Shaun Kenney | Politics and Religion in Virginia's Public Square


Friday, July 18, 2008 Astroturf You know, artificial turf designed to look like grassroots? The WaPo explains in detail: Simmons and Gardner are among 500 contract workers for Democracy Data & Communications (DDC), an Alexandria company that specializes in lobbying from the grass roots. DDC pays the two women to spend much of their day telephoning people around the country and asking them to sign letters to Congress that press for legislation. The workers are paid $10 to $15 an hour, depending on their expertise. DDC says lobby groups pay the company $75 to $125 per letter sent, depending on the difficulty of the campaign. Whether lawmakers know it or not -- and some might be disappointed to learn -- the practice is not only common but growing. Interest groups, preparing for a new president and the sweeping initiatives he no doubt will launch, are increasingly hiring folks like Simmons and Gardner to build lists of voters-back-home who can be called upon to contact Washington. The seemingly heartfelt letters they produce are among the most persuasive kinds of communications that Congress receives, polls of congressional offices have shown. It's the constituent difference between a piece of antique furniture with loads of character, or the cheap crap you'd find in any Wal-Mart; the heartfelt from the mass produced. Just one more way you are being manipulated by people who think they are smarter than you. posted by Shaun Kenney \| 7/18/2008 04:55:00 PM \| 0 comments 0 Comments: Post a Comment Home
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