Oil Industry Memo Lays Out Plan For Astroturf Rallies Against Climate Change Bill

[RedEarth]

By Zachary Roth - August 14, 2009, 11:21AM
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."

And it warns: "Please treat this information as sensitive ... we don't want critics to know our game plan."

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/sensitive_oil_industry_memo_lays_out_plan_for_astr.php?ref=fpa

[izzybeans]

1. Thanks.

K and R.

[ThomWV]

2. The formula has been found to stop any progress and they will stick to it.

Anyone suprised?

[seafan]

Who is surprised? Astroturf rallies in the works to shout down Climate Change Bill.

"Sensitive" Oil Industry Memo Lays Out Plan For Astroturf Rallies Against Climate Change Bill, August 14, 2009


And this will involve industry employees posing as "concerned citizens".


Let's see... we had the Brooks Brothers Riot in 2000; the anti-Health Care Reform Riot; now the Climate Change Riot. This is what Corporate Money is buying these days.


This is what we will see for EVERY INITIATIVE that Obama's agenda contains. Right-wing marching orders: Distort, delay, defame, disrupt and demonize.


Be prepared.

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. .

:banghead:

[imdjh]

4. For the record, I am not astroturf and just because it's called a Climate Change bill ...

... doesn't mean it's a good bill. I oppose it in its current form.

[BlooInBloo]

6. Wonderful. More people on our side joining with them.

[imdjh]

7. I didn't write the bill.

[BlooInBloo]

5. They're watching the heath-thing. Planning.

[imdjh]

8. If our congressmen don't listen to us, what would make you think they listen to astroturf?

They only listen to those who are bribing them. They should be arrested. But who will do it?