TPM - "Sensitive" Oil Industry Memo Lays Out Plan For Astroturf Rallies Against Climate Change Bill

[TomCADem]

Last year, remember when all the grass roots support was in favor of oil drilling, and against climate change legilation. We may now complain about the "deal" to allow offshore oil drilling in exchange for cap and trade, but it had grass roots/tea bag support, which was corporate funded, of course.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/sensitive_oil_industry_memo_lays_out_plan_for_astr.php

A leaked memo sent by an oil industry group reveals a plan to create astroturf rallies at which industry employees posing as "citizens" will urge Congress to oppose climate change legislation.
The memo -- sent by the American Petroleum Institute and obtained by Greenpeace, which sent it to reporters -- urges oil companies to recruit their employees for events that will "put a human face on the impacts of unsound energy policy," and will urge senators to "avoid the mistakes embodied in the House climate bill."


API tells TPMmuckraker that the campaign is being funded by a coalition of corporate and conservative groups that includes the anti-health-care-reform group 60 Plus, FreedomWorks, and Grover Norquist's Americans For Tax Reform.

The memo, signed by API president Jack Gerard, asks recipients to give API "the name of one central coordinator for your company's involvement in the rallies."

[Stargazer99]

1. Sometimes I wonder just how stupid some Americans

can be. Despite destroying the living of many on the East Coast along with decimating wildlife the idiot conservative still supports the Republican agenda. No wonder the Republicans have confidence in manipulating the common man.

[TomCADem]

2. The Anti-Wall Street Tea Baggers Were Notoriously Absent From Financial Reform

The Tea Bag movement was allegedly a grass roots movement formed by people angry at Wall Street, and the bailouts they were getting. Okay. So, where are they when Congress is planning to regulate them, and recover these bailouts? What happened to demanding your tax money back through a fee charged to banks?

The same applies with American Petroleum Institute and its astro-turf efforts. Suddenly, the common man who was demanding that we cut taxes for oil companies and allow off-shore drilling is nowhere to be found.