Astroturf-roots Sway Edward Jones

Labor and AARP organizers created a phoney grassroots effort, busing some orchestrated protestors to picket outside the office of brokerage house Edward Jones, a public supporter of the President's Social Security reform.

Reports the LATimes:

Edward Jones, based in St. Louis, made its decision [to drop its public support of Social Security reform] after it was subjected to picketing and online protests by labor unions and seniors groups, which have now begun targeting other companies belonging to the [pro-reform group] Alliance for Worker Retirement Security.

Pfiser has also pulled out of the Alliance, no doubt due to AARP pressure -- AARP members fill a lot of prescriptions.

But this is astroturf-roots, not grassroots. These companies, and other Association members, have put a lot of money into Social Security reform because they know the system needs reform. They shouldn't pull out when the protest bus shows up. They should state their position clearly and see if the unions can sustain the push. This would let the companies bye time until specific legislation moves forward -- when taking and supporting a position will become easier.