"Astro Turf." Fake grassroots. It’s what you get when big business and rich zealots hire pricey consultants to manufacture public outrage. With big budgets, limitless manpower, sophisticated targeting, and a sympathetic media channel, it's not difficult to generate anger. And that’s exactly what’s going on with today’s tea parties

Whether these so-called tea parties originated as grassroots events or not, they have become nothing more than Astroturf outrage generated by Fox News and corporate-financed consultants. $aveTheRich.com is dedicated to documenting these efforts, so we created a clearinghouse of information to expose the truth behind the so-called “Tax Day Tea Parties” being held around the country. And so far, the tell-tale signs of Astro Turf are everywhere:

• Large lobbying organizations and their consultants have been organizing conference calls, planning events, writing press releases and generating talking points.
• Fox News is listed as a sponsor of the events and has aggressively promoted the events.
• Elected officials are driving turn out, and even sponsoring legislation to honor the protests.

At $aveTheRich.com we want to make sure the media and the public are fully informed about the Fox News Tea Parties. We have included much of the relevant information here in this memo, but be sure to check back with $aveTheRich.com from time to time to get the most up-to-date information.

Corporate Lobbyists Help Organize Anti-Obama Tea Parties

While it is true that many average Americans will show up to the protests today, the truth is that the main organizers of the local events are actually the lobbyist-run think tanks Americans for Prosperity, American Solutions for Winning the Future and Freedom Works. These three groups are providing all the logistical and public relations work necessary for planning coast-to-coast protests:

1. Freedom Works
• Staffers are coordinating conference calls with protesters, contacting conservative activists to give them “sign ideas, sample press releases, and a map of events around the country.”[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHDFWViHL7o ]
• Staffers for Freedom Works are planning local events in Florida. [ http://tekgnosis.typepad.com/tekgnosis/2009/03/freedomworks-florida-mobilizing-to-stop-the-big-government-agenda.html]
• Freedom Works provides how-to guides for organizing a tea party and delivering a clear message to the public and media. The coordination is being carried out by Brandon Steinhauser who is listed as the Director of Federal and State campaigns for Freedom Works. [http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/bstein80/how-to-organize-your-own-%E2%80%9Ctea-party%E2%80%9D-protest]
2. Americans for Prosperity (AFP)
• Staffers are writing press releases and planning the events in Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Washington DC and Wisconsin. [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4DKUS_enUS279US279&q=American+for+Prosperity+tea+party]
• Ed Frank, President of Frank Strategies and former Vice President of Public Affairs for Americans for Prosperity is making videos and coordinating Tax Day Tea Parties for AFP all over the country in conjunction with AFP. [http://savetherich.com/reports/frank-strategies-and-astroturf-tea-parties]
• AFP has teamed up with the Heritage Foundation and is offering cash in exchange for “grassroots” participation [http://savetherich.com/reports/tea-party-organizers-offer-cash-exchange-participation]
3. American Solutions for Winning the Future (ASWF)
• ASWF Leader and Fox News Contributor, Newt Gingrich, will be the featured speaker at the New York City Tea Party event. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4oihrrI8FE]
• ASWF is funded by some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in America. It has been reported that “the key funder is right-wing casino kingpin Sheldon Adelson, who has pumped over $3 million into the organization since its beginning in 2006. Adelson is flanked by 56 other such donors who have given at least $10,000.[ http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/07/29/newt-aswf-billionaires/]

The Fox News Factor

1. Fox News has aggressively promoted the tea-party protests both on- and off-air and has repeatedly encouraged viewers to get involved. [http://mediamatters.org/items/200904080025?f=s_search]
• Glenn Beck announced on his radio show that he was speaking at a $500-a-plate fundraiser for the San Antonio tea party.
• Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich filmed a video "invitation" to attend the April 15 protests. According to TaxDayTeaParty.com, "Gingrich will be a featured speaker" at the April 15 protest in New York City.” The website also lists American Solutions for Winning the Future, whose general chairman is Gingrich, in its “Tea Party Sponsors” section.
• TaxDayTeaParty.com also lists Fox News contributors Michelle Malkin and Tammy Bruce as "Tea Party Sponsors."
• On his April 6 program, Glenn Beck told his viewers they could “celebrate with Fox News” on April 15, when he and fellow Fox News hosts Neil Cavuto, Greta Van Susteren, and Sean Hannity would broadcast "live" at different protests.
• The network has on several occasions labeled the protests "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties."
• The Fox Nation, is hosting “a virtual tea party" for those who "[c]an't get to a tea party" and has posted numerous links discussing and promoting the protests including one headlined "Find a Tea Party!" that links to a Google Maps display of "2009 Tea Parties."

2. Although tea-party organizers have stated that the protests are nonpartisan, Fox News and organizers have also characterized the protests primarily as a response to the Obama administration's fiscal policies. [http://mediamatters.org/items/200904080025?f=s_search]
• On the March 16 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly said: "big government spending protests are taking place all over the country. The latest in Cincinnati where about 5,000 folks showed up, showed their displeasure with the Obama's administration money strategy. These gatherings are being dubbed tea parties."
• On the March 25 edition of Special Report, host Bret Baier said the tea parties are "protests of wasteful government spending in general and of President Obama's stimulus package and his budget in particular."
• During the April 6 edition of America's Newsroom, FoxNews.com contributor Andrea Tantaros said: "People are fighting against Barack Obama's radical shift to turn us into Europe." Fox News also aired on-screen text stating that the "Tea Parties Are Anti-Stimulus Demonstrations."

The Republican Party Promoting and Attending Events

Despite claims that the tea parties are grassroots events not organized by any one particular entity, the Republican Party, Republican Elected Officials and former party leaders are heavily promoting events.

• Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey reportedly plans to attend an Atlanta tea party, and his organization FreedomWorks has been involved in organizing a number of the rallies. [http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1313237.html]
• Texas Gov. Rick Perry is scheduled to attend a Fort Worth protest and has encouraged participation in the scheduled tea parties.[http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1313237.html]
• Louisiana Sen. David Vitter has proposed that the Senate recognize April 15 “as a formal protest by the people.” [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/03/vitter-wants-national-tea_n_183044.html]
• Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) held a conference call with organizers instructing Tea Party participants on talking points and messaging. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eEGcIy3DBE]
• Reps. Todd Tiahrt (KS), John Fleming (LA), Ander Crenshaw (FL), Bob Latta (OH), John Shadegg (AZ), Sue Myrick (NC), Bill Posey (FL), and Louie Gohmert (TX) are all reportedly scheduled to speak at various tea-party protests. [http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/08/gopestablishment-joins-teaparties/]

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$aveTheRich.com is dedicated to documenting efforts by Fox News Network, their media personalities and a handful of conservative millionaires to deceive the press and the American public with these so-called "Tax Day Tea Parties."