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Ellie Light: Obama Astroturfer? Or Very Energetic Letter Writer With Houses All Over the Nation?
Pattericos Pontifications ^ | 1-23-10

Posted on 01/23/2010 11:15:09 AM PST by My Favorite Headache

1/23/2010 Ellie Light: Obama Astroturfer? Or Very, Very, Very Energetic But Independent Letter Writer? With Houses All Over the Nation? Filed under: General — Patterico @ 1:52 am

A woman has written the same letter defending Obama to dozens of publications across the country, getting them published in at least 42 newspapers in 18 states, as well as Politico.com, the Washington Times, and USA Today. And the woman, Ellie Light, has claimed residence in many of these states.

Think there might be some phony Astroturfing there?

At the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sabrina Eaton makes a nice catch:

Ellie Light sure gets around.

In recent weeks, Light has published virtually identical “Letters to the Editor” in support of President Barack Obama in more than a dozen newspapers.Every letter claimed a different residence for Light that happened to be in the newspaper’s circulation area.

“It’s time for Americans to realize that governing is hard work, and that a president can’t just wave a magic wand and fix everything,” said a letter from alleged Philadelphian Ellie Light, that was published in the Jan. 19 edition of The Philadelphia Daily News.

A letter from Light in the Jan. 20 edition of the San Francisco Examiner concluded with an identical sentence, but with an address for Light all the way across the country in Daly City, California.

Variations of Light’s letter ran in Ohio’s Mansfield News Journal on Jan. 13, with Light claiming an address in Mansfield; in New Mexico’s Ruidoso News on Jan. 12, claiming an address in Three Rivers; in South Carolina’s The Sun News on Jan. 18, claiming an address in Myrtle Beach; and in the Daily News Leader of Staunton, Virginia on Jan. 15, claiming an address in Waynesboro. Her publications list includes other papers in Ohio, West Virginia, Maine, Michigan, Iowa, Pennsylvania and California, all claiming separate addresses.

She has more houses than John McCain!

But there are a few more places her little pro-Obama missive appeared, besides those documented.

Like Ben Smith at Politico.

And the Washington Times.

And a blog at USA Today.

And the Sheboygan Press in Wisconsin. And the Stevens Point Journal in Wisconsin — listing an address of Algoma, Wisconsin.

And in addition to the Californian.com link provided in the Plain Dealer story, listing an address in Salinas, CA, there are other California letters with other California addresses.

The letter appears in the Gilroy Dispatch and Morgan Hill Times, both listing an address of San Felipe, CA.

And in Good Times, listing an address in Santa Cruz, CA.

And in TheUnion.com, listing an address of Grass Valley, CA.

And Connecticut’s stamfordadvocate.com.

A letter was sent to a columnist at the local Daily Breeze here in the South Bay area of Los Angeles.

On an unrelated note, recall that recently, Glenn Greenwald flagged the fact that Obama’s pal (and head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs) Cass Sunstein recently wrote this paper suggesting something sounding a lot like Astroturfing:

Sunstein advocates that the Government’s stealth infiltration should be accomplished by sending covert agents into “chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups.” He also proposes that the Government make secret payments to so-called “independent” credible voices to bolster the Government’s messaging (on the ground that those who don’t believe government sources will be more inclined to listen to those who appear independent while secretly acting on behalf of the Government).

Who is Ellie Light?

I would like to know.

Wouldn’t you?

P.S. If you find other examples, please leave them in comments with a link. Many more updates in the extended entry.

UPDATE: Add the following:

California: The Los Banos Enterprise, listing an address of Gustine, CA.

Maine: In addition to the Maine link above, there is another appearance of the letter in Maine: in the Bangor Daily News, in which Light lists an address of Bangor, Maine.

Maryland: The Baltimore Chronicle.

Massachusetts: The North Adams Transcript, listing an address of Williamstown.

List your additions below.

UPDATE x2: Add these as well:

Connecticut: Another Connecticut paper, in addition to the Stamford listing: the Danbury News-Times. And here’s another: the Greenwich Time a/k/a Ctpost.com. (Address listed is Greenwich.)

