McSoft Buys Ersatz Grassroots PR, AGs to Follow?

[Charles Behney <charlesaugust@theriver.com>]

In a move destined to be a ludicrous as their contrived satires, McSoft
seeks to deaden the true grassroots efforts of Ralph Nader and the likes
of Audrie Krause. They will engage their loyal NT pros to create a
patriotic, rather than legal,  argument for the MS status quo.

http://www1.sjmercury.com/business/microsoft/docs/micro041098.htm

>
>                   Posted at 11:43 p.m. PDT Thursday, April 9, 1998
>
>                   Preparing the blitz
>
>                   Documents outline bid for public support
>
>                   Los Angeles Times
>
>                   Microsoft Corp., stung by the public relations fallout
>                   from antitrust investigations of its business practices,
>                   has been planning a massive media campaign
>                   designed to influence state investigators by creating
>                   the appearance of a groundswell of public support
>                   for the company.
>
>                   The elaborate plan, outlined in confidential
>                   documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times,
>                   hinges on a number of unusual tactics, including the
>                   planting of articles, letters to the editor and opinion
>                   pieces to be commissioned by Microsoft's top media
>                   handlers but presented by local firms as spontaneous
>                   testimonials.
>
>                   The stated targets of the campaign are attorneys
>                   general and politicians in 12 states that may be
>                   considering antitrust action against Microsoft, which
>                   is already battling a suit filed last year by the Justice
>                   Department.
>
>                   When asked about the campaign Thursday afternoon,
>                   Microsoft spokesman Greg Shaw initially said he
>                   was unaware of such a plan.
>
>                   ``I'm not sure what it is,'' said Shaw, whose name
>                   appears throughout confidential documents -- some
>                   of them labeled as draft copies -- that are part of a
>                   large binder of materials distributed under
>                   Microsoft's name to the campaign's regional
>                   coordinators.
>
>                   Later in the day, Shaw amended his remarks,
>                   acknowledging the plan exists, but saying it is merely
>                   a proposal and ``not something we are moving on.''
>                   He acknowledged attending a meeting in Chicago on
>                   Monday during which the plan was scheduled to be
>                   discussed in detail. Shaw said elements of the plan
>                   may ultimately be pursued, but the company has no
>                   intention of targeting attorneys general or states.
>
>                   Shaw's characterization of the campaign was
>                   contradicted by knowledgeable sources who said it
>                   was presented to regional public relations firms as
>                   ``a done deal'' and that the firms were expected to
>                   come to the Chicago meeting with detailed plans for
>                   their states.
>
snip

> When told of the planned campaign, state officials
>                   said such an effort would succeed only in
>                   aggravating investigators.
>
>                   `It represents arrogance'
>
>                   ``I've been battling this type of PR gimmickry for a
>                   long time, and I can smell it 40 yards away,'' said
>                   Michigan Attorney General Frank J. Kelley. ``It
>                   represents arrogance, and it's personally demeaning
>                   to me. (Microsoft Chairman) Bill Gates would have
>                   been better off if he or one of his representatives had
>                   picked up the phone and called me.''
>
>                   Even in the modern world of corporate spin control,
>                   the proposed plan is unusual in its scope, tactics and
>                   targets.
>
>                   The campaign is being choreographed by Edelman
>                   Public Relations, a giant PR firm with close ties to
>                   Microsoft. But sources said it is designed to appear
>                   not as a major thrust by Microsoft or Edelman, but as
>                   an eruption of grass-roots support.
>
>                   According to the documents, local PR agencies are
>                   scheduled to begin submitting opinion pieces to the
>                   media next week, followed in the coming months by
>                   waves of other materials including glowing accounts
>                   from Microsoft partners, consumer surveys and
>                   studies designed to show the company's impact on
>                   each region's economy.
>
>                   Letters to the editor are to be solicited from regional
>                   business leaders. Opinion pieces are to be written by
>                   free-lance writers, and perhaps a ``national
>                   economist,'' according to one document. The writers
>                   would be paid with costs ``billed to Microsoft as an
>                   out-of-pocket expense.''
>
snip

Perhaps, we should itemize our time and expenses and bill them to McSoft
as an out-of-pocket expense. WE ARE the GRASSROOTS.

The CATO Institute should be able to recoup their excellent catering
costs, too.

I'm glad Bill Gates recognizes the dire straits he is navigating with
the state Attorney Generals. There are some laws being broken, and all
of the PR will not change that. The Reagan Era of lazy fare antitrust is
finally fracturing into a multiprong investigation of several
governments, consumer groups, states, and concerned bureaucrats. The
Satellite Club has taken a pass on WINCE, and HDTV will not be a
compression trick from the junior programmers.

World Domination? I don't think so........


CAB