The most well-connected ‘outsiders’ in the country

September 29, 2007

The headline on the AP report on Freedom’s Watch reads, “Outsiders aim to frame political debate.” If there’s a less accurate description of the powerful conservative activists behind this new group, I can’t think of it.

Freedom’s Watch and MoveOn.org could be the left and right bookends not only on the war, but on a number of issues that will decide the 2008 elections and shape congressional debate beyond. Freedom’s Watch organizers said they are considering whether to create a political subgroup, like MoveOn has, that could directly play a role in elections.

“Bookends”? Eli Pariser, the executive director of MoveOn.org Political Action, noted, “The main difference is that MoveOn is a group of 3.3 million. Freedom’s Watch is a few mega millionaires.”

What’s more, they’re incredibly well-connected mega millionaires. The AP’s headline notwithstanding, Freedom’s Watch includes some key establishment heavy-hitters. Bradley A. Blakeman, president and chief executive officer of Freedom’s Watch, was a member the White House senior staff in Bush’s first term. Mary Matalin, Dick Cheney’s counselor until 2003, is helping set the group’s agenda. Freedom’s Watch’s chief spokesperson is Ari Fleischer, Bush’s first White House press secretary. The board and principal financiers include Bush administration ambassadors and party insiders.

Freedom’s Watch can call this a “grassroots” effort, and the AP can call the group “outsiders,” but that doesn’t make it so. As Digby put it, “Only in the Village could someone characterize that group as being ‘outsiders.’ You just have to laugh.”

Digby must be speaking to an inside group of readers.
“…As Digby put it, “Only in the Village could someone characterize that group as being ‘outsiders.’ You just have to laugh.”

What the hell is that supposed to mean? “Only in the Village..?”

Freedoms Watch sounds like the name of a group that would be monitoring the activities of this group of authoritarians. Their kind of freedom they have bought and paid for and would exclude all those who incapable of affording the bill. They want to continue to manipulate the people as a means of staying on top. They want the public to believe they represent people but the only people they represent are those enjoying the tax cuts on their billions.
Ari Fleischer wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him on the ass and anyone who Cheney would hire to represent him would be rated a notch below child molester. There is absolutely no comparison to MoveOn.org, though Freedom’s Watch would like to think of themselves as a viable people’s organization. They are not.

In fact Freedom’s Watch is actually referring to a time piece worn on the wrist that is counting down our freedoms as we lose them… or as they are bought and sold by these millionaires.

  • Napoleon once remarked the French kings might never have lost their thrones…or Louis XVI his head, had they known enough to buy the press. Propaganda is an art and science that goes back beyond the Romans. These assholes just get to pay some money and the psychologists and marketeers will do the rest.
    People have to wake up and realize the TV news is an avenue of manipulation and propaganda. All the major stations belong to these same millionare assholes.

  • There was an article in today’s NYT on the subject of the Freedom’s Watch and, buried fairly deep in it, was this quote:

    Several of the group’s spots suggested that Iraq, rather than Al Qaeda, was behind the Sept. 11 attacks, even though the independent Sept. 11 commission investigation and other inquiries found no evidence of Iraq’s involvement. But in August, when the organization rolled out the advertisement with Sergeant Kriesel to two focus groups in Pennsylvania, its upbeat, patriotic message was well received, even causing a few viewers to weep, Mr. Blakeman said.

    “The focus groups couldn’t tell whether it was a Republican ad or a Democratic ad,” he said.

    I don’t know what the “focus groups” were focusing on but, sure as sure, it couldn’t have been current events 🙂

    If the spot suggests “that Iraq rather than Al Qaeda was behind Sept 11 attacks”, it’s lying. Ergo, it’s a *Republican* ad. QED. No-brainer.

  • bjobotts,

    In the Village, you’re either “a permanent part of the Village,” or you’re “an Outsider.”

  • Hey Steve, don’t you think that given the only slightly less credulous take by the New York Times today that Freedom’s Watch can be made into an issue of its own? That it’s another sock-puppet creation of the right? Could help further brand Republicans and neo-cons and explain where they intend to go, post-Duhhhbya.

  • bjobotts:

    By “village,” Digby means the Beltway 500, or the very serious people, the congeries of pundits, elected officials, media whores, consultants, and operatives who determine the bounds of acceptable discourse. (I think it’s a buried reference to Sally Quinn’s famous column, “He came in and trashed the place. And it’s not his place.”

    I prefer “Versailles on the Potomac,” but that’s just me.

    Nice point on the watches, though. I agree

  • ““Bookends”? Eli Pariser, the executive director of MoveOn.org Political Action, noted, “The main difference is that MoveOn is a group of 3.3 million. Freedom’s Watch is a few mega millionaires.”

    You’re joshing with us…right?

    “MoveOn has received financial support from numerous leftist organizations, including the Tides Foundation, the Shefa Fund, the Stern Family Fund, the Steven and Michelle Kirsch Foundation, the Compton Foundation, and George Soros’s Open Society Institute.”

    “Following a September 17, 2003 meeting between Soros and Boyd in New York, Soros and his associates gave nearly $6.2 million to MoveOn over a period of six months. The contributions included $2.5 million from George Soros personally; $2.5 million from Peter B. Lewis of Progressive Insurance; $971,427 from Stephen Bing of Shangri-La Entertainment; $100,000 from Benson & Hedges tobacco heir Lewis Cullman; and $101,000 from Soros’ 34-year-old son Jonathan Soros, an attorney and financier recently promoted to deputy manager of Soros Fund Management LLC.”

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