Georgia: Gainesville Times. (Her address is listed as Gainesville.)

Massachusetts: In addition to the above, there is The Berkshire Eagle.

New Hampshire: It appeared in the Seacoastonline, which appears to be an online version of several New England papers including the Portsmouth Herald, Exeter News Letter, and others. Light’s address was listed as Portsmouth, NH.

Vermont: Bennington Banner.

Wisconsin: In addition to the above, there is the Oshkosh Northwestern (address listed is Oshkosh).

So far I count 35 publications in 16 states as well as the District of Columbia. Light managed to get herself published in media outlets in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

UPDATE x3: redc1c4 adds Spectrum.com in Utah, where Light claims to be from Washington City. That’s 36 publications in 17 states plus D.C.

UPDATE x4: DRJ adds 5 more publications in comments:

Here are a few more:

HudsonHubTimes.com, in which Ellie listed Streetsboro OH as her hometown.

[Duplicate already mentioned in the Plain Dealer article eliminated.]

The Willits News, with Willits CA as the hometown.

CDAPress.com of Coeur d’Alene ID, with Ellie listing a hometown of Post Falls.

From Ohio, the Chillicothe Gazette, with Chillicothe OH as the hometown.

And my current favorite so far, The Bangkok Post — the “World’s Window to Thailand.” No hometown provided.

Idaho is thus included as a new state, bringing the running total to 41 publications in 18 states plus D.C.

UPDATE x4: redc1c4 adds an Annapolis, Maryland publication. Light lists her city of residence as Annapolis. That’s 42 publications in 18 states plus D.C.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: astroturf; ellielight; obama
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To: My Favorite Headache
"...is currently affiliated with the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government..."

Gee, My Favorite Headache, you could have taken that one line, then you wouldn't have needed everything that follows...:)

41 posted on 01/23/2010 11:58:10 AM PST by rlmorel (We are traveling "The Road to Serfdom".)
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To: My Favorite Headache
"Ellie Light"

Was she on the White House visitors list?

42 posted on 01/23/2010 11:59:13 AM PST by Spunky (You are free to make choices, but not free from the consequences)
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To: comps4spice

I agree - seems to be quite a feat to get published in all of those papers. I wonder how many letters to the editor those newspapers get every day. Seems the odds would be against yours getting picked for publication in all of those places. I smell a rat - well we all know that the MSM is in bed with this administration - should be no surprise really.


43 posted on 01/23/2010 11:59:31 AM PST by Guardian Sebastian
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To: TheLurkerX

I thought Ellie was a Lightworker.


44 posted on 01/23/2010 12:01:18 PM PST by sportutegrl (I was for Sarah Palin before being for Sarah was cool.)
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To: MortMan

You know, I laughed at that...I don’t know what that says about me, but I did!


45 posted on 01/23/2010 12:01:35 PM PST by LostInBayport (2010 - The Second American Revolution. The first shot was fired 1/19/2010 -- in Massachusetts!)
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To: LostInBayport

I’m wondering how many people will get it...

Besides, I couldn’t figure out a way to make her into a compact fluorescent... ;-P


46 posted on 01/23/2010 12:04:23 PM PST by MortMan (Stubbing one's toes is a valid (if painful) way of locating furniture in the dark.)
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To: kcvl
“It’s time for Americans to realize that governing is hard work and that a president can’t just wave a magic wand and fix everything.”

What's wrong with liberals and the left is very evident in this ridiculous statement. I don't want to be ‘governed”. I want elected officials (and that is all the president or any of the rest of them are), to stay out of the way of American freedom. Do your jobs as public servants, then get out of office and do something useful in the private sector. You're not special, uniquely bright, or prescient. We don't need you to ‘fix everything’, nor do we think you are even remotely capable of ‘fixing everything’. We do, however, recognize that in the current state of inflated government power and intrusion you could mess things up fairly badly. You've proved that to us.

