Lexicon of Politics
AstroTurf n. an orchestrated grass-roots movement intended to appear spontaneous.
1985 Washington Post (Aug. 7): "A fellow from Texas can tell the difference between grass roots and Astro Turf," Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.) said of his mountain of cards and letters from opponents of the insurance provisions. "This is generated mail."
1990 Washington Post (May 12) A19: The AFL-CIO has been "flooded with letters, phone calls and telegrams, overwhelmingly against the federation taking any position on abortion....Rather than concede the sincerity of those who want the AFL-CIO to remain neutral on abortion, he snidely remarked, "I've been around a while, and I think I know the difference between grass roots and Astroturf."
1985 Washington Post (Aug. 7): "A fellow from Texas can tell the difference between grass roots and Astro Turf," Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.) said of his mountain of cards and letters from opponents of the insurance provisions. "This is generated mail."
1990 Washington Post (May 12) A19: The AFL-CIO has been "flooded with letters, phone calls and telegrams, overwhelmingly against the federation taking any position on abortion....Rather than concede the sincerity of those who want the AFL-CIO to remain neutral on abortion, he snidely remarked, "I've been around a while, and I think I know the difference between grass roots and Astroturf."
posted by Joseph Sciarrino at 6:44 AM
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