Friday, April 30, 2010

Thank you Senator Reid!

Dear MoveOn member,

This week something really important happened—but you may not have even heard about it.

For weeks Republicans have been blocking Wall Street reform.

But this week, Senate Democrats led by Harry Reid stood up to them in a big way. He made their opposition visible. He forced Republicans to vote again and again to block reform, exposing the fact that they were siding with the banks. He was even ready to keep them in session all night long. And he won!1

It would have been easy to give in, cut a deal and weaken reform, and many of us have been frustrated when that's happened in the past. But this time, Senate Majority Leader Reid and the Democrats did the right thing.

When our leaders do the right thing and show us the kind of fight voters are looking for, it's important to let them know we noticed. Can you sign this "Thank You" card to Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats? We'll deliver it to them next week.

http://pol.moveon.org/thanksreiddems/?id=20102-10220574-gbSv8Cx&t=1

card

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Daniel, Ilyse, Adam, Wes, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "GOP Lifts Block of Financial Reform Debate," CBS News, April 28, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88126&id=20102-10220574-gbSv8Cx&t=3

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 30, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Right now: March on Wall Street

Dear MoveOn member,

Exciting news! Literally at this moment, thousands of people are marching on Wall Street to deliver a clear message to the big banks and the politicians who protect them: We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore.

This is a particularly critical moment because in Washington, the Senate is debating the big Wall Street reform bill. Every senator is deciding how far to go in reining in the big banks who tanked our economy.

If you're reading this, you're probably not marching right now. :-)  But you can still join our virtual "march"—right from your desk—and make your voice heard.

Click below to check out live reports from the scene and to join the virtual march:

http://www.moveon.org/bankshowdown/?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=1346&id=20081-10220574-ngABwHx&t=1

At the virtual march, you can:

  • Check out live video and a live blog from the march site.
  • Make sure the march's message reaches Washington by letting your senators know we need strong Wall Street reform.  
  • Talk to other virtual marchers, let them know why you're marching, and interact with folks at the march.
Check out the scene on Wall Street and add your voice here:

http://www.moveon.org/bankshowdown/?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=1346&id=20081-10220574-ngABwHx&t=2

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Steven, Jodeen, Ilyse, Nita, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 29, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Re: Come to the Community Forum in Brooklyn

Dear MoveOn member,

Did you encounter an error earlier today when you tried to sign up for the Community Forum in Brooklyn? If so, we wanted to let you know that the problem is now fixed.

Local folks have been working hard on this event, and it's going to be a powerful experience. They'd love to see you there! Please sign up now:

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=103092&id=20061-10220574-OT25Nwx&t=1

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven  

P.S. Here's the full email from earlier today.


MoveOn members are meeting up at a community forum in Brooklyn on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at 7:00 PM to talk about how our democracy is being overrun by lobbyists and big corporations—and what we can do about it. Can you join in?


RSVP for the Forum

Dear MoveOn member,

Had enough of Wall Street CEOs getting big bonuses and calling the shots in Washington? It's time to stop just yelling at our TVs. It's time to get together and take our democracy back for the 98% of us who don't have big lobbyists representing us in Washington.

Local residents concerned about corporate influence in our democracy are meeting up at a community forum on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at 7:00 PM, and you're invited.

We'll discuss how the problem of corporate influence in Washington is hurting people here in Brooklyn and what we as regular folks can do about it.

This meeting is one of hundreds happening around the country to launch a massive movement to make Washington work for everyday Americans, not corporations. Can you make it? Here are the details:

What: Community Forum to end corporate influence in our democracy
Where: Magnolia Tree Earth Center BedSty Brooklyn (in Brooklyn)
When: Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at 7:00 PM

Here's the link to RSVP:

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=103092&id=20061-10220574-OT25Nwx&t=4

Corporations and their big money lobbyists have hijacked Washington, and local communities like Brooklyn are paying the price.

For instance:

  • Over a year ago, the big banks were handed nearly a trillion dollars in bailout money, and yet Congress still hasn't passed the basic reforms needed to stop the kind of Wall Street fraud and corruption that caused the financial crisis.

  • We passed health care reform, but the insurance industry negotiated a great deal for itself and killed some of the most important provisions, including the public option.

  • Last week, we learned that giant companies like ExxonMobil and General Electric paid virtually zero dollars in income taxes. As a result, working people are getting stuck with an even bigger tax burden, with larger debts passed on to our kids.

How could this happen? Because our system of democracy allows big corporations to leverage their enormous resources to buy elections and write policy.

It doesn't have to be this way. There are solutions. But we won't get the fundamental changes we need unless we fight back for our democracy. These meetings are the beginning of a national movement to stop the corporate domination of Washington and make democracy work for the rest of us.

Especially with our economy still hurting and so many problems still unsolved, we simply can't stand by and let the big corporations and their lobbyists continue to dominate Washington.

But if we're going to really solve this problem this fight, we need everyone who's concerned about the future of our democracy to come out and get involved. Click here to sign up for the Brooklyn Community Forum:

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=103092&id=20061-10220574-OT25Nwx&t=5

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Matthew, Annie, Ilya, and the rest of the team


Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 28, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday in Brooklyn

MoveOn members are meeting up at a community forum in Brooklyn on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at 7:00 PM to talk about how our democracy is being overrun by lobbyists and big corporations—and what we can do about it. Can you join in?


RSVP for the Forum

Dear MoveOn member,

Had enough of Wall Street CEOs getting big bonuses and calling the shots in Washington? It's time to stop just yelling at our TVs. It's time to get together and take our democracy back for the 98% of us who don't have big lobbyists representing us in Washington.

Local residents concerned about corporate influence in our democracy are meeting up at a community forum on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at 7:00 PM, and you're invited.

We'll discuss how the problem of corporate influence in Washington is hurting people here in Brooklyn and what we as regular folks can do about it.

This meeting is one of hundreds happening around the country to launch a massive movement to make Washington work for everyday Americans, not corporations. Can you make it? Here are the details:

What: Community Forum to end corporate influence in our democracy
Where: Magnolia Tree Earth Center BedSty Brooklyn (in Brooklyn)
When: Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at 7:00 PM

Here's the link to RSVP:

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=103092&id=20054-10220574-95ch.yx&t=3

Corporations and their big money lobbyists have hijacked Washington, and local communities like Brooklyn are paying the price.

For instance:

  • Over a year ago, the big banks were handed nearly a trillion dollars in bailout money, and yet Congress still hasn't passed the basic reforms needed to stop the kind of Wall Street fraud and corruption that caused the financial crisis.

  • We passed health care reform, but the insurance industry negotiated a great deal for itself and killed some of the most important provisions, including the public option.

  • Last week, we learned that giant companies like ExxonMobil and General Electric paid virtually zero dollars in income taxes. As a result, working people are getting stuck with an even bigger tax burden, with larger debts passed on to our kids.

How could this happen? Because our system of democracy allows big corporations to leverage their enormous resources to buy elections and write policy.

It doesn't have to be this way. There are solutions. But we won't get the fundamental changes we need unless we fight back for our democracy. These meetings are the beginning of a national movement to stop the corporate domination of Washington and make democracy work for the rest of us.

Especially with our economy still hurting and so many problems still unsolved, we simply can't stand by and let the big corporations and their lobbyists continue to dominate Washington.

But if we're going to really solve this problem this fight, we need everyone who's concerned about the future of our democracy to come out and get involved. Click here to sign up for the Brooklyn Community Forum:

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=103092&id=20054-10220574-95ch.yx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Matthew, Annie, Ilya, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 28, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Correction: Facebook violating privacy


Dear MoveOn Member,

In an email we sent you earlier today about changes to Facebook's privacy policy, we wrote that the new program will share your personal information with "partners who pay them [Facebook] money."

This is incorrect. The initial partners are not paying for participation in this new program. (See the original email below, now corrected.) We apologize for this error, and have updated the text on our Facebook group and petition to reflect the correction.  

We hope you will still join with other Facebook users to speak out against these privacy violations. The changes Facebook recently announced will make more of your information public—including information that you may have previously set to be private—and allow select partners to use this information without asking your permission. We believe this is a serious step backwards in protecting your internet privacy.

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Marika, Ilyse, Milan, and the rest of the team.



On Facebook? Join our Facebook group:
Petition: Facebook, stop invading my privacy!
Join the Facebook group


Dear MoveOn Member,

What is Facebook thinking?

They just launched a new experimental program that will share information about you and your friends with selected partners. These partners will then get to know all about you and your friends as soon as you go on their sites—whether you meant to give them information or not.1

They're calling it "instant personalization." We're calling it a major violation of your privacy.

Facebook is testing this new scheme with a small group of partners, but they're hoping to expand to more sites.  We need to make it clear now that using our personal information without our permission is not acceptable.

That's why we're taking action now.

Join the Facebook group — "Petition: Facebook, stop invading my privacy" — and invite your friends to join as well:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88091&id=20044-10220574-Uc7TKqx&t=3

When Facebook launched an intrusive marketing tool called "Beacon" a few years ago, MoveOn members got together to say that's not the kind of internet we believe in. We launched a petition calling on Facebook to roll back their program then. And we won.2

This fight is about more than just Facebook users. It's about keeping the internet a free and open space in the 21st Century. Like our work on Net Neutrality, there's an important principle at stake here: Will the internet be a place where our basic rights—including privacy—are protected or will corporate interests get to make all the rules?

Facebook claims that you can opt-out of "instant personalization," but they left in a catch. Even if you do, Facebook will still share information about you every time one of your friends visits a partner site.3 The only way to stop that is to go through and block new partner sites every time Facebook adds one. We think there's a better way. Facebook should ask your permission every time it wants to share your information with outside sites.

"Instant personalization" isn't the only change Facebook is proposing that will roll back your privacy.4 They're also moving a lot of your personal information—your hometown, your education, your interests—to public pages, and they're letting other sites put "like" buttons on their pages that will gather more information for Facebook about what you look at on the web. Information about other sites you like will be publicly available too.

That's why we launched this petition today. By fighting back now—and getting lots of people to join the Facebook group and sign the petition—we can send a strong signal to Facebook and other sites that internet privacy must be protected.

Join the Facebook group and invite your friends:

 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88091&id=20044-10220574-Uc7TKqx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Marika, Ilyse, Milan, and the rest of the team.
  

Sources:

1. "How to Opt Out of Facebook's Instant Personalization," The New York Times, April 23, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88086&id=20044-10220574-Uc7TKqx&t=5

2. "Facebook Apologizes, Pulls Back on Social Ads," San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 6, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88085&id=20044-10220574-Uc7TKqx&t=6

3. "Getting Control of your Facebook Privacy Settings," The Wall Street Journal, April 26, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88087&id=20044-10220574-Uc7TKqx&t=7

4. "Facebook's Instant Personalization Is the Real Privacy Hairball," Salon.com, April 22, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88088&id=20044-10220574-Uc7TKqx&t=8




Subscription Management:
This is a message from MoveOn.org Civic Action. To change your email address or update your contact info, please visit:
http://moveon.org/subscrip/coa.html?id=20044-10220574-Uc7TKqx
To remove yourself (eddie alfaro) from this list, please visit our subscription management page at:
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Facebook violating privacy



On Facebook? Join our Facebook group:
Petition: Facebook, stop invading my privacy!
Join the Facebook group


Dear MoveOn Member,

What is Facebook thinking?

They just launched a new experimental program that will share information about you and your friends with selected partners who pay them money. These partners will then get to know all about you and your friends as soon as you go on their sites—whether you meant to give them information or not.1

They're calling it "instant personalization." We're calling it a major violation of your privacy.

Facebook is testing this new scheme with a small group of partners, but they're hoping to expand to more sites. That's more people they can sell your information to. We need to make it clear now that profiting off of our personal information without our permission is not acceptable.

That's why we're taking action now.

Join the Facebook group — "Petition: Facebook, stop invading my privacy" — and invite your friends to join as well:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88091&id=20043-10220574-R1s6AAx&t=3

We've seen Facebook try to put profits over your privacy before. When Facebook launched an intrusive marketing tool called "Beacon" a few years ago, MoveOn members got together to say that's not the kind of internet we believe in. We launched a petition calling on Facebook to roll back their program then. And we won.2

This fight is about more than just Facebook users. It's about keeping the internet a free and open space in the 21st Century. Like our work on Net Neutrality, there's an important principle at stake here: Will the internet be a place where our basic rights—including privacy—are protected or will corporate interests get to make all the rules?

Facebook claims that you can opt-out of "instant personalization," but they left in a catch. Even if you do, Facebook will still share information about you every time one of your friends visits a partner site.3 The only way to stop that is to go through and block new partner sites every time Facebook adds one. We think there's a better way. Facebook should ask your permission every time it wants to share your information with outside sites.

"Instant personalization" isn't the only change Facebook is proposing that will roll back your privacy.4 They're also moving a lot of your personal information—your hometown, your education, your interests—to public pages, and they're letting other sites put "like" buttons on their pages that will gather more information for Facebook about what you look at on the web. Information about other sites you like will be publicly available too.

That's why we launched this petition today. By fighting back now—and getting lots of people to join the Facebook group and sign the petition—we can send a strong signal to Facebook and other sites that internet privacy must be protected.

Join the Facebook group and invite your friends:

 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88091&id=20043-10220574-R1s6AAx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Marika, Ilyse, Milan, and the rest of the team.
  

Sources:

1. "How to Opt Out of Facebook's Instant Personalization," The New York Times, April 23, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88086&id=20043-10220574-R1s6AAx&t=5

2. "Facebook Apologizes, Pulls Back on Social Ads," San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 6, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88085&id=20043-10220574-R1s6AAx&t=6

3. "Getting Control of your Facebook Privacy Settings," The Wall Street Journal, April 26, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88087&id=20043-10220574-R1s6AAx&t=7

4. "Facebook's Instant Personalization Is the Real Privacy Hairball," Salon.com, April 22, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88088&id=20043-10220574-R1s6AAx&t=8



Subscription Management:
This is a message from MoveOn.org Civic Action. To change your email address or update your contact info, please visit:
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To remove yourself (eddie alfaro) from this list, please visit our subscription management page at:
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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Thursday: Major Rally on Wall Street

Dear MoveOn member,

Right now politicians in Washington are making critical decisions about our economy: Are they going to let the big banks off the hook for ruining our economy or are they finally going to rein them in?

You can help make the decision for them. On Thursday in New York we're getting together at a massive rally on Wall Street—along with allies across the progressive movement—to send a clear message to the big banks and the politicians who protect them: We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!

The rally's going to be energizing and there will be tons of great speakers. But a good crowd is going to be the key to success: If enough of us come out we'll make crystal clear that any politician who sides with the big banks over American families is going to face serious consequences at home.

Can you make it to the rally on Wall Street on Thursday in New York?

Here are the details:

What: Showdown on Wall Street.
When: The rally starts at 4:00 p.m. and we'll begin marching on Wall Street around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, 2010.
Where: Start at City Hall, 1 Centre Street, New York, NY, 10007. Map.

Wall Street's reckless behavior cost our economy 7 million jobs and more than $700 billion in bailouts.

But while American families suffered, Wall Street executives and bankers got rich.

So on Tuesday, thousands of us—workers, members of consumer groups, MoveOn members, and many more—-are getting together to say "Enough is enough!" Voters are demanding real changes and we won't rest until Wall Street is reined in.

If enough of us turn out, we'll make it clear that any politician who sides with Wall Street will face the wrath of angry voters at home.

Hope to see you there!

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Daniel, Ilyse, Steven and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 25, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Criminal

Clicking here will add your name:
"We demand a criminal investigation into Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street firms who may have acted illegally. Millions of American families are suffering because of Wall Street's recklessness and the banks need to be held accountable."

Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

The SEC is bringing a civil suit against Goldman Sachs for fraud.

Why? In a nutshell, Goldman slapped a "Grade A" label on investments that they had specifically designed to fail, and then sold them to unwitting investors and made billions of dollars.1

It's good to see regulators finally starting to hold Goldman accountable with a civil suit—but what they did could be criminal and if so, they should go to jail. Period.

A group of Democratic representatives are pushing the Justice Department to start a criminal investigation against the wrongdoers at Goldman,2 but they need public support to counter Wall Street's enormous influence. Can you sign the petition demanding a criminal investigation? Clicking here will add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/investigatewallst/o.pl?id=19984-10220574-xMA8AFx&t=3

This push has a real shot at succeeding. More and more representatives are demanding a criminal investigation each day. The whole country is pissed at Wall Street. But a slap on the wrist isn't going to change their behavior.

The plain truth is that too often, Wall Street's business plan relies on screwing over regular American families and getting rich off of our misfortunes.

Just look at what's happened over the last year—people have lost their homes, their savings, their pensions. Meanwhile firms like Goldman are handing out BILLIONS of dollars in bonuses.3

It's time to stand up and say "Enough!" What they're doing could be a crime and if it is, they need to go to jail.

Can you sign the petition demanding a criminal investigation? We'll deliver it to your senators, representative and the Justice Department right away. Clicking below will add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/investigatewallst/o.pl?id=19984-10220574-xMA8AFx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Daniel, Milan, Anna and the rest of the team

Sources

1. "SEC accuses Goldman Sachs of defrauding investors," Associated Press, April 16, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87902&id=19984-10220574-xMA8AFx&t=5

2. "House Democrats calling for criminal investigation of Goldman Sachs," The Hill, April 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87903&id=19984-10220574-xMA8AFx&t=6

3. "Goldman Sachs Will Pay $5 Billion in First-Quarter Bonuses," Gawker.com, April 18, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87904&id=19984-10220574-xMA8AFx&t=7

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 23, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Outrageous lies

Wall Street is spending $500 million to convince Congress to kill financial reform. And that's paying off—every Senate Republican is against it now. We have to call them out right away, otherwise their bogus arguments against reform will stick. We're working on an ad that lays out the Republicans dirty tricks. Can you chip in $5?

Contribute

Dear MoveOn member,

Wall Street is spending $500 million to convince Congress to kill the reform bill that will finally curb their reckless behavior.1

That's one investment that's paying off. Every single Republican is now on record opposing Wall Street reform.

That means every single Republican is on record protecting the big banks instead of the countless Americans who lost jobs, money, houses, or their pensions because of Wall Street's behavior.

We have to call them out right away. If we don't, their bogus arguments against reform will stick—just like they did on health care.

We're working on a hard-hitting ad that lays out for the American people exactly whose side Republicans are on. But we need to get it up on the air fast—while this story is hot. That means we need 3 donations from people in Inwood. Can you chip in $5?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/wallstreet.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=19921-10220574-zKyWBQx&t=3

It seems hard to believe that anyone would want to oppose Wall Street reform in the middle of a major financial crisis like this. But the Republicans are willing to do it to protect their allies at the big banks.

They know this is a high risk strategy. Their pollsters say the only way they'll get away with it is if they lie about Obama's plan and say it will cause more bailouts—even though they know that it will do the exact opposite.2

But if we don't expose them—their lies will stick. Remember health care?

The truth is that Wall Street reform will:3

  • End the bailouts by forcing big financial companies to put aside money now, so if there's another AIG-like disaster, taxpayers won't be on the hook. We'll use the big banks' own money to shut them down.
  • Protect consumers by creating an independent watchdog that would finally stop credit card companies, mortgage brokers, and big banks from hiding information in the fine print.
  • Shut down the "shadow markets" by cracking down on the backroom trading that put our economy at risk. Unlike the stock market, these "shadow markets"—where trillions of dollars of "derivatives" are traded each year—are secret, highly risky, and virtually unregulated.4,5

So we're fighting back. But we need help. Can you chip in $5?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/wallstreet.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=19921-10220574-zKyWBQx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Laura, Daniel, Ilyse and the rest of the team

Sources

1. "No more taxpayer bailouts," Americans for Financial Reform, April 15, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87878&id=19921-10220574-zKyWBQx&t=5

2. "A GOP Financial Reform Bellwether," Time, April 13, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87876&id=19921-10220574-zKyWBQx&t=6

3. Senate Banking Committee, April 16, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87877&id=19921-10220574-zKyWBQx&t=7

4. "Sen. Lincoln unveils broad derivatives regulatory bill," MarketWatch, April 16, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87879&id=19921-10220574-zKyWBQx&t=8

5. "Derivatives market," Wikipedia, April 13, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87838&id=19921-10220574-zKyWBQx&t=9


Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 20, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Big news from Arkansas

Dear MoveOn member,

Huge news from Arkansas: A new poll out last week shows Bill Halter has pulled within 7 points of Blanche Lincoln in the Senate primary.1 Lincoln has fallen below 40%, a terrible position for an incumbent to be in.

Halter's got huge momentum: He's steadily closing the gap in the polls. Thanks to grassroots support, he raised 50% more money in a single month than she's raised this entire year.

At this critical moment in the race, Bill Halter has recorded a special video update for MoveOn members. Click here to watch it—and then consider chipping in $5 to help his campaign:

–Adam, Ilya, Anna, Michael and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Talk Business Poll: U.S. Senate Race—Democrats," Fox 16 News, April 14, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87840&id=19905-10220574-bsI9Qax&t=4


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 19, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Seriously?!?

Clicking here will sign your name:
"Enough is enough! Corporations need to stop rigging the system and start paying their fair share in taxes."

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

You probably paid more taxes than ExxonMobil this year. Seriously.