47 posted on 01/23/2010 12:04:53 PM PST by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: pieceofthepuzzle

Have you read Victor David Hanson’s article about
the “philosopher kings”? He describes the Obama
administration to a T.


48 posted on 01/23/2010 12:06:27 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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Eleanor F Light (212) 682-7631 244 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016

www.newyorkpsychiatry.com

(212) 682-7631


49 posted on 01/23/2010 12:07:43 PM PST by kcvl
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To: My Favorite Headache

Light, Eleanor Bird, 1947-; student, newspaper copy editor. Mount Holyoke College graduate, 1969. Papers consist of correspondence, a scrapbook, and a photograph primarily documenting her junior year abroad at the Women’s Christian College in Madras, India.

Eleanor Bird Light Papers, 1967-1969

While abroad in India, Light wrote to her parents at least once a week. Her letters describe the extreme poverty she encountered in India as well as the intense heat that was immediately apparent upon her arrival in Bombay. Other topics discussed include the W.C.C. curriculum, Indian food, her stay in an Indian hospital because of a gastro-intestinal illness, and her African-American friend, Jackie, whom Light felt had a particularly difficult time being accepted by the Indian students.

Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
8 Dwight Hall
50 College St.
South Hadley, MA 01075


50 posted on 01/23/2010 12:10:04 PM PST by kcvl
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To: Guardian Sebastian

Anytime I am published for a letter to the editor they call me directly...sometimes TWICE.


51 posted on 01/23/2010 12:12:30 PM PST by My Favorite Headache
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To: MissTickly

Maybe it is perky Katie? If not I know she will spare no resources to get to the bottom of this!


52 posted on 01/23/2010 12:13:06 PM PST by italianquaker (My bartender knew about the attempted Christmas attack before odumbo)
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To: tet68

No, but I will look for it. It’s sounds like a great read.


53 posted on 01/23/2010 12:13:18 PM PST by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: My Favorite Headache; All
Obama has suspicious number of letter-writing fans named 'Ellie Light'

54 posted on 01/23/2010 12:13:30 PM PST by backhoe (All Across America, the Lights are being relit again...)
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To: My Favorite Headache
On April 24, 2009, Sunstein and Power welcomed their first child, Declan Power-Sunstein

Oh come on. Really??? You really hyphenated your kid???

55 posted on 01/23/2010 12:23:07 PM PST by Dr.Deth
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To: My Favorite Headache

OMG.....LOOK! :http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=261752540668

LMAO!


56 posted on 01/23/2010 12:23:58 PM PST by RushIsMyTeddyBear (I don't have a 'Cousin Pookie'.)
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To: Dr.Deth

Libtards hyphenate everything. Did his wife even take on his name?


57 posted on 01/23/2010 12:25:40 PM PST by RushIsMyTeddyBear (I don't have a 'Cousin Pookie'.)
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To: Dr.Deth

LMAO


58 posted on 01/23/2010 12:36:31 PM PST by My Favorite Headache
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To: My Favorite Headache
Ms. Ellie Light, alias Ellie Jeanne Light has been busy all over Wisconsin. Letters titled, Obama said fixes wouldn’t happen overnight, No magic wand in hand, President just can’t wave a magic wand appeared in The Stevens Point Journal, The Sheboygan Press, The Oshkosh Northwestern, The Green Bay Press Gazette and the Manitowoc Herald Times. I stopped checking because all these papers are owned by Gannett. The writer listed hometowns as, Oshkosh WI, Algoma WI, Howards Grove WI. Some papers ran as many as three of these letters in one week, 1/13, 1/17, 1/21 (Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter) Seems to be a sophisticated operation. Would be interesting to find out if it is centralized or done through individuals in each state who belong to a national group.
59 posted on 01/23/2010 12:59:28 PM PST by FromTheBunker
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To: My Favorite Headache

All that biography inclines me to think Samantha Power is a little too hi-powered to be sending off multiple posts to podunk (among other) newspapers. Look for some carried-away Democrat of no particular importance, instead.


60 posted on 01/23/2010 1:08:38 PM PST by Grut
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