David Axelrod

White House senior adviser David Axelrod – who has dismissed the April 15 tea parties as "astroturf" rather than grass-roots events – stands to profit $3 million over the next five years from selling his interest in ASK Public Strategies, a Chicago public relations firm he created that many credit with having invented "astroturfing."

The term "astroturfing" refers to a practice in which a public relations firm or a corporation artificially creates an impression of grass-roots support for a cause or concern.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele charged Axelrod reflected the "arrogance of power" when he alleged last week's tea parties were "unhealthy," according to Politico.com

The Chicago Sun Times reported Axelrod took a $3 million buy-out spread over five years for his shares in ASK Public Strategies.

Last year, the major client of ASK Public Strategies was Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

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The Sun Times reported that last year, Axelrod earned $1.5 million for his work on the Obama campaign.

Included in the sum was the $896,776 Axelrod earned as salary from AKP&D Message and Media, his original public relations firm, and another $500,000 from the firm for his partner's share.

ASK Public Strategies operates out of the same offices as AKP&D Message and Media, which Axelrod created in 1985.

According to a profile piece in Business Week entitled "The Secret Side of David Axelrod," AKP&D Message & Media established a reputation for running public issue ads secretly paid for by corporations.

Business Week cited as an example a television commercial Axelrod's firm created for Commonwealth Edison, the largest electric utility in Illinois.

The television spot, presented as a public service advertisement, warned of a ComEd bankruptcy and blackouts unless a rate hike was approved.

The commercial was sponsored by CORE, which described itself as "a coalition of individuals, businesses and organizations."

After a complaint was filed with state regulators, ComEd was forced to admit it had bankrolled the entire $15 million astroturfing effort.

ASK Public Strategies helped Cablevision, the owner of Madison Square Garden, to create a front group to oppose the New York Jets in their plans to build a new stadium in Manhattan.

ASK worked with Cablevision to form the "New York Association for Better Choices," to run anti-stadium television advertisements without mentioning Cablevision's name or financial support.

According to Business Week, ASK was paid $1.2 million by Cablevision from 2004 to 2005 to create the bogus public service front.

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