Texto de referencia:
David Edwards and David Cromwell (2006) – Guardians of Power. The Myth of the Liberal Media – Pluto Press – Media Lens – ISBN-13: 978-0745324821 – 256 Págs. – http://www.gci.org.uk/Documents/Guardians_of_Power.pdf
“Similarly, the US National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), representing much of US industry, was candid enough in its letter to George W. Bush in May 2001: ‘Dear Mr. President: On behalf of 14,000 member companies of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) – and the 18 million people who make things in America – thank you for your opposition to the Kyoto Protocol on the grounds that it exempts 80 percent of the world and will cause serious harm to the United States. (Michael E. Baroody, NAM executive vice-president, Letter to the President Concerning the Kyoto Protocol, May 16, 2001, <www.nam.org>)’. The NAM website added further: ‘The NAM strongly opposes the Kyoto] accord … President Bush also opposes Kyoto and is now pursuing a more reasonable approach to climate change’ (<www. n a m.org>, July 19, 2001). ‘that other great voice of US business, the US Chamber of Commerce, declared in a letter to the US President: ‘Global warming is an important issue that must be addressed – but the Kyoto Protocol is a flawed treaty that is not in the U.S. interest’ (<www.uschamber.org> July 19, 2001). The US Chamber’s website noted that it was the world’s Climate Change -The Ultimate Media Betrayal 157 largest business federation representing more than ‘three million businesses and organisations of every size, sector and region’.” (p. 156)
David Miller and William Dinan (2008) – A Century of Spin. How Public Relations Became the Cutting Edge of Corporate Power – Pluto Books London – Department of Geography and Sociology, University of Strathclyde – ISBN: 978-0-7453-2689-4 – 232 Págs. – https://bit.ly/2HirxMz
“Understanding how global capital exercises power and influence requires an appreciation of the role of transnational business lobbies and policy planning groups. The most significant of these are the International Chamber of Commerce, the Bilderberg Group, the World Economic Forum and the Trilateral Commission. All four are run by and for the biggest transnational corporations and often directly by their CEOs or other board members. Two of these gropus … are shrouded in mystery and are a conspiracy theorist dream. But these are neither fiction nor are entirely secret.” (p. 88)
David Miller and William Dinan (2008) – A Century of Spin. How Public Relations Became the Cutting Edge of Corporate Power – Pluto Books London – Department of Geography and Sociology, University of Strathclyde – ISBN: 978-0-7453-2689-4 – 232 Págs. – https://bit.ly/2HirxMz
“The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) was formed during the first phase of business political activism in 1920 … opposition to ‘double taxation’ … Today the ICC is at the forefront of corporate lobbying against regulation. It is the largest international lobby group representing pure corporate interests … The ICC has a record of ‘massive lobby offensives’ to influence the World Trade Organization … The [i.e. Arthur Dunkel] close connections are replicated time and again, as can be seen in the case of one of the most networked members of the elite, Peter Sutherland.” (p. 89)
Curtis A. Moore (2008) – Taking Control by Implementing the Manifiesto – Curtis A. Moore – 01/10/2008 – Basel Action Network – Former counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works from 1978 to 1989 – http://www.saving-ourselves.com/pdf/Taking-Control.pdf
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation, represents more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions. It includes hundreds of associations, thousands of local chambers, and 106 American Chambers of Commerce in 94 countries. With the implementation of the Powell Manifesto, all these resources were mobilized.”
Curtis A. Moore (2008) – Taking Control by Implementing the Manifiesto – Curtis A. Moore – 01/10/2008 – Basel Action Network – Former counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works from 1978 to 1989 – http://www.saving-ourselves.com/pdf/Taking-Control.pdf
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation, represents more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions. It includes hundreds of associations, thousands of local chambers, and 106 American Chambers of Commerce in 94 countries. With the implementation of the Powell Manifesto, all these resources were mobilized.”
Jim Tankersley – U.S. Chamber of Commerce seeks trial on global warming – Los Angeles Times, 25/08/2009 – http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate-trial25-2009aug25,0,901567.story – autores “The business lobby, hoping to fend off potentially sweeping emission limits, wants the EPA to hold a ‘Scopes’-like hearing on the evidence that climate change is man-made … “It would be evolution versus creationism,” said William Kovacs, the chamber’s senior vice president for environment, technology and regulatory affairs. “It would be the science of climate change on trial.” The goal of the chamber, which represents 3 million large and small businesses, is to fend off potential emissions regulations by undercutting the scientific consensus over climate change. If the EPA denies the request, as expected, the chamber plans to take the fight to federal court.”
Kate Galbraith – Utility Quits Alliance over Climate Change – The New York Times, 22/09/2009 – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/business/energy-environment/23utility.html
“’We find it dismaying that the chamber neglects the indisputable fact that a decisive majority of experts have said the data on global warming are compelling and point to a threat that cannot be ignored,’ Peter A. Darbee, the chairman of PG&E, wrote in a letter to the chamber … ‘We have over three million members, and we don’t comment on the comings and goings of our membership,’ Eric Wohlschlegel, a spokesman for the chamber, said in response to PG&E’s announcement.”
