Going Stealth in Longview: Real Astro-Turf Revealed

By Nansen at August 11th, 2009.

Something big is happening in the 3rd C.D.  That was my gut feeling after I began hearing about a “stealth town hall event” in the works supposedly featuring our state’s two U.S. Senators Murray and Cantwell along with Congressman Brian Baird, to be hosted somewhere in the 3rd Congressional District.

Probably just embellishment, I thought.  If both Senators were coming to Southwest Washington, it would obviously be all over the news for several days leading up to such an event…or not.

Then came a forwarded email from a source about something happening at the Cowlitz Expo Center on Thursday:

“Spread the word & come if you can….btw, this is NOT a health-care event (though it wouldn’t surprise me if there was protesting going on).  Come out in your green shirt & hear what your Congressman & Senators have to say!”

Must have missed it on the news, I thought.  So, I scoured every newspaper, from The Olympian to the Willapa Harbor Herald, and from The Columbian to The Centralia Chronicle. Not a pixel anywhere about a rendezvous of this order or magnitude. Strange.

Then, this afternoon The Longview Daily News runs a story: Federal Lawmakers To Get Report from Mt. St. Helen’s panel:

Cowlitz County Commissioner Axel Swanson said last week he was pleased all three lawmakers [Murray, Cantwell, and Baird] will gather to receive the report [about Mt. St. Helens Monument Status], noting it’s rare to have them all together in the area focusing on one issue … Swanson said Friday he didn’t believe public comment would be taken at Thursday’s event, but it is open to the public. The meeting is only scheduled for one hour, making a public comment session unlikely. Thursday’s meeting is at 2 p.m. in the Cowlitz County Expo and Conference Center, 1900 Seventh Ave., Longview.

Still strange not to get much notice, but fair enough, I guess (two days lead time).  But, oh well, this sounds pretty cookie-cutter PR-photo shoot related, and focused on something entirely different than healthcare.

That, however, seemed to only half-mesh with what another source told me:

“…Baird’s office is seeking assistance from like-minded Democrats.  His office requested that those on the “invite” list get to the meeting by 1PM to counter anyone who shows who wants to oppose Obamacare.  Apparently this little townhall has nothing to do with healthcare but has to do with Mt. St. Helen’s grants or stimulus $$ or something like that.”

So that settled it: this was just about taking credit for a stimulus project after all.  Except of course, there’s more, much more.

When this email arrived a few minutes later, it finally started to dawn on me that this whole thing was likely being orchestrated:

“A number of town hall meetings are scheduled in coming weeks …

You’ve seen the news reports showing the shouting matches at these town hall meetings, some from legitimate frustration, but a lot orchestrated by big business and the big insurance companies. You need to make your voice heard so the call for affordable health insurance isn’t drowned out by the greed of the insurance companies.

One important town hall meeting is set this Thursday in Longview.

Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell and Representative Baird are scheduled to be in Longview on Thursday to speak on local issues. This was not scheduled as a health care event, but opponents of health care reform are targeting this meeting as a platform for their message.

We need AFSCME health care reform ADVOCATES in the house. Please try to attend!”

Looked like the union guys got it wrong, I thought.  Probably just an overzealous organizer, wanting to get union members to this meeting–JUST in case demonstrators against ObamaCare showed up.

But, wait, nobody even knows about this event yet.  Not unless they just read The Longview Daily News article this afternoon.

Wrong again.

The bombshell: Organizing for America sent out an urgent dispatch this evening which finally puts everything in perspective:

Friend –

I wanted to send you an urgent invitation to an important public meeting with Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Maria Cantwell, and Rep. Brian Baird this Thursday afternoon, August 13th. They’ll be talking to constituents and gathering feedback — this is an ideal opportunity to make sure your support for health insurance reform is seen and heard at exactly the right time.

Our congressional representatives are back home this month, and they’re facing more and more pressure from special interests on health insurance reform. It’s critical that we get out there and show them where we stand.

I hope you can join us.

What: Public meeting with
Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Maria Cantwell, and Rep. Brian Baird

Where: Cowlitz County Expo Center
1900 7th Avenue
Longview, WA 98632

When: Thursday, August 13th
Arrival Time: 12:00 p.m.
Start Time: 2:00 p.m.

Our representatives are under attack by Washington insiders, insurance companies, and well-financed special interests who don’t go a day without spreading lies and stirring up fear. We need to show that we’re sick and tired of it, and that we’re ready for real change, this year.

Please come to the meeting, and make sure that the most powerful voices in this debate are those calling for real reform, not angrily clamoring for the status quo.

RSVP here:

http://wa.barackobama.com/LongviewTH

Thanks,

Dustin

Dustin Lambro
Washington State Director
Organizing for America

P.S. — Before the event please print off a flyer to display and make sure that your support is visible.

Folks, if this isn’t the definition of Astro-Turf (or Axel-Turf), I don’t know what is. A stealth town hall event, stacked with union members and Democrat supporters, all aimed at avoiding any shred of dissent or real discussion of the issue.  The whole notion of a massive protest, however, is non-existent.  At least it was, until now.

Review: No notice to the media.  No invitation extended to anyone outside the OFA or union membership. Alarming emails to members saying there’s going to be a HUGE protest (at an event, mind you, nobody except the unions and Democrats know is happening).

Talk about an end run around democracy.  At least that’s what it looks like to me, folks.

You make your own call.

Tags: AFSCME, Brian Baird, Maria Cantwell, Organizing for America, Patty Murray

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