Propaganda is a coordinated effort to influence public opinion through the use of media. One of the greatest proponents of propaganda was Adolf Hitler. In Mein Kampf, he wrote:
“All propaganda must be presented in a popular form and must fix its intellectual level so as not to be above the heads of the least intellectual of those to whom it is directed…The art of propaganda consists precisely in being able to awaken the imagination of the public through an appeal to their feelings, in finding the appropriate psychological form that will arrest the attention and appeal to the hearts of the national masses.”
In other words, to be effective, propaganda must be simple and play on human emotions such as fear, anger or resentment – not intellect.
The Tea Party’s anti-government sentiment is being fueled through various astro-turf organizations. Its easy to spread anger, resentment and discontentment with unlimited funds, sometimes from anonymous donors. Sadly, discontentment means disenfranchised voters, and low voter turnout. This is exactly what these conservative front groups are banking on in November’s elections.
The anti-government Tea Party sentiment is being led by organizations like FreedomWorks which claims to advance less government, lower taxes, and more freedom, a very appealing populist message.
But who does FreedomWorks really represent? . . .
Not the average person. The U.K. Guardian reported that Philip Morris funds FreedomWorks.
SourceWatch.org says that FreedomWorks has been described as a “Wall Street front group that helped launch the Tea Party Movement.”
According to SourceWatch, during the health care debates, FreedomWorks began its propaganda campaign to portray an image of mass public opposition to health care through the media. In a leaked memo from Bob MacGuffie, a volunteer with the FreedomWorks website Tea Party Patriots detailed how organizers were instructed to infiltrate town hall meetings and harass and intimidate Democratic members of Congress. The memo stated:
“Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up … You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep’s presentation. Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep’s statements early. If he blames Bush for something or offers other excuses — call him on it, yell back and have someone else follow-up with a shout-out … The goal is to rattle him.”
The “Tea Party” movement thanks to FreedomWorks and other conservative front groups took its well greased coordinated show on the road.
According to SourceWatch, Tea Party Patriots (TPP) was “initially organized by FreedomWorks” and in 2009, an affiliated off-shoot, the Tea Party Express helped with a public relations blitz around the country.
The Tea Party Patriots website says “Official Grassroots American Movement” with stars above the statement to provide an image of patriotism. But just because the statement is made, doesn’t make it so. This week, Tea Party Patriots announced a $1 million anonymous donation –
Presently other allied astro-turf groups like American Crossroads founded by veteran propagandist Carl Rove, and Crossroads’ affiliate, Crossroads GPS, raised over $32 million to launch media attacks. These groups have not fully disclosed their funding sources.
These propaganda groups prey on human emotions in difficult times. Unfortunately, these front groups have an agenda contrary to the American people at large. The American public is being victimized by elite interests who know how to churn out emotional propaganda – a form of control.
Remember corporations are not people.
by Tracy Emblem
Tracy Emblem is a former Democractic candidate for California’s 50th congressional district and a frequent diarist at FDL’s The Seminal.
), but the letter of the law says otherwise
--- if you thought to some how associate me with that movement. One thing you will never out do me on - is knowing US politics 
