Reply #18: Attack the messenger

[BrotherBuzz]

SourceWatch has the dirt.....

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Move_America_Forward


Connections with Russo Marsh and Rogers


<snip>
MAF strategist Sal Russo is also the founder and principal at the Republican-leaning public relations / public affairs firm Russo Marsh and Rogers (RM&R) <6> (http://www.rmrweb.com/Principals.asp) - although the firm is not listed in his MAF bio. <7> (http://www.moveamericaforward.org/index.php/MAF/AboutUs#12)

MAF and RM&R have been closely linked since MAF's inception. The MAF website address was initially registered to RM&R (see below). <8> (http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/moveamericaforward.html) MAF and RM&R offices are located in the same building, and calls to the two organizations are answered by the same receptionist, according to several reports. <9> (http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/000202.html)

In an interview with journalist Bill Berkowitz, RM&R account executive Joe Wierzbicki said, "There is nothing secret about our relationship with Move America Forward," adding that Russo "helped set it in motion." Wierzbicki said RM&R does "all of public relations stuff, press releases, and radio and television ads that have been aired to date," and MAF "also uses Douglas Lorenz, the webmaster at RM&R, as their webmaster." (MAF's website makes no mention of Lorenz's involvement.)

For all this work, "RM&R doesn't charge Move America Forward any consulting fees and doesn't receive any retainer from the organization." MAF does "pay for the advertising placements from money they receive from small donors," according to Wierzbicki. <10> (http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=78) Website Registration

<snip>


The Move America Forward website is available at two internet addresses, www.moveamericaforward.org and www.moveamericaforward.com. The .com address was first registered using this information: <25> (http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/russo.html)


Registrant:
Russo Marsh & Rogers
770 L Street, #950
Sacramento, CA 95814
US
Domain name: MOVEAMERICAFORWARD.COM
Administrative Contact:
Lorenz, Douglas [e-mail]
770 L Street, #950
Sacramento, CA 95814
US
916-441-3734 Fax: [phone]
Technical Contact:
Lorenz, Douglas [e-mail]
770 L Street, #950
Sacramento, CA 95814
US
916-441-3734 Fax: [phone]
Registrar of Record: easyDNS Technologies, Inc.
Record last updated on 18-Nov-2003.
Record expires on 18-Nov-2004.
Record created on 18-Nov-2003.



After the above registration was exposed and discussed on the Internet, on 12 June 2004, the .com registration was changed to the following information, which makes no mention of RM+R and uses a mailbox address:


Registrant:
Move America Forward
P.O. Box 1863
Sacramento, CA 95812
US
Domain name: MOVEAMERICAFORWARD.COM
Administrative Contact:
Kaloogian, Howard [e-mail]
P.O. Box 1863
Sacramento, CA 95812
US
916-441-6197 Fax: [phone]
Technical Contact:
Kaloogian, Howard [e-mail]
P.O. Box 1863
Sacramento, CA 95812
US
916-441-6197 Fax: [phone]
Registrar of Record: easyDNS Technologies, Inc.
Record last updated on 13-Jun-2004.
Record expires on 18-Nov-2004.
Record created on 18-Nov-2003.