[Peace-discuss] A divot in the astroturf

[Morton K. Brussel]

Did I miss something? Was MoveOn.org mentioned in this piece? Why  
not?  --mkb
On Nov 19, 2007, at 10:17 PM, C. G. Estabrook wrote:

> [Some of us in AWARE were seen as ungenerous when we objected last  
> summer to the well-funded Democratic party front groups --  
> MoveOn.org and Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, notably -- as  
> astroturf (i.e., fake grass-roots) groups more interested in party  
> advantage than ending the war. The following is the account of a  
> Philadelphia-area legislative director for AAEI. --CGE]
>
> 	The anti-war phonies
> 	By JOHN BRUHNS, Philadelphia Daily News
>
> I CAME HOME from Iraq in February 2004 and since then have fought  
> tooth and nail for an end to the war.
>
> I did so because I believe the war is immoral and illegal. I  
> aligned myself with some high-profile lobbying organizations who I  
> believed would have the most significant impact on ending the war.  
> In doing so, I detached myself from the people of this country who  
> are honestly committed to ending the war.
>
> I traded my convictions for "special interest" groups who sometimes  
> seem to be in place simply to smear those who disagree with their  
> political agenda. But the agenda is not anti-war. The war is used  
> by these organizations as ammunition against political foes -  
> primarily Republicans. They are the enemy despite the fact that  
> many Democrats vote the same way.
>
> It was very hard for me to go "off the reservation." I didn't want  
> to face the fact that these anti-war groups had other aims.
>
> We watched as legislation that had no substantial impact on ending  
> the war was debated. There ARE anti-war resolutions still floating  
> out there that call for a real end to the war, but the groups I  
> worked for wouldn't spend one dime to promote legislation  
> considered out of the mainstream of the Democratic Party.
>
> Any genuine anti-war message was filtered through media consultants  
> who provide politically correct "talking points" to veterans for  
> them to carry out a phony message that is beneficial to the campaign.
>
> We threatened Republicans with "political extinction" if they  
> didn't change their votes on Iraq. It was a partisan tactic that  
> got us nowhere fast.
>
> When I worked with these organizations, I did nothing to actually  
> stop the war. I only put on a good show that would catch the  
> attention of the media. We focused on America's desire for  
> entertainment rather than the core issue of ending the war.
>
> Our troops are still being killed on a daily basis and the main  
> agenda of these well-financed anti-war groups, I think, is nothing  
> short of the prolonged character assassination of all those who  
> disagree with their message. In my eyes, it's just as bad as those  
> who fight for a continuation of the war, and I'm no longer able to  
> distinguish between the two sides.
>
> I was not honest when I walked away and pursued the "lone wolf"  
> route. Instead I painted a rosy picture of my departure in order to  
> preserve my credibility and longevity within the establishment.  
> This confession is the only way to restore my integrity. So I can  
> go on to continue to fight against the war in Iraq with a clear  
> conscience.
>
> I didn't commit eight years of honorable military service to this  
> country to be an indirect proxy of one political party. I saw the  
> damage done to our country for most of the last seven years with  
> the Republicans in control of the executive, legislative and  
> judicial branches. There was no political balance whatsoever to  
> keep our democracy pure. That's why we are so divided as a nation,  
> and I'm not about to fight for the same partisan domination for the  
> Democrats - even though that is my party affiliation.
>
> THE Democrats promised they would bring change if given a majority  
> in Congress. It didn't happen, and I'm not going to be fooled  
> again. There are many courageous Democrats who vote to end the war  
> in Iraq. But there are many who do not.
>
> Republicans in Congress, for the most part, would follow George W.  
> Bush to the gates of hell. And because of their unity, they are  
> able to keep prevailing despite being in the minority of both  
> houses of Congress.
>
> If any candidate wants my vote, they first and foremost need to  
> convince me that they will end the war in Iraq.
>
> http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/28817
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