From The Onion (or, is it?):
Citing a desire to gain influence in Washington, the American people confirmed Friday that they have hired high-powered D.C. lobbyist Jack Weldon of the firm Patton Boggs to help advance their agenda in Congress.
Weldon is reportedly charging the American people $795 an hour.
“Unlike R.J. Reynolds, Pfizer, or Bank of America, the U.S. populace lacks the access to public officials required to further its legislative goals,” a statement from the nation read in part. “Jack Weldon gives us that access.”
…
Sources confirmed that Weldon is already scheduled to have drinks Monday with several members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to discuss saving the middle class.
And, from the photo caption: “Weldon says he hopes to spin the American public… as a group worth Congress’ time.”
Ha. (h/t, Election Law Blog)
Well, to me this is very scarry! After backing through the links, and headings, this is very very scarry, in fact, the ULTIMATE TERROR.
To me, this approach to any kind of release of information to the public, (that I am sure is focused to for direct "hype" through respected media sources), is beyond lobbying, or paid advertising. To me, this is entering an unknown territory of real public "mind games". This is too subtle, and effective to be written off as ordinary propaganda, or political positioning- or amusing. This type of approach to displaying, and releasing manipulated information is borderline criminal-because of subtleness and strategic subtle distortion through marketing expertise.
I like to think that I am rather intelligent, and aware of propaganda, and media-distortions, but this is getting BAD. If this is what I think it is, this is beyond BAD, and such a dis-service to the REAL AMERICAN PEOPLE. and the REAL NATION of AMERICAN CITIZENS. I hope I can still smell a rat before I see one!
There is still a part of my awareness that is allowing me to view this stuff as humor on the level of Saturday Night Live, and John Stewart. BUT??? I can't believe it. Is this a real joke on who?
CJR thank you.
#1 Posted by lisa, CJR on Sun 17 Oct 2010 at 01:13 PM