Comments on the previous post: just a guess
November 13, 2007
Whenever I get comments like those on the previous post (not yours Anna, the others), I’m pretty sure that the Center for Consumer Freedom has been tracking my work and has just said something about it. The Center advertises itself as a consumer advocacy group but is really a public relations agency for food companies and trade associations hired to attack critics. The Center does not disclose its funders because it is set up in a way that permits that information to be kept secret. SourceWatch, however, describes how this group operates and lists some of its funding sources. It is an interesting list. The Wikipedia entry is also worth a look.
Does anyone else know anything about this group? Do share.
While I don’t have any new information to share about the group it was definitely interesting to read about it. The group concept “to unite the restaurant and hospitality industries in a campaign to defend their consumers and marketing programs against attacks from anti-smoking, anti-drinking, anti-meat, etc. activists …” reminded me a little of the film Thank You for Smoking and the “Merchants of Death squad”.
Although the IDEA of giving the consumers free choice is a good one, it’s silly because the consumers come back to sue the companies for not protecting them. It’s sad that the commenters in the previous post didn’t even seem to read the entry at all and then went on to call you a “Veganist” and “Jihadist”. It really makes them seem less intelligent, let alone credible.
Comment by Vincci — November 13, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
It would be interesting to get IP numbers of the posters who made these insane “libertarian” comments from your webserver logs. Wouldn’t take a whole lot to searching to match them with a domain name. If you could be bothered.
Comment by Michael, Ireland — November 14, 2007 @ 5:13 am
The comments seem consistent with the CCF’s views but are these guys really so unprofessional? It doesn’t seem very persuasive to be a comment troll spouting such abuse. For the audience you’re pulling, I’d have thought these tactics are a complete waste of energy.
Comment by Robin — November 14, 2007 @ 5:31 am
I’ve had some comment trolls on my blog as well.
Did you see Stephen Colbert’s interview with the CCF’s lawyer? I’m sure it’d be available on Comedy Central but Comedy Central blocks Canadian IPs so I can’t get on there and hunt for you.
Comment by Yoni Freedhoff — November 14, 2007 @ 6:51 am
Those comments were rude and disrespectful.
I blogged a little about the Center For Consumer Freedom (CCF) here:
http://fanaticcook.blogspot.com/2005/04/lobbyists-in-sheeps-clothing.html
They took out ads in popular publications (I saw the above ad in Newsweek) claiming that the obesity epidemic was “hype.” I looked into them and found, as you found, that they are backed by Rick Berman’s public relations firm Berman & Co. It receives undisclosed donations from mostly fast-food, meat, tobacco, and beverage companies. (Coca-Cola, Wendy’s, and Tyson Foods acknowledge making donations.)
I remember a few years ago that the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) filed a complaint about a few websites run by CCF that were hijacking traffic away from CSPI.
I can understand that there would exist a group that goes to bat for industry. But when they use tactics such as redirecting web traffic, and cloaking corporate sponsors, it makes me turn a deaf ear to their message.
Comment by Bix — November 14, 2007 @ 7:53 am
Excellent post!
Take a look at this:
Amazon has continued to sell cockfighting magazines, citing freedom of speech. But they have pulled “Your Mommy Kills Animals” because the Center for Consumer Freedom threatened to sue them:
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=792461
LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire - November 13, 2007) - Some retailers, including Amazon.com, have pulled the critically acclaimed, award-winning documentary “Your Mommy Kills Animals” from shelves and websites in advance of its November 13, 2007 street date. According to one retailer, the film was pulled due to legal threats from a well-known Washington lobbyist who represents major corporations in the tobacco and food industries.
“Our understanding is that there is no legal restriction on the film whatsoever and some retailers are buckling under threats that have no legal basis,” said Matt Pizzolo, President of the film’s distributor Halo8 Entertainment. “The irony is that this provocative documentary tackles the issue of freedom-of-speech in political protest. Although critics have lauded the film for its objectivity, it is falling victim to several of the same parties who seek to silence some of the film’s interviewees.”
According to official court documents, the film’s director, Curt Johnson (2006 Academy Award Winning “Thoth”), was sued in United States District Court For The Eastern District Of Virginia by Richard Berman of The Center For Consumer Freedom. In the court’s Memorandum Opinion, Judge T.S. Ellis III decided that Johnson has all the rights necessary to release his film. Nonetheless, a campaign of Cease & Desists sent to movie theaters and retailers has intimidated many into pulling the title and canceling customer pre-orders. The DVD is available from a number of outlets, including the distributor’s website www.halo8.tv.
Inspired by a post-9/11 FBI alert identifying animal rights activists as the number one domestic terror threat, Johnson sought out embattled activists and their detractors to determine the actual danger posed by the movement. Johnson interviewed the SHAC7, young activists who violated federal anti-terrorism laws by encouraging direct action protests via their website. The freedom of speech issue surrounding the SHAC7 trial serves as the lightning rod of “Your Mommy Kills Animals,” drawing in a spectrum of commentators with numerous points of view and passionate ideologies.
Ok, I’m back. I’m going to order the video from the halo site. It’s only $15.
Comment by Tracy — November 14, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
I looked at the CCF website and searched for “Nestle”, but didn’t find any mentions in 2007, so maybe those posters didn’t have anything to do with CCF at all. It does disclose that its money comes from the food and restaurant industry though.
Comment by Carolyn — November 17, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
[…] If you would like to know how the Center for Consumer Freedom operates, here is an e-mail message that I just received from David Martosko, who identifies himself as the Director of Research for the Center. I reproduce it here in its entirety (for information about this group, see the links on one of my previous posts): […]
Pingback by What to Eat » Ah, the Center for Consumer Freedom — January 29, 2008 @ 12:57 pm