Clifford Krauss and Kate Galbraith – Exelon to Quit Chamber over Climate Bill – The New York Times, 28/09/2009 – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/business/energy-environment/29chamber.html
“’The carbon-based free lunch is over,’ said John W. Rowe, Exelon’s chief executive. “Breakthroughs on climate change and improving our society’s energy efficiency are within reach.” A wave of departures from the chamber has been building for weeks. It was heralded Monday by some Congressional Democrats and environmentalists as a sign that the business community’s opposition to global warming legislation is weakening. In their view, that improves the chances that a global warming bill that narrowly passed the House in June might also pass the Senate. But others said the resignations were just a sign that businesses will have varied positions depending on whether they will be winners or losers from the legislation.”
Joseph Romm – Chamber of Horrors: The incredible, shrinking industry group falsely claims “We’ve never questioned the science behind global warming” – Climate Progress, 29/09/2009 – http://climateprogress.org/2009/09/29/chamber-of-commerce-the-incredible-shrinking-industry-group-falsely-claims-we%E2%80%99ve-never-questioned-the-science-behind-global-warming/
“Like a bad horror movie, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce just can’t stop shrinking — and like the incredibly shrinking man, it is becoming increasingly desperate in its efforts to save itself. After a third company, Exelon, the nation’s largest utility, pulled the plug on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over climate denial, Chamber spokesman Eric Wohlschlegel desperately — and falsely — claimed “We’ve never questioned the science behind global warming.”
Editorial: – Way Behind the Curve – The New York Times, 29/09/2009 – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/opinion/30wed3.html
“The chamber has now declared war on the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to use regulatory means to control emissions — beginning with one official’s ill-advised (and since apologized-for) demand for a “Scopes monkey trial” questioning the science behind the agency’s preliminary finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health.”
Joseph Romm – Apple shuffles off the nano-Chamber of Commerce over its ˜frustrating global warming denialism” – Climate Progress, 06/10/2009 – http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2009/10/06/204757/apple-quits-chamber-of-commerce/
“The US Chamber of Overstated Horrors has been hemorrhaging credibility and members since it blurted out its true agenda with its Luddite call for “the Scopes monkey trial of the 21st century” on global warming. The Chamber is shrinking faster than the size of Apple Computer’s products. Pacific Gas & Energy, Public Service Company of New Mexico, and Exelon have already left, leading to more desperate lies from the Chamber, which falsely claimed “We’ve never questioned the science behind global warming.” The NY Times reports yesterday that the latest company to come to its senses is Apple. ”
Amanda Terkel – Chamber of Commerce goes from 3 million members to just 300,000 in one day – Think Progress, 14/10/2009 – http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/14/chamber-membership/
“The reason for the artificial inflation is that the organization is counting the memberships of 2,800 state and local chambers around the country, even though many of these businesses have no relationship with the national organization.”
Mary Bottari – Chamber of Commerce Launches Massive “American Free Enterprise” Campaign – PR Watch, 16/10/2009 – http://www.prwatch.org/node/8617
“What do Americans need most right now? Jobs. If you wanted Americans to buy your snake oil, what would you promise them right now? Why, jobs of course, even though the snake oil being peddled is the very thing that sank the economy in the first place … The campaign tells America to “dream big,” and the message is that sometimes “Washington may help in times of trouble” but only “the free enterprise system” is up to the challenge of creating 2 million jobs a year.”
John M. Broder – Storm over the Chamber – The New York Times. 18/11/2009 – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/business/energy-environment/19CHAMBER.html
“Its spending on lobbying has exploded to more than $90 million last year, from less than $20 million a year. The chamber has spent $65 million on lobbying so far this year, including some $35 million in the third quarter alone. In 1997, the chamber had 2 lobbyists working full-time on Capitol Hill; it now has 18. In its most recent lobbying disclosure filing, the chamber named 98 inside lobbyists and 90 others working on its behalf from outside firms.”
Brendan Demelle – U.S. Chamber of Commerce declared a “Global Warming Crime Scene” – Desmogblog, 17/12/2009 – http://www.desmogblog.com/us-chamber-commerce-declared-%E2%80%9Cglobal-warming-crime-scene
“”Corporate polluters and their hoard of lobbyists have tied America’s hands, holding the world hostage and putting the global treaty in jeopardy. Salvaging a global agreement on climate means rejecting the narrow self interest of Big Oil and Dirty Coal, as Obama promised to do when elected,” said Kert Davies, research director for Greenpeace USA.”
EPA’s Effort to Limit CO2 to Be Fought by Chamber of Commerce – Yale Environment 360, 15/02/2010 – http://e360.yale.edu/content/digest.msp
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced it will mount a legal challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to limit greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Steven J. Law, the chamber’s chief legal counsel, said the business group would not question the science behind global warming but rather would challenge the process by which the EPA decided it had the right to control carbon dioxide emissions as a threat to human health. The Obama administration has said it would prefer that Congress pass a law regulating carbon emissions, but with the passage of such a law looking increasingly unlikely, a battle is shaping up over the EPA’s possible efforts to control CO2 emissions.”
Robin Bravender – U.S. Chamber Petitions EPA to Reconsider Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding – The New York Times, 16/03/2010 – Greenwire – http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/03/16/16greenwire-us-chamber-petitions-epa-to-reconsider-greenho-18205.html
“”The Chamber believes that the right way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere is through bipartisan legislation and comprehensive international agreements,” said the chamber’s chief legal officer and general counsel Steven Law in a statement. “The wrong way is through the EPA’s endangerment finding, which triggers Clean Air Act regulation.” The petition (pdf) is the latest in a series of the chamber’s attacks against EPA’s climate policies. The organization filed one of 16 lawsuits challenging EPA’s endangerment finding in a federal appeals court (Greenwire, Feb. 15). And last summer, the group petitioned EPA for an “on the record” hearing to review data that the agency used to support its proposed finding, threatening to sue if the agency denied its request (E&ENews PM, Aug. 25, 2009).”
Gloria Gonzalez – U.S. Chamber of Commerce Dismayed at Breakaway Clean Energy Group – Oilprice, 15/08/2010 – http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/US-Chamber-of-Commerce-Dismayed-at-Breakaway-Clean-Energy-Group.html
“The Chambers for Innovation & Clean Energy (CICE), led by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, is being organised under five core principles, including that businesses must be part of the solution to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and that market-based solutions produce the best results. The group’s main objective is to work with federal legislators to shape a carbon reduction programme that sends clear signals to the market about where to invest R&D dollars, said Rob Black, vice-president of public policy at the San Francisco Chamber. “That’s different from what I’ve heard from the US Chamber, but we think that is an essential part of driving investment in that area,” he said.”
Gabriel Nelson – U.S. Chamber Sues EPA Over Greenhouse Gas ‘Endangerment’ Decision – The New York Times, 16/08/2010 – Greenwire – http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/08/16/16greenwire-us-chamber-sues-epa-over-greenhouse-gas-endang-81491.html
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the advocacy group Coalition for Responsible Regulation have asked a federal appeals court to review U.S. EPA’s decision that greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare. The endangerment finding, finalized in December, is the linchpin of the agency’s suite of climate regulations. It prompted regulations on greenhouse gases from cars and light-duty trucks, which themselves triggered the rules for stationary sources such as power plants, refineries and factories.”
Lee Fang – MEMO: Health insurance, banking, oil industries met with Koch, Chamber, Glenn Beck to plot 2010 election – Think Progress, 20/10/2010 – http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/20/beck-koch-chamber-meeting/
“In 2006, Koch Industries owner Charles Koch revealed to the Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore that he coordinates the funding of the conservative infrastructure of front groups, political campaigns, think tanks, media outlets and other anti-government efforts through a twice annual meeting of wealthy right-wing donors. He also confided to Moore, who is funded through several of Koch’s ventures, that his true goal is to strengthen the “culture of prosperity” by eliminating “90%” of all laws and government regulations. Although it is difficult to quantify the exact amount Koch alone has funneled to right-wing fronts, some studies have pointed toward $50 million he has given alone to anti-environmental groups … While the Koch brothers — each worth over $21.5 billion — have certainly underwritten much of the right, their hidden coordination with other big business money has gone largely unnoticed. ThinkProgress has obtained a memo outlining the details of the last Koch gathering held in June of this year.”
Science Magazine Reporter Drills Down For Chamber’s Position on Candidates – The Yale Forum on Climate Change & the Media, 21/10/2010 – http://www.yaleclimatemediaforum.org/2010/10/chambers-position-on-candidates/
“U.S. Chamber of Commerce representatives by now are used to some tough questioning when they confront a room full of journalists on issues related to climate change. So the Chamber’s Karen Harbert, head of the Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy, doubtless was not surprised. … “Why do you support candidates who don’t support global warming?” Kintisch asked from the floor, adding that virtually all of the Chamber-supported candidates, primarily Republicans, reject the body of scientific evidence pointing to a significant human influence. “This question disappoints me the most,” Harbert replied, objecting that continued “polarizing” of the climate debate — as she said had been the case with the narrowly passed House vote on the “Waxman/Markey” legislation — will “never get to the solution.” “Answer the question,” Kintisch followed-up, prompting applause from conference attendees, many of whom are not accredited media and are not shy about demonstrating their own biases. “The Chamber policy on climate change is abysmal,” said Udall, no wallflower when it came to making his own points. Harbert’s protestations that the Chamber has backed a doubling of research funding for clean energy initiatives appeared unconvincing to many. ”
US Chamber Watch Information – Operations Recommendation – Themis – Committed to Impact, 29/11/2010 – http://images2.americanprogress.org/ThinkProgress/ProposalForTheChamber.pdf
“US Chamber Watch is one of the most active members of the opposition to the US Chamber of Commerce (CoC). Unlike some groups, members of this organization are politically connected and well established, making the US Chamber Watch vulnerable to information operations that could embarrass the organization and those associated with it. US Chamber Watch is well connected politically, evidenced by the established relationship between CtW and Andy Stern, and is associated with many powerful DC operatives behind the scenes. The organization typically does not use theatrical performances overt gestures. The people in this case are less impo1tant than the organization. Therefore we need to discredit the organization through the following: 1. Paint US Chamber Watch as an operative of CtW and the unions, while at the same time highlighting the organization of the unions against the chamber. We should show also the flow of members from unions to CtW as well as the closeness of CtW and US Chamber Watch. 2. Craft a message to combat the messaging propaganda of US Chamber Watch. For example, target how the unions are being an inhibitor to progress by advocating for unrealistic individual benefits, while the Chamber continues its focus on job creation through innovation in order to showcase how the US economy prospers in the global economy. Packaged in the right mediums, such an operation can prove to be” powerful. 3. Create a false document, perhaps highlighting periodical financial information, and monitor to see if US Chamber Watch acquires it. Afterward, present-explicit evidence proving that such transactions never occurred. Also, create a fake insider persona and generate communications with CtW. Afterward; release the actual documents at a specified time and explain the activity as a CtW contrived operation. Both instances will prove that US Chamber Watch cannot be with information and/or tell the truth. 4. Connect US Chamber Watch’s radical tactics to Velvet Revolution; explaining that both entities are loosely operating together. Depending on the level of connection established, such an approach may need to be spotlighted as more of a conspiracy rather than a separate, vocal persona. 5. If needed, create two fake insider personas, using one as leverage to discredit the other while confirming the legitimacy of the second. Such work is complicated, but a well-thought out approach will give way to a variety of strategies that can sufficiently aid the formation of vetting questions US Chamber Watch will likely ask. 6.- Create a humor piece about the leaders of CtW.”
