — just a box where visitors can submit a message to the group. “These vague things, the lack of contact information, they’re all red flags,” said Diane Farsetta, a senior researcher with the Center for Media and Democracy. Asked about the DomainsByProxy web ownership, Farsetta said, “I don’t know why a grassroots organization would do that.”

The servers that host Citizens for a Safe Alexandria’s website, however, reveal somewhat more. According to the server-information hub Whois.net, the organization’s website is hosted on servers belonging to a firm called Democracy Data & Communications, whose address is on the same floor of the same building as the communications firm where Raak is employed, a company called OnPoint Advocacy — whose website is on the same servers as well. Those servers host websites for several business interests and advocacy groups on the right, including the Altria-owned Tobaccoissues.com and the now-defunct Freedom’s Watch, formerly run by Bush White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. For its part, OnPoint offers clients the ability to “generate influential contacts with Congress” through “grassroots” and “grasstops” media strategies, including “interactive, grassroots-focused online recruitment and communications programs that help expand and strengthen your existing advocate audiences.”

more...

http://washingtonindependent.com/46440/spencers-trial-story

[Mari333]

1. just like the 'tea parties'..GOP astroturf

big money GOP think tanks running the show. its good to see it exposed to the light. too bad the MSM ignores the expose/.

[annabanana]

2. Sara Raak and those who fund her are COWARDS....

stupid cowards...

[Solly Mack]

3. K&R