The Issue
The Issue
Background
Questions
1Aristotle International v. NGP Software, CA 05-1700 DC District Court
The Issue
According to Nathaniel Pearlman, NGP’s Chairman, “Partisanship can affect the trust of sensitive clients and help build relationships.” After all, this is politics. But, we believe that political consultants who claim partisan purity and then violate this trust for personal gain are wrong. For years, NGP has aggressively marketed itself as a completely partisan Democratic firm with claims like: “People use NGP: Because they trust us — we are PARTISAN and work only for Democrats and their allies.” (www.ngpsoftware.com/toomuchred) We believe this to be untrue and have filed a lawsuit against NGP Software in the United States District Court, asserting false and misleading advertising practices. We have alleged that NGP has been selling its software through another company to political organizations that provide significant support to Republicans and GOP interests. Aristotle is not seeking compensatory or punitive damages from the lawsuit. We are asking the court for a ruling that prevents NGP from advertising itself as serving “only Democrats and their allies” and requires NGP to issue corrective statements sufficient to clarify its allegedly deceptive claims. You have a right to know how this matter may have impacted you, your supporters and fellow Democrats. If you relied on NGP’s claims of serving only Democratic Party interests and our allegations are true, contact NGP to discuss whether a refund or discount is appropriate. Learn the facts. Back To TopBackground
Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.? FDR Does this quote apply? Ask NGP NGP has marketed itself as a firm devoted exclusively to Democratic Party interests. NGP’s claims of Democratic purity through the years include:- “NGP works solely with Democrats and their allies” [NGP website]
- “NGP Software, Inc. is a political technology consulting firm serving only Democrats and their allies” [NGP website]
- “Why do people use NGP? Because they TRUST us? we are PARTISAN and work only for Democrats and their allies.” [NGP website]
- “In 1997, Nathaniel Pearlman founded NGP, with a mission to help only Democrats.” [Wall Street Journal article, posted on NGP website]
- “And we like the fact that they work only for Democrats” [Testimonial, NGP website]
- “EXHORTATION: Help right side of the force. It would be easy to sell to the other side, or form a shadow company to do so, but we have worked only for Democrats are their allies. That feels good. And I think we have made some difference.” [NGP Chairman Nathaniel Pearlman's web blog]
- “NGP seeks to be the responsible, dedicated partners of our clients and our common goal: Victorious Democrats.” [NGP website]
- “Serious Software for Serious Democrats” [NGP marketing document]
- “A rare example of a partisan firm in a technical niche” [NGP website]
- “We make it very clear we only work with one party.” [Wall Street Journal article, posted on NGP website]
- “NGP Software seeks to passionately deliver political technology and support to Democrats and our allies” [NGP website]
- “NGP Software, Inc. is a Democratic political technology firm that has been working hard for our side since before Democrats were blue” [Internet advertisement]
- “NGP Software, Inc. seeks to make the electoral map more blue” [NGP website]
Questions
How does NGP define “Democrats and their allies” as used frequently on its website? Did NGP sell its software through another company to political organizations who provide significant support to Republicans and GOP interests? These should not be difficult questions to answer. In fact, NGP President, Nathaniel Pearlman, once wrote, “It would be easy to sell to the other side, or form a shadow company to do so, but we have worked only for Democrats and their allies. That feels good.” Really? Consider the following allegations1:- Political organizations more friendly to “the right” than to “the left” have used NGP-made software to advance the GOP interests.
- These organizations are using NGP-made software to directly defeat Democrats and raise millions for Republicans.
- In the 2006 election cycle, several GOP candidates who defeated Democrats by less than 1,000 votes received last minute contributions from PACs using NGP software.