Jeanne Cummings – Angry member groups shun Chamber – Politico, 07/12/2010 – http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=BE51A84C-F378-24D7-8E0E793A1898C3EF
“’We were getting pounded. We felt here, in Central Pennsylvania, that the ads they were running were not professional ads,’ said David Wise, president of the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, which is considering dropping its national membership. “This was not a unifying event. It was divisive.” […] Other chambers plan to take the extraordinary step of ending their affiliation with the U.S. Chamber, including The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Its leaders reported being inundated with angry — and sometimes profanity-laced — telephone calls from people objecting to the U.S. Chamber-backed ads. […] Looking ahead to the 2012 elections, if more local chambers publicly declare their independence, it could undermine the power and credibility of attacks launched from the Washington office.”
Jeanne Cummings – Angry member groups shun Chamber – Politico, 07/12/2010 – http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=BE51A84C-F378-24D7-8E0E793A1898C3EF
“In California, Randy Gordon, president and CEO of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, accompanied Miller when he stumped for GOP Senate nominee Carly Fiorina, who unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.”
Lee Fang – Facing Backlash From The U.S. Chamber’s Right-Wing Ads, More Local Chambers Plan To End Their Membership – Think Progress, 07/12/2010 – http://thinkprogress.org/2010/12/07/local-national-chamber/
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, during part of its history, was a practical business lobby interested in working with Democrats and Republicans alike to promote policies to boost both the interests of executives and to help ensure high employment. However, those days are long gone. Since the 70s, the Chamber has been a far right lobbying group, representing mostly multinational corporations like ExxonMobil and CitiGroup. Last year, nearly half of the U.S. Chamber’s entire budget came from large health insurance companies. As ThinkProgress reported, the Chamber also recently began a secretive effort to attract donors from foreign corporations, including the Bahrain Petroleum Company and the Bank of India.”
Lee Fang – Facing Backlash From The U.S. Chamber’s Right-Wing Ads, More Local Chambers Plan To End Their Membership – Think Progress, 07/12/2010 – http://thinkprogress.org/2010/12/07/local-national-chamber/
“This year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ran one of the largest, most partisan, corporate-funded attack campaigns in its history. It worked closely with Karl Rove’s network of attack groups, while raising $75 million dollars to smear Democrats, including Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA), Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), and others. The Chamber’s ads were particularly sleasy; many were patently untrue, while others criticized Democrats for supporting legislation that the Chamber actually asked them to support. Part of the Chamber’s strategy has been to manipulate the press and the wider public by falsely portraying itself as a community of small businesses and local chambers of commerce. Meanwhile, local chambers are upset that they are being unfairly associated with the U.S. Chamber’s far right partisanship.”
Joseph Romm – Chamber of Commerce continues decades-long assault against clean energy economy – Climate Progress, 03/02/2011 – http://climateprogress.org/2011/02/03/chamber-of-commerce-against-clean-energy/
“Christopher Guith, vice president for policy at the Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy, said a national clean-energy standard is “ridiculously premature,” even though 25 states have renewable and alternative energy standards, the first established in 1983. The Institute’s president, former Bush official Karen Harbert, said that the United States should instead allow “increased access to land for oil and gas drilling both onshore and offshore,” drilling a deeper hole with fossil fuel dependence.”
Lee Fang – EXCLUSIVE: US Chamber’s Lobbyists Solicited Hackers To Sabotage Unions, Smear Chamber’s Political Opponents – Think Progress, 10/02/2011 – http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/10/lobbyists-chamberleaks/
Joseph Romm – Bombshell: Chamber of Commerce lobbyists solicited firm to investigate opponents’ families, children – Climate Progress, 13/02/2011 – http://climateprogress.org/2011/02/13/shocker-chamber-of-commerce-lobbyists-solicited-firm-to-investigate-opponents%E2%80%99-families-children/
“Thursday, ThinkProgress published an exclusive report that the law firm representing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a right-wing trade association representing big business, is working with set of “private security” companies and lobbying firms to undermine their political opponents, including ThinkProgress. According to e-mails obtained by ThinkProgress, the Chamber hired the lobbying firm Hunton and Williams. Attorneys for the firm solicited a set of private security firms — HB Gary Federal, Palantir, and Berico Technologies (collectively called Team Themis) — to develop a sabotage campaign against progressive groups and labor unions, including ThinkProgress, the labor coalition Change to Win, SEIU, US Chamber Watch, and StopTheChamber.com.”
Lee Fang – ChamberLeaks: Plan Solicited By Chamber Lawyers Included Malware Hacking Of Activist Computers – Think Progress, 17/02/2011 – http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/17/chamberleaks-malware-hacking/
“A closer look at the proposals show that the firms had planned to use exploits to steal information from the Chamber’s opponents, or worse. On November 2, HBGary Federal executive Aaron Barr sent John Woods, a lawyer at Hunton and Williams representing the Chamber, two documents discussing tactics for assisting the Chamber (view the e-mail here). One presentation (click here to download) boasted of HBGary Federal’s capabilities in “Information Operations,” a military contractor term for offensive data extraction techniques typically reserved for use against terrorist groups. The slide includes sections on “Vulnerability Research/Exploit Development” and “Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering.” View a screenshot below: …”
Lee Fang – Richard Clarke says U.S. Chamber committed a felony by cyber-targeting political opponents – Think Progress, 24/03/2011 – http://climateprogress.org/2011/03/24/richard-clarke-chamber-of-commerce-felony-cyber-targeting-political-opponents/
“Earlier this month, Richard Clarke, who served for both Democratic and Republican Presidents, including a stint as the cyber security czar for the Bush administration, denounced the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for plotting with a group of military contractors to hack into progressive groups. Clarke was in DC speaking at a cyber security conference hosted by Symantec. Although Clarke focused his remarks about the growing threat of global cyber terrorism, ThinkProgress spoke to the longtime public servant about the ChamberLeaks story we originally broke… CLARKE: I think it’s a violation of 10USC. I think it’s a felony, and I think they should go to jail. You call them a large trade association, I call them a large political action group that took foreign money in the last election.”
Joseph Romm – ChamberLeaks presentation details plans to “Discredit, Confuse, Shame, Combat, Infiltrate, Fracture” liberals – Climate Progress, 12/04/2011
Lee Fang – New ChamberLeaks Presentation Emerges, Details More Plans To Sabotage Liberals – Think Progress, 12/04/2011 – http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/11/chamberleaks-more-plans/
“ThinkProgress has uncovered yet another presentation from one of the private security firms describing plans for the Chamber. Because of a technical glitch, a few emails of the 75,000 emails leaked to the public from one of the defense firms did not process. One of the emails now processed correctly reveals yet another proposal, created by HBGary Federal executive Aaron Barr, and forwarded to the other security firms. Although it appears not to have been completed, the last slide in the presentation lists tactics — labeled “Discredit, Confuse, Shame, Combat, Infiltrate, Fracture” — to “mitigate [sic] effect of adversarial groups while seeking litigation.” View a selection of the slides below: …”
Lockwell – 5,000 Young Climate Activists Protest at Chamber of Commerce; Corporate Media Continues to Ignore – 18/04/2011 – http://www.bluevirginia.us/diary/3675/5000-young-climate-activists-take-protest-to-chamber-of-commerce
“There’s great stuff happening across the Potomac River right now, with a rally of 5,000 young climate activists culminating the weekend-long “Power Shift 2011, a youth clean energy conference and one of the largest grassroots trainings in history.” And, of course, the corporate media is barely covering it. Even more glaring, I just did a Google News search for “tea party rally” and found reams of corporate media coverage of their “tax day” rallies. So, let’s get this straight: 5,000 climate activists taking on the Chamber of Commerce in the nation’s capital gets no “lamestream media” love; a handful of wildly misguided people wearing funny costumes gets tons of it? Again, it must be that darn “liberal media bias” – boy do I hate that! (snark) P.S. Another photo’s on the “flip.” UPDATE: The New York Times has coverage. I still see nothing on the local “paper of record,” the Kaplan Washington Post, despite their apparent realization of how wrong the Republicans are on climate change.”
Anonimous – UPDATEDx3!!! Anonymous Urges Caution on Chamber Release – 29/04/2011 – http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/30/971631/-BREAKING:-Anonymous-Hits-Chamber! – autores We Are Anonymous – We See Through Your Lies – We Do Not Forgive – We Do Not Forget – Expect Us
Brad Johnson – Big Oil’s U.S. Chamber Defends Big Oil Subsidies, Calls For More Spending Cuts – Think Progress, 16/05/2011 – http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2011/05/16/chamber-oil-subsidies/
“Taxes, new fees, and other attempts to restrict domestic energy production have been proven to increase reliance on imported energy and to increase costs for consumers. The lack of more robust domestic energy production is a failure of Congress and the Administration. Legislation intended to punish energy companies for the government’s failure is misguided, unwarranted, and ultimately counterproductive.”
Francesca Grifo (2011) – A Case Study in Scientific Integrity: The Science Behind Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards – Union of Concerned Scientists, 27/09/2011 – Expert on political interference in science and practices to ensure transparency and integrity at the intersection of science and policy – http://blog.ucsusa.org/a-case-study-in-scientific-integrity-the-science-behind-greenhouse-gas-emission-standards
“In December 2009, after years of data analysis, two public hearings, and the assessment of more than 500,000 comments, the EPA released a final endangerment finding. Written by 30 EPA senior scientists, and reviewed by experts in seven agencies, the final document definitively states that greenhouse gases endanger the public health and welfare of Americans. Ten groups – including the Competitive Enterprise Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Peabody Energy, and politicians acting on behalf of Texas and Virginia—petitioned the agency to drop the finding. Those petitions attacked the science underlying climate change and the agency’s process for handling the science.”
