Freedom At Risk » Definitions

Grass Roots or Astroturf

Editor — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:17:16 +0000

Campaigns & Elections magazine defines astroturf as a “grassroots program that involves the instant manufacturing of public support for a point of view in which either uninformed activists are recruited or means of deception are used to recruit them.” Journalist William Greider has coined his own term to describe corporate grassroots organizing. He calls it “democracy for hire.”

Senator Lloyd Bentsen, himself a long-time Washington and Wall Street insider, is credited with coining the term “astroturf lobbying” to describe the synthetic grassroots movements that now can be manufactured for a fee by companies like Beckel Cowan, Bivings Group, Bonner & Associates, Burson-Marsteller, Davies Communications, DCI Group, Direct Impact, Hill & Knowlton, Issue Dynamics Inc., National Grassroots & Communications, or Optima Direct.

Unlike genuine grassroots activism which tends to be money-poor but people-rich, astroturf campaigns are typically people-poor but cash-rich. Funded heavily by corporate largesse, they use sophisticated computer databases, telephone banks and hired organizers to rope less-informed activists into sending letters to their elected officials or engaging in other actions that create the appearance of grassroots support for their client’s cause.

Wee Weed Up

Editor — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:34:51 +0000

“Wee Weed Up???”

A term used by President Obama during a recent speech. The definition? Not even the press knows what it means.

Red States and Blue States

Editor — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:16:51 +0000

Came into use in 2000 to refer to those states of the United States whose residents predominantly vote for the Republican Party or Democratic Party presidential candidates, respectively. A blue state tends to vote for the Democratic Party, and a red state tends to vote for the Republican Party, although the colors were often reversed or different colors used before the 2000 election. According to The Washington Post, the terms were coined by late television journalist Tim Russert during his televised coverage of the 2000 presidential election. That was not, however, the first election during which the news media used colored maps to graphically depict voter preferences in the various states, but it was the first time a standard color scheme took hold. Since 2000, usage of the term has been expanded to differentiate between states being perceived as liberal and those perceived as conservative.

This unofficial system used in the United States stands in contrast to the system of political colors in most other long-established democracies, where blue represents right-wing and conservative parties, while red represents left-wing and socialist parties.

Progressives or Progressivism

Editor — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:14:11 +0000

Is a political and social term that refers to ideologies and movements favoring or advocating changes or reform, usually in a statist or egalitarian direction for economic policies (government management) and liberal direction for social policies (personal choice). Progressivism is often viewed in opposition to conservative ideologies.

Ditto Heads

Editor — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:11:36 +0000

Any person who loves the Rush Limbaugh radio show. Ditto heads totally agree with Rush’s opinions and stand behind him without question. The word ditto was first used by a caller on his show who agreed with the accolades given Rush by a previous caller. The praise Rush was given by callers was becoming too long winded and Rush promoted the use of ditto by his callers as a means to be brief and to show their approval at the same time.

Cash For Clunkers

Editor — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:10:03 +0000

Recently, the U.S. Government passed legislation providing vouchers valued from $3,500 to $4,500 when you trade-in a vehicle and purchase a new one that meets or exceeds higher MPG standards.

Blue Dog Coalition

Editor — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:07:52 +0000

A group of moderate and conservative Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives.