If this is acceptable behavior, why don't these groups just send a mass
mailing of the original letter to all the newspapers they can? Or why
don't those sending in the letter over their own names mention in a PS
that this is not an original letter, but merely a prefabricated one
passed along word-for-word?

The obvious answer is that the newspapers would not publish it if they
knew the truth. So the letter-writers are liars, trying to trick the
newspapers to whom they write (and often succeeding).

Your casual embrace of this broken political system, this attitude that
"well, that's politics, it's just the way things are & we have to do it
too to get anywhere" is an embrace of corruption & deceit. You might
as well support the Democrats as the "solution" to the Republicans.

Perhaps, for that matter, you do support the Democrats--but the problem
is in fact the ruling structure, the two-parties & their system. You
are not only not part of the solution, but by advocating yet more lying,
cheating, & suchlike "politics as usual" you are very much part of the
problem.

----- Original Message -----
From: llevitt <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, January 19, 2003 3:30 am
Subject: Re: [CHOMSKY] Astroturf

> Excu-use me? Such letters have been urged upon me by the ACLU,
> Social Security protection groups, pro-choice organizations, anti-
> war organizations, etc., etc. It's convenient and economical of
> busy people's time, most of which is spent trying to make ends
> meet. No one must use them; but they are, nonetheless, a tool used
> by all sides of the political spectrum. Better those, perhaps,
> than nothing.
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: Jonathan Julius Dobkin
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>  Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2003 12:09 PM
>  Subject: Re: [CHOMSKY] Astroturf
>
>
>  Nobody who does this is on "my side," because I know how
> dishonest (as
>  well as damned lazy!) it is to pass off somebody else's letter,
> word-
>  for-word, as my own.
>
>  Those who do this are cynical political manipulators, and it is just
>  such politicians who have corrupted & destroyed democracy. I am very
>  sorry that you would sink to such a level--and speaking as
> somebody who
>  still has standards, I strongly resent your attempt to identify
> me with
>  your own lack of integrity: say "my side" if you must, but not "our
>  side." Leave me out of it!
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: llevitt <[log in to unmask]>
>  Date: Saturday, January 18, 2003 12:25 pm
>  Subject: Re: [CHOMSKY] Astroturf: identical pro-Bush letters to the
>  editor
>
>  > "Our side" uses boilerplate to aid and facilitate letter-writing
>  > campaigns. So it's no coincidence, not untoward, and not to be
>  > sneered at that the right does the same. They are involved in
>  > their causes, no matter how wrongheaded we may think them, and
>  > disciplined.  ----- Original Message -----
>  >  From: Jonathan Julius Dobkin
>  >  To: [log in to unmask]
>  >  Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 2:09 PM
>  >  Subject: [CHOMSKY] Astroturf: identical pro-Bush letters to the
>  > editor
>  >
>  >  Hey folks, here's a fun experiment you can try! Just put the
>  > following  line into Google's search window ("google it" as the
>  > kids say nowadays):
>  >
>  >  "genuine leadership" "Contrary to the class warfare rhetoric"
>  >
>  >  Now see all the virtually identical letters to the editor, in
> papers  >  across the country, supposedly from different people,
> hailing Bush's
>  >  economic plan for its benefits to the middle class. What an
> amazing  >  coincidence that they all independently wrote the same
> letter!  >
>  >  -Jay
>  >
>