Old friends from Vicky Hartzler’s 2010 campaign against Ike Skelton (D).
Astroturf refers to apparently grassroots-based citizen groups or coalitions that are primarily conceived, created and/or funded by corporations, industry trade associations, political interests or public relations firms.
That’s them, fake grassroots.
Today, via Twitter, from Representative Vicky Hartzler (r):
Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
Honored to receive the Guardian of Senior’s Rights award from the @60PlusAssoc today! I am grateful to have the opportunity to advocate for the senior citizens of #MO4.
1:48 PM – 27 Jun 2018
It appears that the “60 Plus Association” went through some reported board turmoil. They operated as a 501(c)(4).
Lawsuit Isn’t First Time 60 Plus Association Has Been Accused of Lying to the IRS
By Matt Corley
March 11, 2016
The 60 Plus Association, the seniors-focused conservative nonprofit that has spent millions on influencing elections, is in disarray. Last month, four of the group’s board members, including founder and longtime chairman Jim Martin, filed a lawsuit against another set of board members that includes 60 Plus’s president…
There is a 60 Plus Foundation.
The 60 Plus Foundation has a bare bones web site:
[….]The 60 Plus Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3)* non-partisan educational organization formed to identify these problems and needs, and to seek alternative solutions developed through the private sector, financed through the free enterprise system, which enhance the quality of life, dignity, and security of American senior citizens. The Foundation brings together segments of the public, representatives of civic institutions, leaders in private enterprise, and specialists in educational disciplines to restore the vigor, intentions and beliefs of our founding fathers, as those intentions and beliefs relate to senior issues. We work to rekindle a nation and a culture that assists, supports, and provides opportunities to its senior citizens, while respecting the Constitutional right of every citizen to live in dignity and thrive in a democratic society, free from government reliance.
Director and President: James L Martin
[….]
Jim Martin and James Martin. They’ve got to be the same person, right?
Apparently the “new” 60 Plus Foundation has applied to be a 501(c)(3).
We can probably guess that “free from government reliance” means they’ll gut Social Security and Medicare and then privatize them.
We’re not sure if it’s the same organization in the tweet or how that translates into Vicky Hartzler being an “advocate for the senior citizens of #MO4.”
Note the 60 Plus Association in the 2012 right wingnut funding maze:
The Koch network was one of the biggest political operations in 2012 and worked largely outside the campaign finance system, raising at least $407 million. Source: Robert Maguire with the Center for Responsive Politics.
Isn’t that special?
Previously:
60 Plus Association – rightwing campaign mail: fear as a tool (September 25, 2010)
60 Plus Association – rightwing campaign mail: fear as a tool, part 2 (October 9, 2010)
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): that’s a particularly nebulous group of astroturf friends you’ve got there (August 27, 2012)
