Word of the Day
September 22, 2022
Astroturf
A deceptive practice of creating the appearance of grassroots support for a cause or organization, when in reality it is orchestrated and funded by powerful interests seeking to hide their involvement.
Coined in the 1980s as a play on 'grassroots,' referencing AstroTurf, the artificial grass brand. The term emerged when Senator Lloyd Bentsen used it to describe manufactured campaigns that mimicked genuine public movements.
Usage Examples
- The political action committee ran an astroturf campaign, hiring actors to pose as concerned citizens at town halls.
- What appeared to be a spontaneous protest was later revealed to be an astroturf operation funded by out-of-state donors.
- Social media astroturfing involves creating fake accounts to simulate widespread public support for a product or policy.
From the Show
Lisa Bennett revealed how organizations like ‘Rocky Mountain Values’ claimed to represent ‘real Coloradans, not special interests’ while actually serving as a front for the 1630 Fund’s dark money during the September 22nd broadcast, exemplifying the astroturfing tactics used to obscure donor identities.