Can you source this is not a grassroots organization? Because I see the claim, and the assumption, but again, I don’t know how it’s scandal that one org can’t represent their topic in two states.
edit: apparently not. Everyone wants to believe it’s true, so it is
> but again, I don’t know how it’s scandal that one org can’t represent their topic in two states.
The ACLU doesn't try to hide their national organization, and their local affiliates make no secret of their connection to the national organization. These "Reopen" sites are obviously not behaving in a similar manner.
This is like the Tea Party: there really is an authentic grassroots movement, AND it is being organized and promoted by a range of elite conservative institutions, including Fox News and the White House.
This. I am certain there are well meaning individuals out there, who responded to the message for one reason or another. But it seems more and more like there is concerted effort to move it in a specific direction. I base it on Trump, Fox News and Patriot radio coverage.
Citation? I believe you of course. I just would like to see the evidence for all of this.
Edit: no, apparently no citation is coming. Wild claims, no sources. Just blame Fox News the one mostly conservative outlet compared to the hundred counterparts like it’s still 2008
The protestor opinions is clearly in the minority. That said, protestors aren't being bussed in. People are choosing to show up to these rallies. The movement is authentic, it will get people killed, and that's why it needs to be grappled with. Dismissing it as inauthentic will get even more people killed.
It's astroturf, though. No one disputes that this is a coordinated national organization. That's the point. These aren't local protestors genuinely moved by local conditions and asking for local policy changes. They're following national orders.
No, those organisations do not try to give the impression that they several unrelated local small grassroots organisations, which are in fact one big organisation creating lots of small entities, but this is what is happening here.
It's fairly well-known that the Tea Party was basically funded by the Koch brothers, right? I assume you've read things like [1] which go fairly deep into how they funded and organized pretty much all the "grass roots" activities of the Tea Party
Now, these "reopen" protests are basically the same. The sentiments of the people are real, but the funding and organizing are not "grass roots" by any normal definition of the word. For example, of the Michigan protests[2]:
> The Michigan Freedom Fund, which said it was a co-host of the rally, has received more than $500,000 from the DeVos family, regular donors to rightwing groups.
> The other host, the Michigan Conservative Coalition, was founded by Matt Maddock, now a Republican member of the state house of representatives. The MCC also operates under the name Michigan Trump Republicans, and in January held an event featuring several members of the Trump campaign.
edit: apparently not. Everyone wants to believe it’s true, so it is