'Independent' Groups Behind Ads Not So Independent

[kpete]

Source: NPR

With these advertisers and others, the same words come up again and again: Grass-roots. Nonpartisan. Independent.

Their ads seem to imply the groups are homegrown. But every single one mentioned here is based within 20 minutes of Capitol Hill. Most of them, in fact, are in just two office suites.

As for their independence: It would be illegal for them to coordinate their attacks with the candidates they're helping, or with Republican Party committees. But among themselves, they're proud of the way they synchronize their efforts.

"If one group puts an ad on television in a certain congressional district, they let everyone else know that," says Jonathan Collegio with American Crossroads. "This way they don't double up on the advertising."

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Read more: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130836771

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A Web Of GOP Influence
INTERACTIVE MAP: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130845545
This clearly isn't a bunch of individual, independent groups — as you can see from the map. It's one big network: a Republican campaign operation, working outside the official party.

[bemildred]

1. After a while, dishonesty can become a habit. nt

[DallasNE]

2. Exactly

You need to look no farther than the Abramoff scandal to understand that.