Landrieu Phone Bugging Case: What Is The Pelican Institute?

[IndianaGreen]

Landrieu Phone Bugging Case: What Is The Pelican Institute?

Justin Elliott | January 26, 2010, 6:48PM

There's a lot we still don't know about the four men implicated in the alleged attempt to bug Sen. Mary Landrieu's phones yesterday, but a little-known organization called the Pelican Institute appears to be key to the story.

Located at 400 Poydras St. in downtown New Orleans -- half a block from Landrieu's office at 500 Poydras St. -- Pelican describes itself as a state policy think tank dedicated to advancing "sound policies based on the principles of free enterprise, individual liberty, and limited government."

James O'Keefe, the conservative filmmaker behind the ACORN stings who has been charged in the Landrieu case, was scheduled to give a talk at Pelican last Thursday on "Exposing Truth: Undercover Video, New Media and Creativity." Tickets were $35; the setting was the posh Plimsoll Club at the World Trade Center. An ad for the luncheon promised attendees insights into O'Keefe's special strain of new media genius:

"James' videos of ACORN employees providing advice on how to break the law created a sensation. Shortly after the videos were released Congress voted to defund ACORN. James has been a pioneer in the use of new media to drive these kinds of important stories. He will discuss the role of new media and provide examples of effective undercover video."

Another of the charged men, Robert Flanagan, works for Pelican, his attorney told the Times-Picayune. Flanagan allegedly dressed up a telephone repairman to infiltrate Landrieu's office.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/landrieu_phone_bugging_case_what_is_the_pelican_in.php?ref=fpa

[Xipe Totec]

1. ACORN stings? Call them what they are; MFUs

Major Fuck Ups. All he got from the alleged sting was a big steaming pile of nothing.

[ellenfl]

2. is that the same organization as in grisham's pelican brief? eom

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Apparently the Borat shtick was played out, so "new media" is now

just old fashioned illegal wire taps. People would pay $35 for this shit??

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Yeah, video cameras are the Next Big Thing.

Real innovation in play here. :eyes:

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Allen Funt, Borat, & this idiot. New media my ass.

[noel711]

6. You know... Pelicans...

Pompous bird-brains with big mouths
who flop around, shit all over the place
and don't know squat.
(a conservative, tea-bagging 'think' tank...)

Any other questions?