as grass roots as american idol

Maybe you have heard about the tea parties planned for tomorrow. Promoted as a grass-roots uprising (oxymoron anyone?) it appears they are the brainchild of two DC lobbying groups run by conservative heavyweights Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey, oh and FOX News. How are rallies planned and promoted by a huge TV network and DC lobbying groups, with pre-coverage more ubiquitous than octo-mom possibly considered grass-roots? I guess if the teevee says it enough it must be so.