Matt Trojan – Yahoo! Joins Apple in Abandoning U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Chamber Watch, 13/10/2011 – http://www.fixtheuschamber.org/tracking-the-chamber/yahoo-joins-apple-other-tech-companies-abandons-us-chamber
“Joining a growing list of major corporations that are upset with the U.S. Chamber’s pay-to-play model, where the U.S. Chamber’s brand is for-sale to the highest bidder, Yahoo! Has abandoned the U.S. Chamber citing the business lobby’s active work against their interests. According to Politico’s Morning Tech:…”
Mareike Britten et al (Eds.) (2011) – Who’s holding us back? – Greenpeace, 23/11/2011 – http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/reports/Whos-holding-us-back/
“In the US alone, approximately $3.5 bn is invested annually in lobbying activities at the federal level.6 The US Chamber of Commerce tops the list of lobbyists.7 In recent years, Royal Dutch Shell, the US Chamber of Commerce, Edison Electric Institute, PG&E, Southern Company, ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and ConocoPhillips all made the top 20 list of lobbyists.8 The climate campaign organisation 350.org estimates that 94% of US Chamber of Commerce contributions went to climate denier candidates.”
Jorge Madrid and Arpita Bhattacharyya – Debunking the Myths of Tom Donohue and the U.S. Chamber of Pollution – Climate Progress, 12/01/2012 – http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2012/01/12/402989/debunking-the-myths-of-tom-donohue-and-the-us-chamber-of-pollution/
“Here are five pieces of misleading rhetoric to listen for and the facts that prove them wrong.”
Farron Cousins – US Chamber of Commerce Jobs Plan Rehashes Old, Debunked Talking Points – Desmogblog, 13/01/2012 – http://www.desmogblog.com/us-chamber-commerce-jobs-plan-rehashes-old-debunked-talking-points
“Put more bluntly, this is the Chamber’s message: Do away with environmental and health protections and let the same companies that brought us the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and countless other “accidents” expand oil drilling, fracking, and other dirty energy extraction methods in every possible place. “Trust us, we’re experts,” they say.”
Benjamin Waterhouse (2012) – Mobilization against Liberal Reform – En: What’s Good for Business: Business and American Politics since World War II, Kim Phillips-Fein and Julian E. Zelizer (Eds.) (2012), Oxford University Press, ISBN-13: 978-0199754007
“Founded in 1895, NAM had a historic commitment to fighting labor power, but by the early 1970s it broadened its scope to lobby on regulatory, tax, and foreign trade policy. In 1973, NAM relocated its headquarters from New York to Washington, as its president explained, to keep “in touch with the rapidly changing scene on the Hill.” 13 To improve its lobbying, NAM launched a Public Affairs Committee to centrally coordinate seven field branches, informing members about upcoming votes and organizing phone and mail barrages to Congress. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, created at the request of President Taft in 1912 to provide the unified voice of the entire business community to policy makers, was larger than the NAM and historically took on a broader set of issues. It leaders likewise expanded the group’s reach in the early 1970s, overhauling its organizational structure and creating a series of affiliated organizations to encourage business people to participate in politics at the local level. 15 Th e mobilization of groups like the Business Roundtable, NAM, and the Chamber emerged when growing economic fears joined with acute cultural anxieties and a sense of legislative impotence.”
Benjamin Waterhouse (2012) – Mobilization against Liberal Reform – En: What’s Good for Business: Business and American Politics since World War II, Kim Phillips-Fein and Julian E. Zelizer (Eds.) (2012), Oxford University Press, ISBN-13: 978-0199754007
“In 1971, soon-to-be Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell captured the essence of this widespread alarm in a confidential memorandum, ominously titled “Attack on American Free Enterprise System,” that he drafted at the request of a friend at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Powell both encapsulated the existential threat that business faced and proposed an organizational solution—by banding together through organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, business leaders should proactively confront and refute the powerful “anti-business” sentiment that so permeated American society. 16 The memo’s most immediate effect was to prompt the Chamber to restructure and expand its lobbying activities. More broadly, it encouraged business leaders from across the country to join in an effort to resurrect the good name of free enterprise. ”
Lee Fang – Lobbyists Targeting Liberal Groups Channeled Chinese Hackers’ Strategy – The Nation, 04/03/2013 – http://www.thenation.com/blog/173167/lobbyists-targeting-liberal-groups-channeled-chinese-hackers-strategy/
“Attorneys for the Chamber were caught negotiating for a contract to launch a cyber campaign using practically identical methods to those attributed to the Chinese, which reportedly could be used to cripple vital infrastructure and plunder trade secrets from Fortune 100 companies. The Chamber was seeking to undermine its political opposition, including the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) and MoveOn.org, but apparently had to scotch the plan after it was revealed by Anonymous.”
Lee Fang – Lobbyists Targeting Liberal Groups Channeled Chinese Hackers’ Strategy – The Nation, 04/03/2013 – http://www.thenation.com/blog/173167/lobbyists-targeting-liberal-groups-channeled-chinese-hackers-strategy/
“The presentations, which were also leaked by Anonymous, contained ethically questionable tactics, like creating a “false document, perhaps highlighting periodical financial information,” to give to a progressive group opposing the Chamber, and then subsequently exposing the document as a fake to undermine the credibility of the Chamber’s opponents.”
Coby – Chinese corporate hackers, the Chamber of Commerce, Fakegate – A Few Things Ill Considered, 15/03/2013 – http://scienceblogs.com/illconsidered/2013/03/chinese-corporate-hackers-chamber-commerce-fakegate/
“Details can be found in an interesting, if dense, article at The Nation, which describes how Anonymous revealed dealings the Chamber of Commerce was having with a Cyber Security firm that did not limit itself to defensive measures.”
Coby – Chinese corporate hackers, the Chamber of Commerce, Fakegate – A Few Things Ill Considered, 15/03/2013 – http://scienceblogs.com/illconsidered/2013/03/chinese-corporate-hackers-chamber-commerce-fakegate/
“I think we have here by far the most plausible explanation for the still mysterious beginning of the whole FakeGate controversy from just over a year ago. Heartland itself is likely the source of the initial forged document that came into Peter’s possession, but rather than simply running with it into their trap, he unexpectedly sought to verify its contents with a subterfuge of his own and thus got his hands on the real goods. (BTW, that is what is called real skepticism!). This also explains Heartlands rather shrill protestations, it is very hard to stomach when plots like that back-fire into your own face!”
Mark S. Mizruchi (2013) – The Fracturing of the American Corporate Elite – Harvard University Press – Robert Cooley Angell Collegiate Professor of Sociology + Barger Family Professor of Organizational Studies + Professor of Management and Organizations – ISBN-13: 978-0674072992 – 384 Págs.
“As we have seen in earlier chapters, it is questionable whether the Chamber of Commerce or the NAM ever demonstrated an ability to unite the American business community around its long- term interests. The Business Roundtable, on the other hand, was at least able to do this in its earlier years. This group may not have had the balanced, above- the- fray character that degree of responsibility through the 1980s, especially on taxation. The Roundtable failed to rise to the occasion on health care, however. Instead, the group was hijacked by an aggressive minority that profited greatly from the health care crisis and was unwilling to compromise.”
Zack Beauchamp – The Chamber Of Commerce’s Surprising Comments On A Carbon Tax And How It Could Change The Game In Congress – Climate Progress, 05/09/2013 – http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/09/05/2500831/chamber-carbon-tax/
“’We don’t have a position on a carbon tax. But that would be interesting to think about.’ That wasn’t what we were expecting to hear from David Chavern, the Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”
Mike Lofgren – The Revolt of the Lower Middle Class and the Stupidity of the Elites – Truthout, 28/10/2013 – http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/19618-the-revolt-of-the-lower-middle-class-and-the-stupidity-of-the-elites
“We read in the aftermath of the government shutdown and near default on the country’s sovereign debt that the US Chamber of Commerce is clutching its pearls. “We are going to get engaged,” said a mouthpiece for the chamber. “The need is now more than ever to elect people who understand the free market and not silliness.” The chamber is the top lobbying organization in America, and it gave 93 percent of its political contributions to Republican candidates in the 2010 election that birthed the Congressional Tea Party Caucus. Apparently it is now having buyer’s remorse. Politico, the newsletter of the Beltway illuminati, reports similar tidings: Rich Republican mega-donors like hedge fund vulture Paul Singer are expressing frustration with Republican office holders, even though Singer has been a major financial backer of the Tea Party-oriented Club for Growth, which egged on the politicians who forced the shutdown. Even the Koch brothers have been distancing themselves from the shutdown.”
Jeff Spross – Chamber Of Commerce Blasts EPA Rule That Doesn’t Exist – Climate Progress, 28/05/2014 – http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/05/28/3442314/chamber-of-commerce-epa-carbon-study/
“But assuming the Chamber proves prescient on those two points, should we be worried? Probably not. First off, as Paul Krugman noted, a $50.2 billion reduction per year is only 0.2 percent of the economy. And that loss of 224,000 jobs is out of a country of 140 million workers — America is adding more than 224,000 new jobs every two or three months right now. Beyond that, there’s a history here. EPA has been issuing regulations on everything from coal furnaces to urban air quality for four decades. Studies sponsored by the fossil fuel industry have regularly predicted major economic hits as a result, and those hits regularly fail to materialize. In fact, when EPA moved to cut sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants in 1990, the Edison Electric Institute predicted electricity rate hikes for the 10 most coal-dependent states. The Center for American Progress found that by 2009 their projection had overshot by 24 percent, and for several of those states the 2009 costs were lower than in 1990.”
Don Lee – U.S. Chamber says new EPA rule could cost economy $51 billion a year – Los Angeles Times, 28/05/2014 – http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-fi-climate-change-impact-chamber-commerce-study-20140528-story.html
“Signaling growing industry opposition to the Obama administration’s forthcoming proposal to curb carbon emissions from power plants, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce warned in a report Wednesday that the climate-change rule could cost the economy tens of billions of dollars in lost investment and millions of jobs.”
Kiley Kroh – 7 Groups Attacking The President’s Plan To Cut Carbon Pollution, Even Though It Hasn’t Been Released Yet – Climate Progress, 30/05/2014 – http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/05/30/3442251/carbon-pollution-rule-attacks/
“U.S. Chamber of Commerce; American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC); Americans For Prosperity (AFP); American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE); National Mining Association (NMA); Heritage Foundation; American Energy Alliance/Institute For Energy Research.”
