Congressional investigators have discovered that the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity’s (ACCCE) astroturfing effort has impersonated American military veterans in a forged letter sent to Congress. Thirteen other forgeries purporting to be from organizations representing blacks, Hispanics, women and senior citizens. This latest letter, sent in June to influence a swing Democratic legislator on his vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, impersonates a local American Legion official in Rocky Mount, VA:
The letter, sent to the office of Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA), asks Perriello to “make sure the Waxman-Markey bill includes provisions to promote American energy independence, while protecting already cash-strapped constituents from increases in electricity prices.” It concludes, “Thank you for listening to concerns of vets in your district.”
Yesterday, Alstom joined Duke Energy, Alcoa, and First Energy by abandoning the scandal-ridden organization, as “questions that have been raised about ACCCE’s support for climate legislation.”
Download the forged letter.
It really wouldn’t surprise if these forgers tried sending Periello a letter from the people killed from the Sago Mine collapse, asking him to drop support for ACES.
(yes. that’s in bad taste and geographically inaccurate. but ACCCE doesnt seem to have a moral compass)
September 10th, 2009 at 4:35 pmStupid Question: How come they avoid impersonating rich white guys ?
September 10th, 2009 at 4:40 pmDirty coal group’s 14th forgery impersonated American veterans.
– - That’s nothin’. Dick Cheney impersonated being an American Veteran for 8 years.
September 10th, 2009 at 4:45 pmThis seems to be the accepted standard for corporate ethics.
Why bother to tell the truth when lies are so much easier and more profitable?
September 10th, 2009 at 4:46 pmCan’t get much filthier than that, eh?
September 10th, 2009 at 4:48 pmDoes anyone know – is there any criminal culpability for doing this?
Sure seems like there should be.
TIA
September 10th, 2009 at 4:51 pm- – O.T….
“No doubt, right wing publishers like Regnery and Crown will be beating down Wilson’s door today to sign a book deal that will put him at the top of the New York Times bestseller list along with drivel from the likes of Michelle Malkin, who has probably already started writing her biography of Wilson, titled, “The Man Who Spoke the Truth.” By the end of the day a Wilson for President web site will be fully functioning if it isn’t already. Watch for the announcement on Glenn Beck’s show this afternoon,” – Bruce Bartlett.
September 10th, 2009 at 4:51 pmDesperate corporations do desperate things.
Vets should start picketing or demonstrating in front of whatever storefront this association uses as a front.
Impersonating a Vet.
Classy
Congressman Perriello, you need to raise holy hell about this in every media format you can.
September 10th, 2009 at 4:52 pmCan’t somebody just throw them in jail by now? How many times do you get to commit outright fraud before somebody does something about it?
September 10th, 2009 at 4:53 pmThe last time I checked, forgery and mail-fraud are both felonies.
And, even though I haven’t struck another person, except once in self-defense, in my entire life… If anyone forged my name for the expressed purpose of trying to coerce a politician into a position I’m against? I would personally beat them within an inch of their lives and probably do it again once they recovered.
September 10th, 2009 at 5:12 pmACCCE really does need to be taken down. We have enough problems in this country without a pack of shitbirds adding disinformation to the mix.
Trying to influence legislation by this method probably needs to be roped off by some statute or regulation if it isn’t already.
September 10th, 2009 at 5:38 pmBeing a Vet>>>> i am really pissed off and well i though i had lots to say>>> but at last its all been said before.
These un-american a-holes and all you trolls do not even start.
September 10th, 2009 at 6:04 pmas you are as un-american as they are.
The orgs withdrawing are doing it because they got caught. I haven’t heard them condemnations of the actions loud and clear, have you?
September 10th, 2009 at 6:22 pmThey put my name on one of these things, I’m gonna sue ‘em for everything they’ve got.
September 10th, 2009 at 7:10 pm.
As long as accountability is “OFF THE TABLE”…
As long as we’re “LOOKING FORWARD”…
… Nothing will curtail future B.S.
.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:04 pmWhen you’ve got the truth on your side, all you need is a highly-paid fraudster to help get the message out by fabricating testimonials,
right, righties??
September 10th, 2009 at 9:24 pm@ 11, I said; … blah yada etc …
In addition to that, as a vet, I’m inclined to think about direct action against these ACCCE turds, but as a Navy vet, I have to admit it would be hard to ram their office building with a battleship…
The national offices of the Legion might not appreciate these arseholes impersonating a local post; at the very least, as an aggreived party they can take out a restraining order (”cease and desist”, etc) and sue their socks off.
