Rachel Maddow On FreedomWorks: Grassroots Or Astroturf? (HQ)

Rachel Maddow on FreedomWorks role with "Shout-Outs" at health care town hall meetings. MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show (aired: 08/06/09).

A message from DAP (08/11/09): This upload has been tagged by YouTube as "Matched third party content". "Content owner: MSNBC" which I had acknowledged in the comment section. This video has not been altered and reflects the original context of the news reported at the time of broadcast; it has been uploaded for the sole purpose to inform and promote public debate under "Fair Use'. I have disputed the claim of infringement of copyright law under fair use. I await MSNBC's decision as to the fate of my channel. Thank you for your time and support. - DAP.

Information on FreedomWorks:

According to sourcewatch.org (link below): FreedomWorks, founded in 1984 and described as a 501c4 "grassroots organization," is chaired by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX). The organization's President is Matt Kibbe. FreedomWorks was formed in 2004 when Citizens for a Sound Economy merged with Empower America. The cause for confusion is that FreedomWorks was founded in 1984 as Citizens for a Sound Economy. The name was changed as part of the merger deal in 2004. The organization has been continuously operating since 1984.

In 2008, FreedomWorks was behind the creation of a fake grassroots web site called Angryrenter.com which rallies opposition to "the Obama Housing Bailout." The site urges people to oppose bailing out mortgage companies. The site claims to represent "Renters and responsible homeowners against a government mortgage bailout."

FreedomWorks, which was one of the lobbying groups involved in orchestrated the anti-Obama "tea parties" on April 15, 2009, in summer of 2009 began pursuing an aggressive strategy to create the image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform at Congressmembers' town-hall meetings in their districts. A leaked memo from Bob MacGuffie, a volunteer with the FreedomWorks website "Tea Party Patriots," describes how members should infiltrate town hall meetings and harass and intimidate Democratic members of Congress: Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put tIle Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up ... You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep's presentation. Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep's statements early. If he blames Bush for something or offers other excuses -- call him on it, yell back and have someone else follow-up with a shout-out ... The goal is to rattle him ..."

( http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=FreedomWorks )

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• freedomworks
• health
• care
• town
• hall
• republican
• conservative
• dick
• armey
• grassroots
• astroturf
• rachel
• maddow
• dawgnpony

[CHEETAH69]

It is this type of investigative, sift-thru-the-bullshit comprehensive journalism that elevates Rachel to a level that NO other person on air can touch. The woman is truly unbelievable. I'd put her up against ANY republican on ANY subject and my money would be on her wiping the floor with them. I actually saw this the night it aired and was both floored and astonished by both the news and her in depth analysis of it all. Thanks DAP.

[dawgnpony]

CHEETAH69, I am in total agreement with you. Every evening I look forward to Rachel Maddow for her concise and thorough reports and the oodles of factual information she provides to her viewers. She is the best.

Thank you for your comments and support.

[ReanimatedReagan]

Just call her a dyke, rather then provide info against her statements. If you're interested in name calling, I'm sure there's a playground in your area that can suit your behavior.

[Twicebakedtaters]

Debt = surplus Progressive math,  lean forward, right over the cliff.

[Twicebakedtaters]

@ChibiDarksai Yeah I am with you. The propaganda plugs she does for anti austerity and how great the Social security system works. What crap. Tell people a fairy tale and they follow like children.

[CComb501]

MSNBC Rocks and is the only reliable commentary available (other than BBC of-course).

[SharpShootist]

I didn't know Eddie Munster had a new TV show!

[ChibiDarksai]

Rachel Madow is one of the few media personalities I dislike more than Glenn Beck. Her leftist bias makes Faux News actually seem legit. :/

[viletree]

@Biggnuncio It's not grassroots though, they are another neocon organization that promotes corporate rights through retards known as "teabaggers"

[Joeyal123]

Raschel Maddow is hot

[QWERTY34990]

FreedomWorks !!!! Rocks!!! Love it!!! Join!!!

[Biggnuncio]

Rachel is pretty clueless on this one. Freedomworks has been around for twenty some years preaching basically the same thing. Now Obamacare comes around and people don't like it, insurance companies don't like it, so what is their recourse? They fund a group that also doesn't like it of course. She implies that because they are funded by those people that is why they are spreading that message when in fact it is the other way around.

[lancebaxter]

See the new FreedomWorks commercial: watch?v=pv2_oex7vg0

(And then see watch?v=eMUVFctJ2Xw)