12 Comments
User's avatar
Burt Arthur's avatar

Or as my mom always told me “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Expand full comment
Courtney Waller's avatar

It did appear that way..but who knew it wasn’t a real org. It was just a marketing campaign by a major lobbying firm. It was a wild rabbit hole to go down following the money

Expand full comment
IMPOed's avatar

The Heritage Foundation, The Federalists Society, Americans for Prosperity, all billionaire think tanks to control the United States Government, to control policies giving them total control, let's be perfectly clear, “they” are the Brian Thompsons of the he world, act accordingly!

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

Good work here, I'm really interested in anything else you uncover about this and related astroturfing.

Expand full comment
Courtney Waller's avatar

It was just wild to me, when I saw that there was literally no information. Absolutely zero on the web-site. It was bizarre. Especially if they have the funding to spend $1000 on one video. It didn't make sense. I'm going to definitely be keeping an eye on them. I even looked at the groups who have spoken out about the flavored vape ban, for and against, and I can find no mention of them. So, moms or anyone else isn't showing up to testify, or making public statements. It's all very, very sketchy. I wonder what else they will come up with, and where.

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

I'm limited to one armed typing for the foreseeable future or I'd write something longer. But I fully approve and agree with the shadiness and your curiosity.

Expand full comment
Courtney Waller's avatar

Oh my gosh! I hope that you are ok…..and that you heal up soon!

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

The whole aswang thing makes me really mad because he had them leave two puncture marks in the neck of the victims before draining them of blood which is not accurate if I understand aswangs correctly. I've also read that aswangs were not commonly associated with the area the operation was in (manananggal country) so we don't actually know if the target group believed the vampiric monster was responsible or if they were just horrified by the way their members were being murdered and desecrated.

Expand full comment
Courtney Waller's avatar

I’ve heard varying accounts of whether it was believed there or not. I’m inclined to say it was, as they had targeted the same areas with other superstition campaigns before moving to the aswang. But yes, the puncture marks part is so bizarre since it has zero to do with the folklore.

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

It's like why bother doing half the research? It's just that added dash of disrespect on top of the murdering is so weird and gross.

Expand full comment
Sherri Scharf's avatar

Courtney, I am beyond impressed with your research skills!

Expand full comment
Courtney Waller's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment