The New York Times (Sept. 30, 1998) described the phenomenon of grasstops lobbying: “Because mass mobilizations have become so prevalent, a number of firms have become experts in a technique known as ‘grass-tops’ lobbying, aimed at mobilizing an elite as opposed to the masses. The goal is to figure out to whom a member of Congress cannot say no: his chief donor, his campaign manager, a political mentor. The lobbyist then tries to persuade that person to take his client’s side. If the method works, the member of Congress may never know that a person contacting him had been revved up by a lobbyist. To pull off this feat, Washington lobbying and public relations firms keep databases of organizers across the country, most of them with backgrounds in politics.”

It’s called co-optation…deceiving a movement to do your dirty-work. Such nice people Hillary runs with!

This is the Washington Kool-aid circle, isn’t it? Its one of the reasons why I did not vote for Hillary. Not that I think Obama is immune to it– just that his blood has not turned green yet, and so we have a better chance of starting fresh.

Bob in HI

DSG’s approach to lobbying “attempts to get prominent local citizens and organizations to lobby on behalf of interest groups. Unlike conventional lobbying, the technique does not require the firms’ principals to meet with or even talk to lawmakers. … The method is considered effective because lawmakers usually do not even know that they’ve been lobbied.”

The New York Times (Sept. 30, 1998) described the phenomenon of grasstops lobbying: “Because mass mobilizations have become so prevalent, a number of firms have become experts in a technique known as ‘grass-tops’ lobbying, aimed at mobilizing an elite as opposed to the masses. The goal is to figure out to whom a member of Congress cannot say no: his chief donor, his campaign manager, a political mentor. The lobbyist then tries to persuade that person to take his client’s side. If the method works, the member of Congress may never know that a person contacting him had been revved up by a lobbyist. To pull off this feat, Washington lobbying and public relations firms keep databases of organizers across the country, most of them with backgrounds in politics.”

It’s called co-optation…deceiving a movement to do your dirty-work. Such nice people Hillary runs with!

Anybody catch Kristol’s Monday op-ed in the NYT that concluded (although posed as a rhetorial question) that Democrats should not be permitted to govern? Strikes me that that was more revealing than he intended, for if that has been the unspoken belief of the Republian elite for the last three decades, it explains A LOT during that time.

It was on Obsidian Wings website…I bookmarked it, but my computer wiped out all of my bookmarks about an hour later.

Oooh – thank you – I found it! I wish there could be a FDL post on this so we could spotlight and Digg it!

-G

Atrios has a post that says McCain will go to the gates of hell to get Bin Laden providing those gates aren’t in Pakistan.

Wanted to mention, I’m relieved. Matthews had Claire McCaskill on to answer the question about Obama’s accomplishments, and she was prepared and answered the question very well, I thought.

Someone on an FDL post within the last few days posted an exhaustive list of Obama’s legislative accomplishments. I can’t find it – does anyone know where it is? That poor Tex state senator sure needed it when dealing with Tweety last night. it sounds like none of the Obama surrogates out there have been given a list, according to a reporter on Thom Hartmann’s show today.

Could someone here PLEASE find that list?! (Or did I dream it?) it needs to be shared pronto with Obama’s campaign – and the MSM!!