New Coal Ads Emphasize Energy Costs in Bid for 'Hearts and Minds'

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/08/14/14greenwire-new-coal-ads-emphasize-energy-costs-in-bid-for-8610.html

August 14, 2009

New Coal Ads Emphasize Energy Costs in Bid for 'Hearts and Minds'

By ANNE C. MULKERN of Greenwire

Coal's well-funded lobbying group today launched a television ad campaign featuring ordinary people talking about the importance of low-cost electricity, a message analysts described as coal's effort to rebrand itself before the Senate tackles climate legislation.

The campaign from the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), an alliance of coal and utility companies, features 30-second unscripted spots with a electric-utility executive, an Ohio small-business owner and a St. Louis, Mo., energy efficiency consultant. Two-minute Internet videos offer similar messages on cost, availability and the environmental strides made by coal-fired utilities.

The ads come as ACCCE pushes forcefully to gain support for coal. The lobbying group just rolled out a so-called citizens army of more than 200,000 volunteers to visit town hall meetings and other functions attended by members of Congress, where they will ask questions about energy policy. That effort is aimed at influencing senators, particularly those from states that rely on coal for power.

"The fact that companies will pour their billions into these kind of programs suggests that they think they have impact," said Kenneth Green, resident scholar at American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. "Clearly, they believe that this does sway public opinion for their product, or they wouldn't advertize."

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[ananda]

1. Pure evil.

nt

[drm604]

2. ACCCE and Astroturfing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/us/politics/05charity.html

A trade group representing coal producers and power companies says that it indirectly hired a lobbying firm that sent fake letters to lawmakers purporting to be from nonprofit groups opposed to climate-change legislation.

The group, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, said in statement Monday that it was considering legal action against the lobbying firm.

On Tuesday, staff members across Capitol Hill combed through constituent mail in search of other fake letters. The search began after three members of Congress said they had received them.

A Washington lobbying firm, Bonner & Associates, has admitted sending the letters and said it had fired the person responsible.

Yes indeedy. This was all the fault of one bad employee who acted without the knowledge of anyone else. His employer, and their customer, are simply OUTRAGED, I tell you, OUTRAGED. They would never engage in such tactics! :sarcasm:

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/32411154#32411154
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/32380712#32380712
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/32380719#32380719

[drm604]

4. Gotta love Rachel!

:toast: