Will AHIP Take Responsibility for Their Astroturf?
Posted on April 14th, 2009 by Jason Rosenbaum in Profits Before People
 |
Yesterday, Ken Johnson at the Eagle-Tribune in Massachusetts, noticed something fishy going on with the letters to the editor his paper was receiving:
Across Massachusetts, senior citizens are writing letters to newspapers demanding that their representatives in Congress protect a form of health insurance called Medicare Advantage.
At least that's what newspaper editors are supposed to think.
Some of those seniors are unaware that they have sent any such letters to newspapers. Some of them hadn't even heard of Medicare Advantage.
"I did not write a letter to the editor. It's not from me," said Gloria Gosselin, 75, of Lawrence.
Gosselin's name was on one of three strikingly similar letters touting the Medicare Advantage program that were sent to The Eagle-Tribune.
It turns out, these letters came from the Dewey Square Group, a Boston-based political marketing and consulting firm, who has been hired by America's Health Insurance Plans, the insurance industry lobby, to fight against President Obama's plan to stop subsidizing private insurers through Medicare Advantage.
The Dewey Square Group has been using some extremely deceptive practices to get AHIP's message out:
A tip-off to the true origin of the letters came when The Eagle-Tribune received a call from a man who turned out to be an intern at the Boston office of the Dewey Square Group, a national political marketing and consulting firm.
The man, who identified himself as Noah, wanted to know if Gloria Gosselin's letter had been published. Asked what interest he had in the letter, Noah replied that he was Gosselin's grandson.
Gosselin does not have a grandson named Noah working in Boston. Her only grandson is a student at Central Catholic.
If the people sending these letters have never heard of the issue or the paper "their" letter was sent to, and if hired consultants are impersonating these people's relatives, it's clear these Americans are being used by AHIP to promote their fake grassroots campaign.
Since AHIP paid the Dewey Square Group to run this campaign, and since a responsible signer of checks would have some idea of what their money is being used for, I think it's safe to assume AHIP had some idea of the tactics the Dewey Square Group is using here. I say it's safe to assume because at least up until now, AHIP has had no comment.
This is not the first time AHIP has engaged in astroturfing. Health Care for America Now activists confronted AHIP at the launch of its faux “listening tour” this summer, and the industry front group responded by altering its schedule and refusing to openly publicize future dates and times. We also exposed AHIP’s hollow solicitation for consumer feedback with a video proving AHIP’s toll free number went straight to voicemail and remained unanswered.
So, the question should be asked: Does the insurance industry, as represented by America's Health Insurance Plans, endorse using unsuspecting Americans in a fake grassroots campaign to combat a government giveaway that is in danger of being repealed? Are these the kind of tactics we can expect when the insurance industry tries to manufacture "grassroots" opposition to health care reform later this year?
The silence on the part of AHIP says all you and I need to know.
I think that it may be useful for you to write to writers at advertising and marketing industry publications and ask some questions about ethics and generally accepted behavior in marketing plans. I think, too, that you should inquire about the general reputation of Dewey Square Group or find out where you can get this information. Put some industry heat on Dewey. Just search 'marketing industry trade publications' and advertising industry trade publications'
Yeah, that is a good tactic, though I do think AHIP has a lot of responsibility here. They signed the checks, and they I'm sure knew what kind of campaign Dewey was going to run.
Isn't this a form of identity theft? Is an insurance funded group really using stolen identities to base their "grassroots" efforts on? surely someone should sue, at least, if not pursue criminal proceedings. I see this as identity theft, pure and simple.
My old AP Stylebook's Chapter 2: Libel, Defenses and Privilege begins with this sentence: "Libel is injury to reputation."
Republication of a libel committed by someone else is still a libel and no defense in a court of law. This is precisely why this eagle-eyed editor so zealously guarded the sanctity of his Letters column. Kudos to him!
But it could be argued in a court of law that the libel was committed the instant these letters circulated in print, knowing untruths about these private citizens, damaging their reputations. If the deep pockets of the Dewey Square Group knew (or in the case of AHIP, should have known) these facts to be untrue, they may have committed serious libels. Why are we mollycoddling them with letters on this blog? Like that would teach them?
If we seriously want to defang astro-turf outfits in this country–and defend real democracy–it's time for a major class action, the kind that zeros out the balances of the fat cats in charge. Only that would make others think twice. Can I get a second to this motion from a Massachusetts attorney? I'll gladly send a $50 donation to any firm taking this on. I think it's a safe bet others would too.
Stop the lies! And beggar the liars!