Bit of Background for the Coming Story...

1) David Axelrod's client list is top secret. Partly that is to disguise the fact that when he's not running the political campaigns of left-wing politicians, he's conducting dishonest astroturf campaigns on behalf of large deep-pocketed corporations considered "villains" to the left, such as utility companies seeking rate hikes or AT&T. But that secret list of clients -- and associations -- also comes in handy for disguising his political astroturfing, too. The media, of course, has shown no interest in investigating this.

For example: Are Fannie and Freddie among Axelrod's secret clients? We don't know, Axelrod won't say, and no one in the media has even asked him. (Well, that's not quite true -- Business Week did and was told to piss up a rope.)

2) In 1984, Republican Senator Charles Percy faced off against Democratic challenger Paul Simon in Illinois, David Axelrod heading up Simon's campaign. Simon prevailed, edging Percy 88,000 votes, despite the Reagan landslide which brought in a lot of marginal Republicans.

The difference in the race seemed to be a huge (in 1984 terms) $1.2 million "independent" ad campaign against Percy funded by Michael Goland, a California Democrat businessman. (Simon’s campaign spent less than $7 milion, so $1.2 million of "independent" ads coming from an out of state Democrat was no small matter.)

Percy later filed suit with the FEC, alleging that Goland illegally coordinated with Simon and Axelrod. Goland was fined for $5000. However, he was later convicted for a similar "independent" ad campaign on behalf of Senator Alan Cranston (D-California). He was sentenced to 90 days in federal prison.

Bear these facts in mind about Axelrod tactics when the left begins spinning, "But this was an independent ad we had nothing at all to do with!"

Oh: And remember this guy who famously created an ad completely without the knowledge of the Obama campaign? Yeah, he used to share a house with Obama's campaign spokesman.

A lot of people associated with Obama and Axelrod just sort of... do things for them, unbidden.

Actually... that 1984 ad was really the big start of Obama's viral marketing/astroturfing campaign, wasn't it?

posted by Ace at 09:24 PM

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