In general I think the whole "astroturf" critique is wanting. It relies for its efficacy on the notion that grassroots lobbying is pure and good and right. But

In general I think the whole "astroturf" critique is wanting. It relies for its efficacy on the notion that grassroots lobbying is pure and good and right. But there's nothing necessarily great about grassroots efforts. They can be just as wrongheaded, small minded, or self interested as any other interest group. So sure astroturf campaigns try and borrow the positive glow of grassroots, but since the glow is undeserved to begin with that's a pretty minor peccadillo.