Astro-turfing is the practice of reprinting or revising mass produced "letters of concern" and submitting said reprints to local newspapers as though they were original thoughts or opinions of a given local citizen.
Newspapers should screen their letters to the editor to prevent instances of astro-turfing, in as much as astro-turfing is generally highly partisan, most often deceptive and rather less than forthright in regards to contributions of actual factual information.
Such material rarely contributes any positive additions to our national debate.
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Add commentNancy Pelosi Democratic talking point
May one define mud-slinging tactics? You were so kind as to use Democrat Nancy Pelosi’s favorite derogatory term “Astroturf”. For example: The Tea Party is astroturf.
Mud-slinging : outright accusations are rarely necessary to achieve the goal of creating scandal. One may simply use innuendo or hyperbole as forms of political mudslinging. In other words, one does not have to prove that the other candidate is corrupt or dishonest; he or she only needs to plant that seed.
This printed letter to the editor is an example of mud-slinging meant to frighten or humiliate the writer, and further distract from the information contained in the letter. In point of fact, You may convince me that the Editor should not allow party propaganda to be allowed, and I will assist in your attempt to silence the wrong-dooer. This is of course, not astro-turf as it is only my personal opinion.
Now state your case without using your Marxist Saul Alinsky rule #15 tactic. Prove your case and make an intelligent argument, with clean hands.
keep writing, free speech and debate is the American way
in your own words of course.
absolutely positively do not use the public words of your elected politicians, it make them look so stupid.
audio, video, transcripts, internet, you tube, cable tv, have been the bane of politicians. gone are the days when they could give one speech to sucker the fools in New York then give the opposite speech in Virginia.
Keeping it Real
Playing loose with facts and opinions that are not based on truth will be the norm from the weakest and most prolific posters. I will use my ignore user selection. Let's play catch the FReeper troll , since we can't catch a King Salmon.