More propaganda LTTE (here we go again)

[Robb]

They're targeting really small newspapers, now. My little town's paper has maybe 300 readers. Google "Kim Hester" from "Dhahran, Saudi Arabia" to see several of them; I just noticed because it showed up in my paper, and sounded fishy.

I just shot this off to my newspaper's editor (who at one time employed me, so I expect it'll be printed); check your local listings. :)

----

Editor,

While I commend the spirit of supporting US forces abroad in this dangerous time, the letter you printed from "Kim Hester", from "Dhahran, Saudi Arabia" seemed oddly familiar to me.

As it turns out, this is because an identical letter was sent to, and printed by, several small newspapers across the country this week. A partial list includes the Northeast Georgian (Cornelia, GA), the Mineral Wells Index (Mineral Wells, TX), the Sonoran News (Cave Creek, AZ), the Weirs Times (Lake Winnipesaukee, NH), the Box Elder News Journal (Brigham City, UT), and the Uintah Basin Standard (Roosevelt, UT).

It appears the lessons from October (when the Gannett News Service found identical letters signed by different soldiers in Iraq in dozens of newspapers) were not learned by whatever military public affairs officer organized this new propaganda campaign; or at a minimum, the lesson appears to be that small-town folks are easier to fool.

I beg to differ.

Proudly small-town, and sincerely yours,

Robb XXXXXXX

[Skittles]

1. excellent, Robb

This tactic is ominous because they don't seem to care that we know about it; they're just so sure they can fool the rural folk.

[DUreader]

2. excellent, Robb, good catch and good Letter

[Robb]

3. Thanks

It ticks me off. Not everyone in a small town is an idiot! Heck, some of us are outlandishly intelligent.
:D
...Someone with a more journalistic bent care to take this one on? C'mon, I know someone here must have a by-line somewhere...?

[remfan]

8. No byline, but these sites might be interested

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45

http://www.ojr.org/ojr/glaser/1043778102.php

[SharonAnn]

4. And here in Knoxville today, AGAIN! Same one as before!

http://www.knoxville.com/kns/letters_to_editor/article/0,1406,KNS_363_2456747,00.html

President Bush providing leadership

President Bush should be commended for his strong leadership on the economy. He has taken bold action to create lasting economic growth. The president's economic growth agenda creates jobs. His economic plan is focused on job creation and helps working families with tax relief.

Promoting investment is another critical component in the president's agenda. Reducing the overall tax burden on small business and eliminating the unfair double tax on dividends spurs investment by individuals and businesses, enabling capital investment and spurring job creation.

President Bush understands that we must save Social Security for seniors and for generations to come. His approach preserves the current system for those at or near retirement while providing new options for the young.

The president's plan puts money back into the pockets of working Americans. Accelerating already enacted tax cuts will encourage consumer spending by giving 91 million taxpayers an average $1,126 in tax relief this year, immediately injecting billions into the economy.

This issue is one more example of how our president is providing courageous leadership.

CRISTAL JACKSON-MIZELL

Knoxville

--------------------
Documented here:
http://www.failureisimpossible.com/dosomething/sod.htm#genuine

[madrchsod]

6. that`s the one

i sent....

[SharonAnn]

12. My Letter to the Editor about the "Astro-turf" letter

Thought you might like to see the Letter to the Editor I sent to the Knoxville News Sentinel today.

-----Original Message-----
Letter to the Editor

Subject: You've been "Astro-turfed" again

Reading the Letters to the Editor today, Nov. 26th, I see that you have been "Astro-turfed" again. I haven't been keeping count so I'm not sure, is this the third time this year, or is it the fourth?

The wording on the letter, especially "He has taken bold action to create lasting economic growth", sounded like one of those pre-written letters that the Republican National Committee creates and encourages people to send to newspapers under their own name. Sure enough, I found it within 5 minutes by "Googling" the phrase on the Internet. It can be found at "http://www.georgewbush.com/Economy/WriteNewspapers.aspx?AgendaID=2".

Please respect us, your readers, and prevent this type of phony "astro-turf" letter from appearing in your paper as if it were an actual Letter to the Editor from one of your readers. Your credibility is at stake. It won't take you too much effort to recognize a probable "astro-turf" letter and then research it before approving it for print.

Regards,
xxxxxxxxxx

I have included various Internet URL links for your further review of this subject.

Link where this bogus "Astro-turf" letter can be found.
http://www.georgewbush.com/Economy/WriteNewspapers.aspx?AgendaID=2

Letters that echo from the GOP front
http://www.post-gazette.com/columnists/20031019gene1019p1.asp

Bloggers Mow Down GOP Astroturf
http://www.ojr.org/ojr/glaser/1043778102.php

Fight Back Against Killer Astroturf
http://www.failureisimpossible.com/dosomething/sod.htm#genuine
(Under "Getcher Gen-u-ine Leadership", Knoxville News Sentinel is #59)

[madrchsod]

5. i sent a r-n-c

email form letter to my local gannett newspaper,they spotted right away. i think the large market papers are hip to the "blast" but the smaller papers aren`t.

[Robb]

7. OMG, it gets better:

My little paper published a return PO box, which (thanks, Google) belongs to Alsuwaiket Trading Contracting Group in SA. Guess what they do (hint: it's black and bubbly and Cheney can't get enough of it).

Good grief, they're even connected to the Caspian stuff.

I'm so, so ticked off.

[democratreformed]

9. OMG!!!

This was in my local paper too! I live in a town of about 2600. Yep. Return addy printed in mine too. P.O. Box 691 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 31932

I need to write a letter to our editor too.

In case you're making a list, my paper in The Bald Knob Banner in Bald Knob, Arkansas.

[Robb]

10. Amazing!

Small-town DUers, check your paper and check in!! :bounce:

[democratreformed]

11. kick

I really would like to know how widespread this is.

[Robb]

13. one last kick

:kick:

[maddezmom]

14. wow, the things I've learned on DU

thought after they got csught the 1st time they...oh no I didn't. Sending this to all my pals in small town america to see what they can uncover. Thanks for posting.