UPDATE: (top-posted because it’s cool)The cookie cutter editorial writer decloaks. His name is Sean Paige and he’s penned an editorial slamming MoveOn.org members for sending “astroturf” letters to newspapers. Here’s a choice passage:
I began noticing patterns in the e-mails — the same rote phrases or analogies that betray an orchestrated letter writing campaign, rather than a spontaneous outpouring of thoughts and feelings.
–ORIGINAL POST–
[From Pam] Do you suppose there is an online source for newspaper editorials when the editor needs a little content? Seems that there were 4 identical paragraphs in 4 different newspapers in unsigned editorials recently. Original wonderer is Chris at Facing South – who wonders how his paragraph got into 4 different editorials:
One of the smartest things President Bush did to reduce recovery costs in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita was to suspend Davis-Bacon Act rules in the hardest hit states. But Congress is frantically trying to overrule the president, which would add billions of dollars to the already staggering recovery costs.
* Appeal-Democrat (Marysville-Yuba City, California)
* Daily News (Jacksonville, NC)
* The Free Press (Kinston, NC)
* Gazette.com (Colorado Springs)
I wonder if Allen uses this same clipping service when he needs inspiration?
Additional info here.