Definition of Astroturf Lobbying
Astroturf lobbying refers to political organizations or campaigns that appear to be made up of grassroots activists but are actually organized and run by corporate interests seeking to further their own agendas. Such groups are often typified by innocent-sounding names that have been chosen specifically to disguise the group's true backers.
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Origin of the Term
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The Center for Media and Democracy credits the late Lloyd Bentsen, a longtime Texas senator who later served as treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, with coining the term.
Purpose of Astroturf Lobbying
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Corporations create fake advocacy groups (or, more often, hire a public relations firm to do it for them) in situations where they feel the need to defend their commercial interests but believe that advocating the passage or repeal of a law simply to protect their own bottom line is not likely to be effective. The practice stems from the belief that citizens advocating on behalf of jobs, for example, are more likely to win the ear of legislators than a company that is perceived as merely wanting to increase its profits.
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Alternative Methods
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A related practice involves corporate funding of legitimate grassroots groups where success of the group's existing agenda would benefit the company. For example, a wine and beer distributor might oppose a bill allowing individuals to purchase alcohol over the Internet, believing this would cut into its sales. Instead of making that argument directly, however, it might donate funds to an anti-drunken driving group that takes the position that such sales will result in more incidences of DUI. This allows the company to further its policy agenda without appearing to be acting on its own behalf.
Defense of the Practice
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Companies and public relations firms engaging in the practice dispute the idea that Astroturf lobbying is deceptive. They argue that far from creating "fake" grassroots organizations, they are helping to bring new, legitimate ones into being by helping citizens combine their efforts and grab the attention of elected officials.
Variations
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A variation on the practice involves the use by political activists of orchestrated phone call or email campaigns in support of or opposition to a particular policy or candidate. This tactic has existed for decades. In its most basic form, it involves a politician's staff arranging for supporters to flood his office with messages of support immediately after a major speech. This, in turn, allows the politician to tell the media that "mail and phone calls are running 10 to one in favor of my position."
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