Rick Berman Exposé Tries to One Up Rachel Maddow Interview

In an article reprinted by AlterNet with the permission of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), journalist and freelance writer Ian Shearn provides an in-depth look at public relations guru/lobbyist Rick Berman. Shearn contends that Berman is making a fortune taking money from large corporations to attack the charities that criticize big business and to otherwise lobby against laws that regulate business, such as those preventing animal cruelty in animal husbandry. Because Berman operates as a public charity, he is not required to disclose who funds his multimillion dollar campaigns, as MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow learned when she interviewed him earlier this year and he refused to reveal his funding sources.

Shearn discusses the various entities Berman has established, including the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) “to educate the public on food and beverage issues,” and the American Beverage Institute “to fight government regulation of alcohol consumption,” as well as the new CCF-funded website Humane Watch that “consists essentially of daily blog entries taking aim at various HSUS official and functions.” Shearn notes that some of Berman’s Humane Watch efforts have borne fruit as several corporate funders recently withdrew their HSUS contributions over concerns that little of the organization’s budget goes to support animal shelters.

According to Shearn, HSUS and Mothers Against Drunk Driving have filed a joint complaint against Berman, alleging to the New York State Commission on Public Integrity that his American Beverage Institute failed to register and report 2008- 2009 lobbying activity undertaken “to influence pending legislation related to ignition interlock devices.” The institute purportedly spent $70,000 on ads in New York newspapers opposing the measure, which was ultimately enacted. Shearn concludes by quoting several Berman critics who “tip their hat to his business and political acumen.” Among the critics is Center for Science in the Public Interest Director Michael Jacobson, who was quoted as saying, “I don’t think Berman is very effective. He temporarily muddies the water a little, but basically he’s just someone on the sidelines throwing raspberries.”