That's probably because they spent a lot more money lobbying Congress than you did. In fact, last year, they spent over $27 million in lobbying so they could take home a bigger chunk of the $284 billion they made.1

And they aren't the only corporation to dodge their tax bill through offshore accounts and shell companies. Far from it.2

The good news is that President Obama has been trying to close loopholes that allow corporations to get away with this kind of highway robbery.3

But there are still too many lobbyists in DC fighting against him. That's why we're launching this petition to show Congress how fed up we are with lobbyists rigging the system and demand action before next Tax Day. Clicking the link below will add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/exxontaxday/o.pl?id=19865-10220574-crnpCVx&t=3

The petition says: "Enough is enough! Corporations need to stop rigging the system and start paying their fair share in taxes." And after you sign, can you send this petition on to five friends? That will make sure we can keep it going and really put the heat on Congress.

Taxes are important. They pay for critical services like education, public safety, and hospitals. But the system only works if everyone pays their fair share. And ExxonMobil, General Electric, and many Wall Street banks are re-writing the rules to sit tax season out.

It's pretty cheap for them! In fact, the money ExxonMobil spent on lobbyists let them keep a bigger share of their profits and help the rich guys get richer, including over $27 million in total compensation for their CEO, Rex Tillerson.4

Paying millions to rig the system is just unacceptable. The rest of us don't have the cash, but we do have the majority of hard-working, tax-paying honest Americans on our side. President Obama has lowered taxes for most of us, but now we need to make the Big Guys pay their fair share.

This will only happen if Congress hears millions of people outraged about this. Can you sign the petition and pass it along to your friends? Clicking the link below will add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/exxontaxday/o.pl?id=19865-10220574-crnpCVx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilyse, Steven, Ilya, Kat, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Fortune 1000 Companies 1-100," Fortune, accessed April 15, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87847&id=19865-10220574-crnpCVx&t=5

"Lobbying: Top Spenders," OpenSecrets.org, accessed April 15, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87843&id=19865-10220574-crnpCVx&t=7

2. "What the Top U.S. Companies Pay in Taxes," Forbes, April 1, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87842&id=19865-10220574-crnpCVx&t=8

3. "Factbox—Obama budget likely seeks corporate tax changes," Reuters, January 12, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87844&id=19865-10220574-crnpCVx&t=10

4. "Rex W. Tillerson Profile," Forbes, accessed April 15, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87846&id=19865-10220574-crnpCVx&t=11

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 15, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Tell your senators: No loopholes

The Senate is set to crack down on secret, highly risky "shadow markets," but big banks are pushing for loopholes to render reform toothless. Can you call your senators and tell them to stand against the banks' attempts to weaken reform of these shadow markets?

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Report your call
Dear MoveOn member,

Imagine you're a giant Wall Street bank. Life is good. For years, you made huge profits by trading on secret, highly risky "shadow markets." Unlike the stock market, these shadow markets were virtually unregulated.1

And when things went bad, it was no big deal, because the taxpayers were there to bail you out.2

Now you have a problem: the Senate Banking Committee just passed a reform bill that would drag the shadow markets into the light and end your incredibly risky—but lucrative—behavior.3

Are you worried about your profits? Nope. Because according to news reports, you can count on Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln—who's received more than $1.3 million from the financial industry4—to riddle reform with so many loopholes that it's toothless.5

But here's the thing: Senator Lincoln can only succeed in protecting the banks if other senators stand with her. And since both Republicans and Democrats are worried about being seen as too close to the banks, every senator's vote is in play on this issue.

Can you call Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer and tell them that weakening the Banking Committee bill amounts to standing with the banks? Tell them that the shadow markets have to be clearly and effectively regulated, without the exceptions and loopholes that the banks want.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=1335&id=19816-10220574-NKKfxvx&t=2

These shadow markets are ground zero for the "derivatives," "credit default swaps," and other exotic financial products that almost brought down the global financial system. And the banks care intensely about keeping these markets unregulated, because they make billions of dollars in profits trading hundreds of trillions of dollars on them (yes, trillions with a "t").6

They think they can pull a fast one on voters who might not understand the details of derivatives reform. They seem to have completely forgotten the enormous damage that unregulated trading in shadow markets by firms like AIG did to our economy.

They assume they can just muddy the waters about what constitutes real reform. Then allies of theirs like Sen. Lincoln—who has jurisdiction over derivatives because she chairs the Agriculture Committee—can slip enough loopholes into the bill to make reform meaningless.7

The way to stop the big banks is to shine the light on what they're doing. If we all let our senators know that we're watching them and will hold them accountable for any new loopholes that are added to the bill, the banks' strategy will fail.

