Freedom Works - "FreedomWorks helps with voter education for the Massachusetts Special Election"

[TomCADem]

Dick Armey's corporate astroturf machine, Freedom Works, is out trying to push Scott Brown's election in order to kill health care reform:

http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/mclemente/freedomworks-participates-in-voter-education-for-t

On January 19th, the state of Massachusetts will hold a special election to fill the seat of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) who passed away in August. The contest is between State Attorney General Martha Coakley (D-MA) and State Senator Scott Brown (R-MA). As the race has progressed, it has become clear that the fate of healthcare reform may depend upon its outcome. Scott Brown stands in opposition to the healthcare takeover bill that is forcing its way through Congress. A statement on his website reads:

I am opposed to the health care legislation that is under consideration in Congress and will vote against it. It will raise taxes, increase government spending and lower the quality of care...

Martha Coakley, however, supports the Congressional legislation. In a recent debate, she stated:

I’d be proud to be the 60th vote.

With one of the most important Senatorial elections in the state's history at hand, FreedomWorks believes that every Massachusetts voter should know where the two candidates stand on the issues. In an effort to keep the Massachusetts electorate informed and knowledgeable, FreedomWorks has created a side-by-side handout that compares Senator Brown and Attorney General Coakley's positions on healthcare and cap and trade. It will be distributed to voters across the state.

Here is more information on Freedom Works:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/14/lobbying-clients-teaparties/

ThinkProgress reported last week that corporate lobbyists are helping to orchestrate the anti-Obama tea party protests. These lobbying-run front groups, along with promotion help from Fox News, are organizing the tea parties by calling right-wing activists and asking them to organize. They are also coordinating conference calls among activists, writing press releases, providing sign ideas, building websites supporting the protests, and distributing talking points so that the protesters can stay on message.

Today, FreedomWork’s Adam Brandon responded to the criticism that its efforts to organize these anti-Obama protests are ‘astroturf,’ saying that the organization’s work in coordinating and planning the events would be akin to “MoveOn’s model.” However, MoveOn is not run by corporate lobbyists and is funded by actual grassroots activists. On the other hand, the leader of FreedomWorks, Dick Armey, who is ranked as one of DC’s top “hired guns,” is a corporate lobbyist with a history of directing FreedomWorks to support the goals of his lobbying clients.