Revealed: The Democrat August Astroturf Gameplan

Democrats Launch Astroturf Campaign After Falsely Attacking the American People

Leading up to a compromise agreement for spending cuts, Democrats accused Republican members of Congress pushing for the largest amount of spending cuts possible of being “terrorists.”

Democrats previously labeled as “Astroturf,” or fake grassroots, concerned Americans who voiced their opposition to Nancy Pelosi’s big-spending agenda and government takeover of healthcare.

After falsely attacking the American people, it is Democrats who are planning an Astroturf campaign funded by left-wing interest groups during the August recess in an attempt to buy support for their failed agenda.

Leading up to a compromise agreement for spending cuts, Democrats accused Republican members of Congress pushing for the largest amount of spending cuts possible as “terrorists”:

VP BIDEN ACCUSED TEA PARTY OF ACTING “LIKE TERRORISTS”: “Vice President Joe Biden joined House Democrats in lashing tea party Republicans Monday, accusing them of having “acted like terrorists” in the fight over raising the nation’s debt limit.” (Jonathan Allen and John Bresnahan, “Biden: Tea ‘Terrorists’,” Politico, 8/1/2011)

REP. MIKE DOYLE (D-PA): TEA PARTY “TERRORISTS” HAVE “MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SPEND ANY MONEY.” ” ‘We have negotiated with terrorists,’ an angry Doyle said, according to sources in the room. ‘This small group of terrorists have made it impossible to spend any money.'” (Jonathan Allen and John Bresnahan, “Biden: Tea ‘Terrorists’,” Politico, 8/1/2011)

AFTER BIDEN SAID TEA PARTY HAS “GUNS TO [GOP] HEADS”: “Earlier in the day, Biden told Senate Democrats that Republican leaders have ‘guns to their heads’ in trying to negotiate deals.” (Jonathan Allen and John Bresnahan, “Biden: Tea ‘Terrorists’,” Politico, 8/1/2011)

Democrats previously labeled as “Astroturf,” or fake grassroots, concerned Americans who voiced their opposition to Nancy Pelosi’s big-spending agenda and government takeover of healthcare:

PELOSI: TEA PARTY IS “ASTROTURF,” “NOT REALLY A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT” AND “FUNDED BY THE HIGH END.” “This initiative is funded by the high end – we call call it astroturf, it’s not really a grassroots movement. It’s astroturf by some of the wealthiest people in America to keep the focus on tax cuts for the rich instead of for the great middle class.” (Brian Beutler, “Pelosi: This is Astroturf, Not Grassroots Protest,” Talking Points Memo, 4/15/2009)

PELOSI DOUBLED DOWN IN AUGUST 2009, HEALTHCARE PROTESTORS ARE “ASTROTURF,” TOO. “‘I think they’re Astroturf,’ Pelosi said Tuesday. ‘You be the judge.'” (Joe Garofoli, “Pelosi: Rowdy Town Hall Protests Are ‘Astroturf,'” San Francisco Chronicle, 8/4/2009)

FORMER REP. BARON HILL (D-IN) AT THE TIME CALLED TEA PARTY PROTESTORS “POLITICAL TERRORIST[S].” “‘If you just want to blow up a meeting that’s a political terrorist,’ said Hill.” (Jim Shella, “GOP Demanding Apology from Baron Hill,” WishTV 8, 8/11/2009)

After falsely attacking the American people, it is Democrats who are planning an Astroturf campaign funded by left-wing interest groups during the August recess in an attempt to buy support for their failed agenda:

ASTROTURF BEGAN LAST WEEK AS OBAMA MOBILIZED HIS CAMPAIGN IN A PUSH FOR MORE SPENDING: ” ‘So I’m asking you all to make your voice heard. If you want a balanced approach to reducing the deficit, let your member of Congress know. If you believe we can solve this problem through compromise, send that message.’ …

“What’s more, the volume is likely to increase — Organizing for America will reportedly use its lists today to encourage more outreach, nearly all of which will likely be in opposition to the GOP.” (Steve Benen, “Public Answers POTUS Call to Action,” Washington Monthly’s “Political Animal” blog, 7/26/2011)

LIBERAL GROUP AMERICANS UNITED FOR CHANGE ORGANIZING PROTESTS AGAINST GOP MEMBERS. “The original protest was coordinated by John Fennell, a Democrat from Bridgeport, along with help from the Americans United For Change organization.” (Keith Heffintrayer, “Video: Partisan Protestors Send Messages to Meehan,” West Chester Patch, 7/30/2011)

MOVEON.ORG SIMILARLY URGED “EMERGENCY MOBILIZATION”: “MoveOn.org held an emergency mobilization concerning the Debt Ceiling Vote at Congressman Erik Paulsens office at the Star Bank in Eden Prarie, Minn. on Tuesday July 26,2011.” (Richard Sennot, Caption, “Debt Ceiling Debate Already Yields A Roadmap,” The Star-Tribune, 8/1/2011)

AMERICANS UNITED FOR CHANGE, SEIU, AFSCME AND NEA MAKING JOINT AD BUY ATTACKING REPUBLICANS: “A coalition of groups is going on the air today with an 8-state, six-figure ad buy slamming Republicans for threatening to put the country into default. Americans United for Change, SEIU, AFSCME and the National Education Association are teaming up for the buy, which runs through Monday. (Emily Schultheis, Charles Mahtesian and Dan Hirschhorn, “Progressives Hit Back on Debt Ceiling,” Politico’s “Morning Score”, 7/29/2011)

LEFT-WING SPECIAL INTERESTS, MOVEON.ORG AND THE PROGRESSIVE CHANGE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, SETTING THE AGENDA: “MoveOn.org came out in opposition, and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee said 200,000 Obama 2008 supporters might withhold their support this time in protest.” (Glenn Thrush and Carrie Budoff Brown, “Debt Deal Complicates Liberals’ Support,” Politico, 8/1/2011)