That should be interesting in light of the persistent rePublicrite claim that bankruptcy is good for the soul.
September 11th, 2009 at 1:26 amWhy is this company not being prosecuted for FRAUD?
I WANT BLOOD! Blood I tell youz BLOOOOOOOD….
In the broadest sense, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and is also a civil law violation. Many hoaxes are fraudulent, although those not made for personal gain are not technically frauds. Defrauding people of money is presumably the most common type of fraud, but there have also been many fraudulent “discoveries” in art, archaeology, and science.
Fraud can be committed through many methods, including mail, wire, phone, and the internet (computer crime and internet fraud). The difficulty of checking identity and legitimacy online, and the ease with which hackers can divert browsers to dishonest sites and steal credit card details, the international dimensions of the web and ease with which users can hide their location, all contribute to making internet fraud the fastest growing area of fraud.
Acts which may constitute criminal fraud include:
* bait and switch
* bankruptcy fraud, is a US federal crime that can lead to criminal prosecution under the charge of theft of the goods or services,
* charlatanism (psychic and occult),
* confidence tricks such as the 419 fraud, Spanish Prisoner, and the shell game
* creation of false companies or “long firms”
* embezzlement, taking money which one has been entrusted with on behalf of another party,
* false advertising
* false billing
* false insurance claims
* forgery of documents or signatures,
* health fraud, selling of products of spurious use, such as quack medicines,
* tax fraud, not filing revenues or illegally avoiding taxes (tax evasion), in some countries tax fraud is also prosecuted under false billing or tax forgery
* social fraud, committing fraud to get social security benefits
* identity theft
* investment frauds, such as Ponzi schemes
* marriage fraud to obtain immigration benefits INA §204(c)(1).
* securities frauds such as pump and dump
* taking payment for goods sold online, by mail or phone, such as tickets, with no intention of delivering them.
Common law fraud has nine elements:
1. a representation of an existing fact;
2. its materiality;
3. its falsity;
4. the speaker’s knowledge of its falsity;
5. the speaker’s intent that it shall be acted upon by the plaintiff;
6. plaintiff’s ignorance of its falsity;
7. plaintiff’s reliance on the truth of the representation;
8. plaintiff’s right to rely upon it; and
9. consequent damages suffered by plaintiff.
Most jurisdictions in the United States require that each element be pled with particularity and be proved with clear, cogent, and convincing evidence (very probable evidence) to establish a claim of fraud. The measure of damages in fraud cases is to be computed by the “benefit of bargain” rule, which is the difference between the value of the property had it been as represented, and its actual value. Special damages may be allowed if shown proximately caused by defendant’s fraud and the damage amounts are proved with specificity.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:06 amIf we can just pause for something that brings us together:
http://americaspeaksink.com/2009/09/poetry-lets-talk-about-it-10/
September 11th, 2009 at 7:49 am@ 19, joedee1969 sez… If we can just pause for something that brings us together:…
Nah, I’d rather be divisive and bash ACCCE. They’ve been busy forging the marques of various organizations and faking requests. I don’t have a problem with lobbyists making a case against something I’m for, and I don’t have a problem with lobbyist’s making a case for something I’m against, but I do have a problem with lobbyists hiring some pack of shitbirds to violate ethical and moral principles of fair play and to break the law.
ACCCE needs to be shut down, it’s owners and managers tossed in the can, and it’s employees threatened with serious civil and criminal consequences. The people who have been hiring ACCCE need to have their knuckles rapped with a steel ruler and maybe sent to jail without supper.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:49 pmThank you for your sharing.!
September 13th, 2009 at 11:09 amForged or not, it has some good points that need to be addressed, of course we could stop the coal mining business and stop drilling our own oil, and become totally dependant on OPEC, that way, you all can get your dividend check for your investment. And Berry can continue to get his money from the OPEC oil cartel (I’ll prove that when you prove Bush took oil)
By the way, who wrote the letter I did not see a name on it? it looked like the signiture was maybe “white outed” out
September 14th, 2009 at 11:05 pmI think the President is having an effect on this broadcast kind of hate thing because of his easy manner and the fact that most people are good solid citizens who want to see our country be better for everyone gögüs ameliyati.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:09 am