The Goldwater Institute — and ALEC — get long overdue media attention

by David Safier

I don't know how many years I've been writing my "Fools Gold" posts about the inner workings of the Goldwater Institute. Years. But in the media, G.I. has mainly been a source of quotes to round out articles and little more. While the Institute was working behind the scenes to shape Arizona's Republican agenda, the media either wasn't paying attention or wasn't interested.

That's beginning to change. A news report by Brahm Resnik on Phoenix's Channel 12 News covered the union rally at the Capitol protesting anti-worker legislation making its way through committees and onto the floor. The report said, the protest focused more on the Goldwater Institute's hand in the legislation than the legislators.

You can watch the video on the azcentral website or below the fold.

The union protester featured in the piece said this:

"It is an issue of peole who are willing to be controlled by the Goldwater Institute, which is in turn controlled by ALEC, which is in turn controlled by the corporate raiders."

Cut to G.I. President Darcy who says, basically: Shucks, G.I. is just a little ol' group trying to get its heartfelt ideas out there. Cut to the committee meeting where G.I. experts are testifying and others are reading statements written on G.I. stationery.

Resnik does an excellent job of letting the facts do the talking. The more he shows of G.I.'s denials, the clearer it is, they're the power behind the anti-worker bills.

The bad news is, G.I. and ALEC are more powerful than ever. The slightly more positive news is, the media is beginning to catch on and reporting about the puppet masters and not just the legislative marionettes dancing on a string.

Watch the video below the fold.