Coordinated effort or a random set of coincidences?
That's the question left after a student and the sent a letter to the editor to Arbutus Patch extolling the virtues of the as it relates to the health concerns of women.
Bruce Goldfarb, the local editor for Arbutus, quickly identified that the letter was eerily similar to a letter published June 29 in The Gainesville Sun. A number of the paragraphs are identical.
We later found several additional letters published July 3 by the Des Moines Register and July 10 by the State Journal-Register in Illinois.
A June 28 press release on the Planned Parenthood website also carries some similar language.
Again, in each instance, the published articles carried multiple instances of paragraphs copied word-for-word. All of them authored by different people—three are presidents of Planned Parenthood organizations in their respective states.
It's hard to say exactly what's happening here.
We reached out to Kelly Martin Broderick, the student at UMBC, and to officials at Planned Parenthood in Washington for comment.
This kind of effort, some times called astroturfing by opponents, is not uncommon among groups across the political spectrum. An organization will some times provide boiler plate language and ask supporters to send the copy to local papers or elected officials after making minor tweaks to make each seem personal.
Or it could just be a really weird set of coincidences.
After all, this Friday is the 13th.
Perfectly describes what Planned Parenthood is doing here. These people are pretending to be anonymous thoughts coming from a variety of disconnected people that support a certain point of view that is being wholly funded and perpetrated by the organization that is trying to obscure its involvement. Nicely done to reverse your own argument.
"Dem ‘Trackers’ Tape & Post Video of GOP Incumbant’s Homes Online." http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/07/disgusting-dem-trackers-tape-post-video-of-gop-incumbants-homes-online/
The article was about a dishonest practice. Period.
Theresa, that's not what Bryan wrote. His post says: "Bruce Goldfarb, the local editor for Arbutus, quickly identified that the letter was eerily similar to a letter published June 29 in The Gainesville Sun. A number of the paragraphs are identical."
I am only pointing out that it happened and has happened in the past elsewhere. Planned Parenthood is referenced because the letter is connected to them. Had it been that of another group, that organization would be referenced. Also, I noted in this piece that this is a common practice among groups across the political spectrum. It just so happens to be the letter that particular letter was sent to Patch.
Patch Blogs Bryan P. Sears Planned Parenthood Letter: Astroturf Or Coincidence? By Bryan P. Sears | Wednesday, July 11 | 31 comments Insider Politics A letter from a student at UMBC has been published under different names in publications around the country. Patch Blogs
You wrote this because of Planned Parenthood and hoped for the responses you got. This is Fox news journalism at its worst. You must have had a quota to meet. Do some real investigative stuff. Sniff around the Board of Ed, County Exec or County Council and perhaps you can get away from the Patch.
Insider Politics A letter from a student at UMBC has been published under different names in publications around the country. As FIFA said, prove you've written this "story" about right-wing organizations.
Learn how to think instead of having others think for you. Otherwise you may turn into Sarah Palin. Sorry for the delay, lots of knuckleheads to fix.
Well I got to go the real news is on I'm sorry America knows it as Fox.
No need to "BULLY" a Birther, their intelligence speaks volumes.