DENVER — In a damning exposé, the New York Times revealed today that the Western Energy Alliance played host to political strategist Richard Berman at its annual meeting last summer. According to the Times, Mr. Berman instructed WEA members that they:
“…must be willing to exploit emotions like fear, greed and anger and turn it against the environmental groups.”
Mr. Berman is famous for his aggressive corporate public relations and communications efforts. Perhaps most chillingly, Berman bragged in the speech that he has actively worked with the alcohol industry to undermine Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
In response to this news, the Center for Western Priorities’ Jessica Goad said:
“This partnership shows just how far some members of the oil and gas industry are willing to stoop to fight even the most reasonable protections for our Western way of life. While WEA is looking to a spin doctor who advises that ‘you can either win ugly or lose pretty,’ it should instead be looking to collaborate with Westerners and find ways to balance energy development with healthy, safe communities.”
This is not the first time that WEA has used unsavory tactics and rhetoric. This past summer, Tim Wigley, president of WEA, said that Colorado citizens collecting signatures on oil and gas ballot measures were “long-haired, maggot-infested hippie freaks.”
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