Groundswell

1.  Groundswell:  A sudden gathering of force, as of public opinion:  e.g. a groundswell of antiwar sentiment.

2. Groundswell:  A shadowy gang of rightwing zealots working behind the scenes to generate talking points and organize smear campaigns against Democrats and moderate Republicans.

Clever name — sort of like all those orchestrated choreographed “demonstrations” against health care reform a few years ago.  Manufactured outrage is one of Groundswell’s specialties.  If you’re enjoying the mass hysteria over Benghazi — and the tinfoil hat conspiracy theories about a huge cover-up — you can thank Groundswell.

How far to the right is Groundswell?  They’re soooo far to the right, Karl Rove is one of the “moderates” they’re targeting.  [gulp]  Also, one of their members is Frank Gaffney, whose biggest claim to fame is accusing Grover Norquist of being a Muslim terrorist.

Like they say, everything’s relative.

Groundswell’s membership is a Who’s Who of the Teahad movement.  In addition to Frank Gaffney, members include:

Ginni Thomas (Clarence’s wife); John Bolton; high-ranking members of the Family Research Council, True The Vote and Judicial Watch; and a few journalists (using the term loosely) from Deadbart and the Washington Examiner.

Their goals — according to documents obtained by Mother Jones — include “a 30 front war seeking to fundamentally transform the nation.”

Just what we need, another Tea Klux Klan rally.