Paul Krugman – Reducir las emisiones de carbono – El País, 01/06/2014 – http://economia.elpais.com/economia/2014/05/30/actualidad/1401460158_092438.html
“Bueno, ése no es el mensaje que la Cámara de Comercio intentaba transmitir en el informe que publicó el miércoles. Está claro que intentaba dar la impresión de que las nuevas normas del EPA harían estragos. Pero si uno se centra en el contenido del informe más que en su retórica descubre que, a pesar de los grandes esfuerzos de la Cámara por tergiversar las cosas —como explicaré después, el informe sobrevalora el coste real de la protección medioambiental casi con seguridad—, las cifras son llamativamente bajas.”
Paul Krugman – Reducir las emisiones de carbono – El País, 01/06/2014 – http://economia.elpais.com/economia/2014/05/30/actualidad/1401460158_092438.html
“Bueno, ése no es el mensaje que la Cámara de Comercio intentaba transmitir en el informe que publicó el miércoles. Está claro que intentaba dar la impresión de que las nuevas normas del EPA harían estragos. Pero si uno se centra en el contenido del informe más que en su retórica descubre que, a pesar de los grandes esfuerzos de la Cámara por tergiversar las cosas —como explicaré después, el informe sobrevalora el coste real de la protección medioambiental casi con seguridad—, las cifras son llamativamente bajas. Concretamente, el informe tiene en cuenta un programa de reducción del carbono que probablemente sea bastante más ambicioso que el que en realidad vamos a tener, y llega a la conclusión de que, de aquí a 2030, el programa costaría cada año 50.200 millones de dólares constantes.”
Tim McDonnell – Everything You Need to Know About Obama’s New Climate-Change Rules – The Atlantic, 02/06/2014 – http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/06/everything-you-need-to-know-about-obamas-new-climate-change-rules/371983/
“What else are critics saying? The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a report Wednesday predicting that the new rules could cost the economy $1 billion a year in lost jobs and economic activity. The National Mining Association is running radio spots claiming they will lead to an 80 percent jump in electricity bills. The pro-coal group ACCCE conducted its own study, and concluded that the rules could run up $151 billion in additional energy costs for consumers by 2033. The trouble with such predictions, counters the Environmental Defense Fund’s Ceronsky, is that the economic impact of the rules will depend entirely on how states chooses to implement the standards.”
Josh Israel – Major Companies Distance Themselves From U.S. Chamber Campaign Against Obama’s Climate Plan – Climate Progress, 03/06/2014 – http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/06/03/3444143/member-companies-chamber-climate/
“ThinkProgress reached out to several dozen of the major corporations that have either contributed to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or had executives currently serving on its board of directors. None endorsed the new report. A spokeswoman for Intel directly distanced itself from the Chamber’s position. “We support the President’s Climate Action Plan,” she told ThinkProgress in an email, adding, “We can support this new rule if it is designed and implemented in a reasonable and cost effective way. We can’t know if those conditions are met until we see final rule next year and how it is implemented by states.” While less explicit, other company spokespersons also distanced themselves from the report.”
Jim Newell – The Right’s New Enemy No. 1: How the Chamber of Commerce Became Toxic – Alter Net, 27/07/2014 – http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/rights-new-enemy-no-1-how-chamber-commerce-became-toxic
“Rep. Kerry Bentivolio is a freshman House Republican who’s facing a primary challenger on Aug. 5. Yesterday afternoon, he pulled what some might call a “campaign stunt.” He returned, and made a big fuss about returning, a Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Enterprise” award given by the top business lobby earlier this year. Not that it’s much of an award — the Chamber gave them to 205 members this year, and Bentivolio got one even though the Chamber has endorsed his primary opponent. Bentivolio announced that “it is with great pride that I reject their award, and call on them to stand on the side of America, instead of on the side of China and corporate interests seeking to exploit people for profit.” His chief of staff was even more efficient: “The US Chamber is in the pocket of Communist China and big companies seeking cheap labor in the United States.” Bentivolio, according to the Washington Post, also “criticized the Chamber for supporting the comprehensive immigration bill that passed the Senate last year.” Invocations of “Communist China” are a time-tested sign that a close election is down the home stretch. What’s newer, though, is the toxicity of the Chamber of Commerce, one of the GOP’s most traditionally loyal allies.”
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): Business Leadership for Global Climate Action – Paris Climate Change Conference – 08/12/2015 – http://unfccc6.meta-fusion.com/cop21/events/2015-12-08-16-00-international-chamber-of-commerce-icc-business-leadership-for-global-climate-action
Philip Morris – Tobacco Strategy – Tobacco Documents Bates 2022887066 – 28/03/2017 – http://goo.gl/qMMbFr
“Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America: As we all know, the Chamber has been all over the map, including on the wrong side, on this debate. However, we have been intensely lobbying them behind the scenes to “bring them in line” consistent with the other major business organizations, especially on FET, but also on employer mandates. The Chamber Board is awaiting the results of a membership survey to determine how to proceed in the debate, but we should coalesce with other large corporate members of the Chamber (who comprise just 10% of the membership but fully 90% of the dues) to ensure not only that Chamber waffling be discontinued, but that the positions it takes is representative of its members’ interests. We are presently working on a strategy to accomplish this.”
