May 20, 2013
In the News: Richard Berman and his Misnamed Nonprofits
Berman is a well-known lobbyist for tobacco, alcohol, and agribusiness interests
The HSUS is only the latest in a series of organizations that Richard Berman, a well-known lobbyist for the food and restaurant industry, has targeted in an aggressive public relations campaign. Berman and his organization "The Center for Consumer Freedom" tend to go after consumer protection groups: the list includes Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and more. Over the years, Berman has fought against restricting drinking and driving, mandating healthier foods and raising the minimum wage.
We encourage our readers to learn more about CCF and the man many call a "hired gun" for corporate interests in the growing public debate about food. What follows below is a sample of media coverage about CCF and Berman.
“This mess of Berman and his empire of non-profits has gone on for too long,” Francis Hill, a professor of law at the University of Miami law school, told Bloomberg News, saying it “seems like an appalling abuse of tax-exempt status.”
Videos
"Meet Dr. Evil" CBS's "60 Minutes" segment on Richard Berman (April 2007)
"CRL and Unusual" The Rachel Maddow Show (April 2010)
"Meet Rick Berman" The Rachel Maddow Show (Sept. 2009)
"Confronting Rick Berman" The Rachel Maddow Show (Oct. 2009)
"Rick Berman, King of astroturf": The Rachel Maddow Show (Oct. 2009)
Articles and Editorials
"Washington’s robust market for attacks, half-truths" The Boston Globe» (May 2013)
"Donor Advisory Issued on Berman 'Charities'" Nonprofit Quarterly» (April 2013)
"Report: Outgoing Daily Caller editor was a poor imposter" The Washington Post (March 2013)
"Union Busting by Profiting From Non-Profit May Breach IRS" : Bloomberg News» (November 2012)
"Front Group King Rick Berman Gets Blasted by his Son, David Berman" PRWatch» (January 2009)
"Is your source secretely a lobbyist?" Nieman Report» (July 2012)
"PETA and Humane Society attacked by reports - but are they real?" Washington Post»(February 2012)
"Beware: New Animal Charity Is a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing" Ecorazzi» (December 2011)
"Behind the curtain of an industry-created front group attacking MADD" St. Louis Post-Dispatch» (September 2011)
"Sloan: Shining Some Light on Berman's Ulterior Motives" Roll Call» (August 2011)
"Hounding the Humane Society of the U.S." Los Angeles Times» (June 2011)
"Ad campaign targets D.C. teachers union" Washington Examiner» (August 2010)
"Nonprofit Advocate Carves Out Unusual For-Profit Niche" New York Times» (June 2010)
"Humane Society Fighting a Smear" Minneapolis Star-Tribune» (June 2010)
"Rick Berman's For-Profit Non-Profits Under the Microscope" PR Watch.org» (June 2010)
"The Latest on Rick Berman, Attack Dog Extraordinaire" PR Watch.org» (June 2010)
"Complaint Spotlights 'Dr. Evil' Campaign Against Drunk-Driving Protections" Talking Points Memo blog» (May 2010)
"Rick Berman Group Under Fire" National Journal's Under the Influence» (May 2010)
"NonProfit Group Attacks Humane Society Over Spending of Donations" The Chronicle of Philanthropy» (March 2010)
"Corporate Front Man: Richard Berman manages the news on key labor-backed bill" Harper's Magazine» (May 2009)
"Name of organizations can be deceiving" San Francisco Chronicle» (July 2008)
"Would You Like Mercury With Your Sushi?" Newsweek» (January 2008)
"Got a nasty fight? Here's your man" USA Today» (July 2006)
"TV ad targeting unions raises profile of campaign against labor leaders" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette» (June 2006)
"Striking Back at the Food Police" New York Times» (June 2005)
"What's In a Name?" USA Today» (May 4, 2005)
"Obesity Hype?": The Washington Post» (May 2, 2005)
"The Escalating Obesity Wars: Nonprofit's Tactics, Funding Sources Spark Controversy": The Washington Post» (April 2005)
Other Sources
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW): Berman Exposed
Center for Media and Democracy on Richard Berman and CCF
