Suspicions: CONFIRMED

In a Wall Street Journal oped in which he enumerates some potential problems for the upcoming Obama administration, Karl Rove lets something slip:

Lawmakers dislike grass-roots lobbying by those representing people in their states or districts.

Taken in isolation, I might take this as a reference to “community organizers,” the Jesse Jacksons or Al Sharptons who seem to be forever popping up to claim a share of spoils in the name of some group with a grievance. People who are very noisy, very good at recruiting a crowd for a demonstration, but whose actual depth of support is difficult to determine.

But Rove says this in the context of using the Obama campaign’s existing e-mail list as a tool to mobilize known Obama supporters to push for the Obama administration’s agenda. Which is something quite different.

You certainly can’t label any pressure on Congress produced by some mass mailing to known Obama supporters as “astroturf.” Congress would be hearing from real people who would, presumably, have a some interest in the issue at hand (even if their only interest was the desire that the new President get what he wants).  This is in no way different from the existing letter campaigns that are orchestrated by everyone from Greenpeace to the National Rifle Association.

Which leads to what I believe what Rove actually means:  Congress dislikes orchestrated campaigns by special interests when they involve stirring up Congressional constituents.

Well, I can understand that.  Once people start paying attention to what you’re doing, they may not like what they see.  And their dislike may turn into “no” votes next election.  Better for the interest groups to let sleeping dogs lie.

But isn’t accountability one of the things that Congressional service is supposed to be about?

Oh, snap!

Posted by: Old Grouch in In Passing at 19:45:55 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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