Hard to Tell the Grass from the Astroturf These Days

Reason magazine contributing editor Julian Sanchez has some interesting observations re: distinguishing true grassroots activism from illegitimate professionally ginned up astroturf in the health care debate context:

I'm trying to figure out what to make of claims that angry folks showing up at townhall-style events on health care reform are mere "astroturf" activists. If it's true, it seems like it must be some spectacularly bad astroturfing: My experience is that when seasoned political professionals are really in charge of stage-managing an event, it tends to look rather more… well… professional.  Which is to say, more printed signs than crudely hand-lettered ones riddled with misspelled and vaguely embarrassing slogans, and polished talking points rather than crazed ramblings that make ordinary people think your side is a bit unhinged.  Manifestly, there are groups like FreedomWorks trying to catalyze or corral opposition to Obama's policies, but it hardly sounds as though they're in control—at most, it seems like they're providing focal points for the kind of genuine, strong sentiment you can't fake… and that I'd think few political operatives would want to fake.

That said, I think the sharp line between "grassroots" and "astroturf" will probably make less and less sense in the emerging media environment. The Platonic form of a grassroots campaign is, say, a bunch of ordinary parents in Peoria, largely unconnected with and certainly undirected by any larger political entity, banding together to agitate for some change or other. And the Platonic form of astroturf is when Peoria Parents for a Brighter Future turns out to be three bachelors  in a K Street office with some letterhead and a fat check from McDonalds or something. But the lines between local and national politics are much blurrier when all the organizing and reporting are taking place online…. Think of what it took to effectively fake a concerned citizens group circa 1988 versus, say, what it would take to fake the current birther movement.

Any "astroturf" campaign on the modern media landscape is going to require actually ginning up some broad-based activism if it's going to be effective. And any genuinely spontaneous, bottom-up action that seems even moderately interesting and resonant with national issues is going to find a whole lot of political professionals eager to promote, guide, replicate, or co-opt it.