GrassrootsPower.net offers free websites to people who want to support conservative and business interests in attracting members, raising money and getting their message out. The organization was set up by Policy Communications, a right-wing lobby and public relations firm that specializes in creating phony grassroots campaings on behalf of polluters and other special interests. The GrassrootsPower Network is apparently the tool it uses to create the appearance of grassroots support for its clients.
Grassroots Power Network is funded by the Partnership for America.
Websites
They call their network of websites the "Grassroots Power System (GPS)."
To sign up for a free GPS site for your organization, go here. You can't start a website without applying, but the sites apparently are tailored for lobbying specifically on "40 different issues of national importance." When people use the website, "action alerts" pop up urging them to do something, like email Congress.
They also, ominously, can "Help you conduct online voter registration, voter education, absentee ballots and get-out-the-vote operations."
Astroturf
This is pure astroturf. Although the organizations claims to support "grassroots" groups, GPS has complete control and the websites can be used only on its (more specifically, its funders') agenda. It's all in the Terms of Use contract people have to consent to before getting a website:
- "User Organization shall have the right to choose from a menu of Issue Campaigns that may be incorporated into the Grassroots Advocacy Website. In addition, PFW shall have the right to incorporate additional Issue Campaigns to be determined by PFW in its sole discretion."
- "The Issue Campaigns are copyrighted material owned by PFW and are protected under United States copyright law."
- "User Organization acknowledges that it is not now, nor in the future may be, deemed author and owner of any Intellectual Property Rights in and to the Issue Campaigns."
- "Nothing herein shall be deemed to require PFW to create specific Issue Campaigns on User Organization’s behalf."
