StopRush Has Destroyed Limbaugh's Business For Good? PREMATURE

[HomerRamone]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/spocko/55448/the-magic-and-beauty-of-hiding-behind-front-groups

The Magic and Beauty Of Hiding Behind Front Groups

Front groups like the Heritage Foundation, Freedom Works and Americans For Prosperity can deflect connection and responsibility from individuals, corporations or brands who love a "no regulations ever" message, but can't be seen supporting a sick and twisted host or his comments.

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If you, as the person driving a message, find that activists have developed and harnessed a customer facing advertiser alert programs that challenges their brand, you work to remove those sponsors identities from the equation. Then you give them the option of funding you via the 'cut out' front group, like the Chamber of Commerce does.

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The consumer facing advertisers were (and some still are) a weak link in the game. They could be convinced to move away from Limbaugh. However dark money doesn't care about what anyone thinks. They can "lose" money for decades on an influential narrative shaper, because they ARE getting an ROI. The advertisers could measure their short term ROI with new sales. But the front groups don't have those short horizon metrics.

They are earning the money that they beg for every year from donors by pointing to their cultural impact. They have:
•Reinforced that climate change is a hoax.
•Positioned government health care as a terrible thing.
•Supported a version of capitalism with no constants, no taxes and no regulation as "Uniquely American"
•Given their customer facing donors cover from irate employees, shareholders and potential customers who would be appalled at their real views

And that's the beauty of front groups. They can do the bidding of the worst impulses of individuals and corporations. They often don't have to disclose where the money came from or where it goes. The kind of popular pressure that would work on a person, corporation or brand, is diffused. A company can say, "We aren't commenting on that person. We don't sponsor them on the air." And if they are asked if they sponsor various front groups? "That's confidential."

[Faux pas]

1. Rachel did a piece on this the other night.

An eye opener for sure.

[Zooj]

2. Limbaugh has lost a lot of advertising

Major advertisers have left. Only some little ones remain.

[Jesus Malverde]

3. I think the point of the OP is even without advertisers

There are people who would subsidize him on the air. To bloviate and blather, maybe by overpaying for ads on another clear channel program or is it liberty media.