D.C. Lobbying Firm Sent Forged Letters To Congressman Regarding Cap-And-Trade
Bonner & Associates, a D.C. lobbying firm, sent forged letters to the office of Rep. Tom Periello (R-VA). With so many important issues before Congress, it's more important than ever for legislators to hear from those they represent. However, conservative astroturfing efforts intended to mislead the American people have become all too common in today's political climate.
Special Interests Are Pulling Out All The Stops
As reported by the Daily Progress in Charlottesville, Virginia:
As U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello was considering how to vote on an important piece of climate change legislation in June, the freshman congressman's office received at least six letters from two Charlottesville-based minority organizations voicing opposition to the measure.
The letters, as it turns out, were forgeries.
"They stole our name. They stole our logo. They created a position title and made up the name of someone to fill it. They forged a letter and sent it to our congressman without our authorization," said Tim Freilich, who sits on the executive committee of Creciendo Juntos, a nonprofit network that tackles issues related to Charlottesville's Hispanic community. "It's this type of activity that undermines Americans' faith in democracy."
The faked letter from Creciendo Juntos was signed by "Marisse K. Acevado, Asst Member Coordinator," an identity and position at Creciendo Juntos that do not exist.
The person who sent the letter has not been identified, but he or she was employed by a Washington lobbying firm called Bonner & Associates.
Creciendo Juntos was not the only organization victimized by the astroturfing tactics (fake grassroots activism) of Bonner & Associates. Rep. Periello's "staffers dug through the stacks of thousands of letters, e-mails and faxes Perriello received about the bill - the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 - and found five more forged letters, these purportedly from the Albemarle-Charlottesville branch of the NAACP."
It seems as if the folks at Bonner & Associates are veteran astroturfers. In 2003, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer paid the company to fake constituent calls to urging the governors of Minnesota and New Mexico to veto prescription drug legislation.
Americans Deserve An Honest Debate - Not Conservative Astroturfing
Our country's representative democracy depends on citizens actively communicating their needs and desires to their elected officials. With so many important issues before Congress, it's more important than ever for legislators to hear from those they represent.
However, conservative astroturfing efforts intended to mislead the American people have become all too common in today's political climate.
The American people deserve an honest and spirited debate, not conservative misinformation.
