Grassroots?

Grassroots?

Many campaigns claim to be propeled by massive 'grassroots' movements. But what differentiates between this all-hailed grassroots and the corperate movements, scathingly refered to as 'Astroturf'? 

'Grassroots' is defined as "the common people at a local level" by Princeton's web dictionary, while 'Astroturf', or 'Astroturfing' is "The disguising of an orchestrated campaign as a spontaneous upwelling of public opinion", according to Wikipedia. No one wants their movement to be known as Astroturf, so these corporate campaigns are usually very well covered up. 

The controversial 'Tea Party' movement, an anti tax protesting/letter writing movement, is hailed as a magnificent grassroots movement by some and deplored as an Astroturf debocle by others. The 'teapartiers', as the movement's participants are called, say that they are part of a completely locally-driven, grassroots movement, and that the 'Tea Parties' sponsors like FreedomWorks and Americans For Prosperity are simply event organizers and nothing more. 

However, bigger corporations than these activist groups are supporting the 'Tea Parties'. Fox News has and continues to promote the Tea Parties and their goals, and some of the channel's anchors have said that to participate in the protests would be to 'celebrate with Fox News', according to Glenn Beck. 

Grassroots means without corporate sponsorship on a local level. Therefore, the Tea Parties are not grassroots.