Democrats are accusing industry groups, Republicans, and anyone else who opposes the president’s
health care reform
health insurance reform effort of “astroturfing” — creating the appearance of grass roots opposition when grass roots opposition fails to materialize organically. The DNC puts out a release this afternoon saying, “America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) has taken a lead role in fighting health insurance reform efforts and are, along with other Republican allies like FreedomWorks, Conservatives for Patients Rights and Americans for Prosperity, now engaging in ‘astroturf’ campaigns in a desperate effort to ‘kill’ reform and ‘break’ the President.”

Leaving aside whether or not the DNC’s charge is true, and no doubt to some extent it is true — just as most effective advocacy campaigns are managed and organized by existing groups — it’s worth noting that one of the pioneers in creating the appearance of grass roots support for a program where none really exists is none other than David Axelrod, the president’s chief strategist and right-hand man: