how exactly are we to know about back room deals in progress? We must do what we can based on what we know, not what we hope they work out in secrecy. democracies can't function that way for long. YOU wouldn't know. But the organization in question was made aware of the deal  and continued to push so they could get press coverage and donations . All they had to do was not raise the rally cry, but they saw  money  in it.    This is politics and lobbying - openness and transparency only work so far. It's the reality we live in.