Can you call Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer now and let them know that you want real transparency for the shadow markets and that you want them to strengthen the Banking Committee's bill, not let the banks and their allies weaken it?

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=1335&id=19816-10220574-NKKfxvx&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Joan, Kat, Nita, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Lawmakers revisit derivatives regulation," The Washington Post, April 2, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87837&id=19816-10220574-NKKfxvx&t=4

2. "The Wall Street Bailout Plan, Explained," The New York Times, September 20, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/business/21qanda.html

3. "Lawmakers revisit derivatives regulation," The Washington Post, April 2, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87837&id=19816-10220574-NKKfxvx&t=5

4. "Sen. Blanche Lincoln: Selected campaign finance data," The Center for Responsive Politics, April 13, 2010
http://pol.moveon.org/lincoln/contribs.html?id=19816-10220574-NKKfxvx&t=6

5. "Street Fight," The New Republic, April 4, 2010
http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/street-fight?page=0,0

6. "Derivatives market," Wikipedia, April 13, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87838&id=19816-10220574-NKKfxvx&t=7

7. "Street Fight," The New Republic, April 4, 2010
http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/street-fight?page=0,0

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 13, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Obama's Supreme Court pick

Clicking here will add your name:
"President Obama: Choose a Supreme Court nominee who has a track record of standing up for everyday Americans and who will oppose efforts by right-wing justices to expand the power of corporations."

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

President Obama's choice to replace Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is one of the most important decisions he'll ever make.

That's because the current Supreme Court—packed with right-wing Republican appointments—is threatening our democracy by dramatically expanding the power of big corporations.

For instance, earlier this year in the case known as Citizens United, they decided that corporations have the right to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections.1

If corporations have more influence, they're going to continue to rig the system to create even larger profits for their CEOs at the expense of taxpayers, the environment, and human rights.

But some Democrats are urging President Obama to try to avoid a fight with Republicans and pick someone with no real track record at all.2 So we're launching a petition to urge President Obama not to back down. Clicking here will add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/stevens/o.pl?id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=3

The petition says, "President Obama: Choose a Supreme Court nominee who has a track record of standing up for everyday Americans and who will oppose efforts by right-wing justices to expand the power of corporations." We'll share the petition with your senators as well.

The current Supreme Court includes some of the most conservative justices in American history, including Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia, and Chief Justice John Roberts.3 They have taken appalling stands on a wide range of key issues, including their desire to overturn Roe v. Wade and repeal a woman's right to an abortion.4

But one of their most dangerous beliefs is a radical legal theory that says corporations should be treated the same as people under the U.S. Constitution and that money is the same as free speech.5 Together, these extreme ideas would massively expand the power of big corporations like Exxon-Mobil and give Wall Street even more influence.

Under the current conservative majority, the courts have broadened the power of corporations by striking down important campaign finance laws.6 They've even struck down laws to protect the environment, workers rights, and food safety, because, they say, such protections violate the constitutional rights of corporations.7 And more far-reaching cases are coming up this year.8

Enough is enough. We need to make sure President Obama appoints a justice who will champion the rights of people, not corporations.

But with Republicans ready to fight almost any Obama nominee, we need to show President Obama that there's grassroots support for nominee with a track record of fighting for people against big corporations. Click here to add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/stevens/o.pl?id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Lenore, Kat, Wes, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Justices, 5-4, Reject Corporate Spending Limit," The New York Times, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86393&id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=5

2. "Stevens's Retirement is a Political Test for Obama," The New York Times, April 9, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87827&id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=6

3. "Ranking the Politics of Supreme Court Justices," U.S. News and World Report, May 12, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87828&id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=7

4. Carhart v. Gonzales, Supreme Court of the United States, April 18, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87832&id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=8

5. "Analysis: The Personhood of Corporations," SCOTUS Blog, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87829&id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=9

"Buckley v. Valeo," Oyez.org, accessed April 12, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87834&id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=10

6. "Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life," Oyez.org, accessed April 12, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87833&id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=11

7. "When Silence is Not Golden: Negative Free Speech and Human Rights for Corporations," Reclaim Democracy, July 1, 2003
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87830&id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=12

8. "Will the U.S. Supreme Court Let Corporate America Judge Itself?" Public Citizen, March 26, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87831&id=19797-10220574-TS_YQ.x&t=13

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 12, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Obama leads on nukes


Next week Obama will host dozens of world leaders in DC to get serious about eliminating the threat of nuclear weapons. Sign this petition to show that he has grassroots support for this bold stance.

