Antiwar Groups Use New Clout to Influence Democrats on Iraq
Americans Against Escalation in Iraq (AAEI) is supposedly the new kid in town, but is actually made up of the same old kids that have been around for quite a while.
Take a boat load of democrat operatives, mix in liberal and progressive players, unions and their stooges and we have a new stew of a “grass roots” effort otherwise know as astro turfing.
It is astro turfing in that there has been no nationwide emergence of a grass roots effort to abandon Iraq and Afghanistan. AAEI has grown from non-existence to its current size having allied groups in every state that are able to plan and schedule “protests” and events over night through the normal astro turfing processes of mixed media, including letters to the editor, e-mails, blog posts and various link backs (ex. Trackbacks), forums, and online petitions and mailers. This effort is also astro turfing because the “anti-war” groups have gained new “clout” by influencing their old bosses, friends and organizations as inside networkers and it can be done with no traditional trail thus exemplifying their “grassroots” appearance. I can only presume that there is more than Democrat and union money behind this effort because the participants are adamant that there is no Soros hiding behind the curtain.
All of this is an effort to magnify their message and give the appearance of being huge when in fact their effort is not. To hear Harry Reid, every single person except the lonely Bushs have written, called, e-mailed or visited him to beg him to hear the cry of the nation to save our troops by pulling out of Iraq now.
Below is 15 minutes of surfing to gather a small sampling of AAEI’s allies, partners and non-aligned groups supporting their efforts and some hyperlinks to participants and efforts. Go see how we are having our Internet ass handed to us. The only thing missing is the list of their media contacts carrying their water every day.
Americans Against Escalation in Iraq – The Umbrella Group
Tara McGuinness Dep Camp Mgr
Moira Mack Spokesman
Listed Members
MoveOn.org Tom Matzzie
Service Employees International Union
Win Without War Tom Andrews
Americans United for Change Brad Woodhouse
Center for American Progress Action Fund
Campus Progress Action
Iraq Action Camp
Campaign for America's Future
USSA
US Action
Working Assets
Votevets.org Jon Soltz, Chairman and Co-Founder
Jeremy D. Broussard, Senior Advisor
Major General (ret.) Paul Eaton, board
Partners/Allies listed in the media
Organized Labor
AFSCME
AFL-CIO
National Security Network Rand Beers
National Priorities Project Local Partners National listing
Voice of America's 21 Century Patriots
True Majority
Maine People’s Alliance
Afghanistan Veterans in America
CO Progressive Action
WV Citizen Action Group
WV Patriots for Peace
Pennsylvania Action
Pennsylvanians Against Escalation in Iraq
Campaign for America’s Future
United States Student Association
New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action
Progressive States Network
Campus Progress
TrueMajority
Progress Ohio
Long Island Progressive Coalition
Non-aligned Allied Groups
Code Pink Medea Benjaman
Projects of AAEI
Veteran Lobbying Days
Iraq veterans will be visiting members of Congress in their district offices in IL, IN, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, AZ, NM, CO, IA,FL, MO, WI, WV and TN to discuss the members votes on the Iraq supplemental.
13 Canvass Kick-offs
Later in the week, canvasses will kick-off in FL, NY, CA, GA, CO, MA, WI, PA, IL, WA, OR, ME, MN
Veteran Lobbying in District Offices Nationwide
Iraq veterans will be visiting members of Congress in their district offices in IL, IN, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, AZ, NM, CO, IA, FL, MO, WI, WV and TN to discuss the members' votes in the Iraq supplemental.
8 State-by-State “Readiness” Reports Released on National Guard
Reports on state readiness combined with press conferences will take place during the recess for already released reports on ME, PA, FL, VA check out: http://www.noiraqescalation.org/reports/ State reports and “readiness” events will be held in: IN, OR, MN, TN, NM, AZ, CO, NE.
UPDATE: The Democrat[ic] leadership is being lead by the nose by AAEI as they try to straddle the loudest mouth segment with the rank and file. Thank you Power Line News!
Democratic Gain is pimping for AAEI! How special.
