Support AlterNet
Do you value the information you're getting from AlterNet? Please show your support with a tax-deductible donation.
Feedback
Tell us how we're doing.
More Astro-Turfing Coming as Big Oil Tries to Turn Tea Baggers Against Clean Energy
The American oil industry, working with a coalition of business interests, plans to manufacture rallies in opposition to clean energy reform, an internal document reveals. According to the plan acquired by Greenpeace, the American Petroleum Institute (API) will “coordinate transportation” for oil industry employees to “Energy Citizen” rallies targeting U.S. Senators in 21 states. The document’s author, API president Jack Gerard, discusses how it is “important that our views” supplant “constituents’ views”:
The objective of these rallies is to put a human face on the impacts of unsound energy policy and to aim a loud message at those states’ U.S. Senators to avoid the mistakes embodied in the House climate bill and the Obama Administration’s tax increases on our industry. Senate Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid reportedly has pushed back consideration of climate legislation to late September to allow Senators time to get their constituents’ views during the August recess. It’s important that our views be heard.
API’s membership, which includes ExxonMobil, GE, and Halliburton, will join “allies from a broad range of interests: the Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturing, the trucking industry, the agricultural sector, small business, and many others” to create these Astroturf rallies to protect their dirty energy profits at the expense of the planet.
| Also in Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | |||
| Real Rich: Banks Blame Homeowners for Failure of Mortgage-Relief Plan A mere 5 percent of those who applied for mortgage refinancing under the administration's mortgage-relief plan have received permanent loan modifications. Post by Daniela Perdomo. December 9, 2009. |
Will Someone Please Explain the Meaning of "War Bond" to Ben Nelson? The Nebraska senator seems to think they're the equivalent of free money. They're not. Post by Steve Benen. December 9, 2009. |
Are Wealthier, Better Educated Neighbors More Likely to Return a Wallet Full of Cash than Poorer Ones? It's an ideological Rorschach test from those zany pranksters at Gallup! Post by Joshua Holland. December 8, 2009. |
|
EMAIL
PRINT
7 COMMENTS
PERMALINK