Click Here
Dear MoveOn member,

A lot of people think the end of the cold war meant we don't have to worry about nuclear weapons anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth.

With 23,000 nuclear weapons in the world and 13 new countries on the verge of building them—including aggressive regimes like Iran and North Korea—there's a terribly high risk that one of these weapons could fall into the hands of an extremist group.1

President Obama is taking this threat very seriously. On Wednesday, he signed a historic treaty with Russian President Medvedev to cut arsenals by a third and get serious about preventing other countries from moving forward with their nuclear programs.2 And next week, world leaders will come together for a historic summit to tackle this very challenge.  

But the right-wing hawks are up in arms. They're trying to scare the country into thinking that having more nuclear weapons makes us safer.3 President Obama needs to know we have his back as he takes a bold stand on this issue. Can you sign this petition from our friends at Global Zero to support eliminating these dangerous weapons from the face of the earth?

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87797&id=19773-10220574-Zy9qKnx&t=3

Global Zero is a campaign to eliminate nuclear weapons completely in the next 20 years. They have support from national security experts and leaders around the world.4 But we need to show that there is grassroots support from ordinary Americans for this goal.

With fears of a Mideast nuclear arms race mounting, and tensions in the Korean Peninsula and Pakistan far from over, the chance of a military or terrorist nuclear attack remains a chilling threat. Experts say we can't maintain the status quo—the risks of regional nuclear war, nuclear terrorism, or catastrophic accidents are rising daily.

Next week's historic summit could be the beginning of the end of all these monstrous weapons. And Global Zero will be there in Washington to deliver these petition signatures to President Obama and remind world leaders that we can't afford more nuclear weapons. 

Experts are pleading with governments to disarm or risk disaster, but politicians often cite the lack of public attention for not acting on this issue. The Presidents of the US and Russia have agreed in principle to Global Zero, but the hard part is getting them to do it in practice. The Washington summit next week is a major chance to hold them to their word.

Can you add your voice to the hundreds of thousands to make sure our leaders hear a powerful call for Global Zero? The number of signers will be announced at the summit! 

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87797&id=19773-10220574-Zy9qKnx&t=4

Thanks for all you do,

–Justin, Ilyse, Laura, Joan and the rest of the team 

1. "Reaching Zero," The Nation, April 1, 2010. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100419/schell

2. "Obama and Medvedev sign disarmament treaty," Reuters, April 8, 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6365Y420100408

3. "Palin Says Obama's Nuke Stance Is Like a Kid Who Says 'Punch Me in the Face'", ABC News, April 7, 2010. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87801&id=19773-10220574-Zy9qKnx&t=5

4. http://www.globalzero.org/full-list-signatories

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 9, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Hell No

Republicans are on a rampage to repeal health care. And with so much misinformation out there, we need to fight back with the truth. So we're going into Republican districts with ads that let voters know what health care reform means for their families. Can you chip in $5?

Contribute

Dear MoveOn member,

Republicans are on a rampage to repeal health care.

And with so much misinformation out there, we need to fight back with the truth.

So we've got an ambitious plan to go into Republican districts with ads that let voters know what the health care reform law means for their families and hit the Republicans for being against it. To make this work we're going to need to raise $200,000 this week— and that will take 3 donations from people in Inwood. Can you chip in $5?

http://pol.moveon.org/donate/unfit1.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=19753-10220574-78bDXhx&t=3

Our new ad campaign is one of the strongest we have ever created. 

It features real life stories from Americans who will be helped by reform—small business owners, parents of children with pre-existing conditions, families who struggle with concerns about job security and the economy—and shows how health care reform will make a real difference for people all over the country.

The personal appeals are powerful. And they lay the truth bare: When American families needed help and courage from Washington, the Republicans were united against them.

It's time to put the Republicans on the defensive and we need to get started right away. Every day that we're silent is another day that Republican fear mongering goes unchallenged.

Please chip in $5:

http://pol.moveon.org/donate/unfit1.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=19753-10220574-78bDXhx&t=4

The next few weeks will determine how the story of health care reform will be told this year—it's up to us to make sure it's the right one.

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Laura, Peter, Ilyse and the rest of the team



PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 8, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.