…Verizon Wireless. That’s right, and Bridgestone Offroad, not to mention several dozen other businesses and corporations from the oil and construction industries to mining and trucking services. Of course, with live musical performances by the likes of Hank Williams, Jr. and Ted Nugent, dissent today isn’t what it used to be. Like a Nascar driver, today’s conservative dissenter is sponsored by any number of multinational corporations.

I’m writing, of course, about the Friends of America rally held this past Labor Day weekend in Holden, West Virginia. The purpose of the rally? Hard to tell from the Friends’ website which marketed the event more like a concert and karoke contest than a political event or rally. (But maybe that’s the point.) There was, however, one link to sign a petition against the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill which among other things calls for a 17% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Other than that – and an announcement that Fox News’ own Sean Hannity would be making an appearance – any hint of politics is absent from the holiday event. But should there ever be any question about how the public feels about Waxman-Markey, event organizers can always claim that 75 thousand ‘activists’ gave up their labor day weekend to ‘rally’ against the Bill which has passed the House and is now headed for the Senate.

Welcome to dissent, conservative style. With the inauguration of President Obama still visibile in our historical rearview mirror, the news media are filled with headlines about grassroots activists speaking out against this-or-that policy initiated under the Democratically controlled Washington. In April 2009, the Associated Press (4/15/09) ran a story about “tens of thousands of protesters” appearing at so-called tea tax parties across the country in opposition to Obama’s stimulus package. On tax day, Fox News reported that the tea parties, “are part of a larger grassroots movement against government spending.” And conservative blogger and Fox News analyst Michelle Malkin described the parties as “massive.” But while the AP piece acknowledged that some of the tea parties were organized by Freedomworks (an advocacy group led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who is now a lobbyist), neither Fox News nor Malkin mentioned that Fox News itself was promoting (if not organizing) the events, then covering them live, gaining credit for the news scoop.

To be sure, the Left has had its share of musical performers at anti-war demonstrations, Hollywood celebrities at animal rights galas, and community radio personalities broadcast live at environmental rallies. We have all heard the Right denounce the Sean Penn’s, the Susan Sarandons and the Joan Baez’s of the progressive movement. But when has a telecommuications giant, a tire manufacturer or – gasp – big oil ever lent a hand to support liberal causes? Simply put: they haven’t.

There is something disingenuous about corporate-sponsored events being touted as “grassroots” or even indicative of public opinion. There is something outright dishonest about news outlets sponsoring political rallies, then reporting them as news. Sadly, the line distinguishing news from advertising is now blurred almost beyond recognition. Good thing I’ve got this Dell Computer to help me voice my dissent. Dell offers a large selection of configurable and upgradable desktop PCs and laptop PCs to suit your needs from a new PC user with basic internet surfing and email needs to a hardcore gamer that demands the latest technology. Check them out online.