Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Your voice




MoveOn has five million members. If each of us gave $42, then we would match, dollar for dollar, the cash that Big Business has used to buy our government.  We could buy it back. We should do that. 




 

Dear MoveOn member,

I've done a lot of things most members of Congress have been afraid to do—I spoke out against the war in Iraq and the bloated military budget, I introduced legislation to rein in greedy Wall Street banks, and most recently I signed MoveOn's new Fight Washington Corruption pledge to counter the influence of corporate money in our democracy.

I've had the independence to do it because unlike most of my colleagues I don't rely on a few big contributors to fund my campaign—I rely on tens of thousands of small grassroots contributions. That gives me the freedom to speak truth to power and not worry about who gets offended.

And MoveOn is the same way—they aren't beholden to anyone, they don't have to clear their positions with a couple big donors, they rely on folks like you.

Right now MoveOn is doing something that only a truly member-supported independent organization could do: launching its biggest campaign ever to directly take on efforts by the biggest corporations in the world to buy our government.

MoveOn has five million members. So far in this two-year election cycle, PACs have contributed $210 million to U.S. House of Representatives candidates. If each of us gave $42 to MoveOn, then we would match, dollar for dollar, the cash that Big Business is using to try to buy our Government.

We should do that.

My modest suggestion is that you contribute $42, or whatever you can afford, to help buy back your government. Every dollar counts. Can you chip in?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/yourvoice.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=23026-10220574-hhwWQ2x&t=3

This kind of member-driven campaign is the only way we'll make our government work for the 98% of us who don't have corporate lobbyists representing us in D.C. But winning the campaign isn't going to be easy and MoveOn needs money to pay for:

  • research to expose corporate front groups backing attack ads against candidates who champion our values,
  • polling in frontline districts to show candidates that voters want them to stand up against corporate interests,
  • a full force GOTV effort to make sure every progressive voter gets to the polls in frontline races, and
  • a paid advertising program to tell voters which Republican candidates are standing up for shady corporate interests.

Can you contribute $42, or whatever you can afford, to help?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/yourvoice.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=23026-10220574-hhwWQ2x&t=4

And our goal? It's the same as Abraham Lincoln's goal, in 1863, almost 150 years ago. A new birth of freedom. So that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Courage,

Alan Grayson


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 August 31, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Correction re: Again?!

Dear MoveOn member,

We sent you an email earlier this week about Facebook's new "Places" application, but in speaking with representatives of Facebook have come to understand that the email contained factual errors.

We apologize—we take the accuracy of our emails very seriously. So we wanted to send you corrected information right away.

In our original email we said that if you use Places, you could have your location revealed without giving permission or being warned. That's not true.

When you first sign up to use Places, you have to click through a dialogue box that informs you that your friends can check you in to locations once you sign up.

Places still raises concerns from a privacy perspective, however. If you want to sign up for Places without automatically letting your friends check you in, it's a pretty complicated process. You have to know to click "learn more" and then navigate to your privacy controls and disable this feature. Clearly, it would be simpler and more straightforward to include a separate step to explicitly enable friends to check you in—or make it an option when you sign up.

But we blew it when we said there was no warning, and we're sorry.

As always, we encourage you to visit your Facebook privacy settings and update them to ensure your personal privacy: www.Facebook.com/privacy

Thanks,

Kat 

P.S. If you're wondering how this happened, we did test this to check out the privacy warnings. But unfortunately we tested it on an account where the privacy settings had been set to disallow this feature—so the warning did not show up.

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 August 27, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Fwd: Glenn Beck vs. Dr. King?


Dear MoveOn member,

Did you hear that Fox News' parent company came right out and gave a $1 million contribution directly to the Republican party? So much for "fair and balanced."

Fox News is a problem. Which is why we want to pass on this important email from our friends at ColorOfChange, who've just launched a new campaign to get Fox News off of TVs in public spaces. Check it out!

–Ilyse, Robin, Jeff, Marika, and the rest of the team

–————Forwarded message—————
  From: James Rucker, ColorOfChange.org
  Subject: Glenn Beck vs. Dr. King?

A year ago, Glenn Beck called the president a racist who had a deep-seated hatred for white people.1 In just over a week, he says he will "reclaim"2 the legacy of the civil rights movement by holding his "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.—on the same day and place as Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.3

You can get mad at Beck. You can protest and try to prevent him from stepping on Dr. King's honor for one day. The reality is that the next day—and five days a week from there on out—Beck will be back on Fox News, speaking to millions and spreading hate, lies, and fear, as he does every week.

The real problem is Fox News. Fox News gives Beck his platform, and Fox promotes his events—all despite Beck losing virtually all of his major advertisers in the last year.

Fox's rhetoric is not just divisive; it's dangerous. Last month, a heavily armed man got into a gunfight with police after he was pulled over on his way to kill people at the Tides Foundation4—a non-profit that was little known until Glenn Beck repeatedly demonized it, claiming it to be the center of a great conspiracy.5 Last year, Kansas doctor George Tiller was gunned down while at church6 after Bill O'Reilly called him a Nazi, a "baby killer," and warned of "Judgment Day."7

It's why today we're launching TurnOffFox, and we hope you'll join us. TurnOffFox is the first step in our overall effort to beat back the poison, hate, and division of Fox. We'll get Fox turned off in stores, restaurants, and other public places—places where Fox pulls in new viewers and gains legitimacy. But we need your help.

Click below to declare your household "Fox free" and at the same time call on establishments in your community (and across the country) to follow your lead and turn off Fox. Armed with thousands of signatures, ColorOfChange members will visit businesses in their communities that play Fox, explain how divisive and dangerous it is, and call on them to stop. And we'll give you a FREE Turn Off Fox sticker when you do—it takes just a moment:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90115&id=22941-10220574-1mNJR6x&t=2

Some people watch Fox at home because it reflects their view of the world; but there are others who see it on TV in public places and assume that it's legitimate news. Fox News is often on in bars, restaurants, airport lounges, stores—appearing to be real news, while spreading lies and fomenting hate and division.

The goal of Turn Off Fox is to reduce the number of public TVs showing Fox News, while spreading the word about Fox's poison (and how it works) to those who don't know.

Signing up for the campaign is just the first step. We make it easy for you to tell us about businesses playing Fox. If you're willing to talk with them, we'll provide you with straightforward materials that explain why they shouldn't be a party to what Fox is doing. And if there are businesses you know that want to tell the world they would never play Fox, you can help them declare themselves a "Fox-free zone."

As businesses Turn off Fox and stand up as Fox Free, and as we encourage our friends and family to do the same, we'll help make clear, to people across the country, what Fox is about. And we'll reduce their ability to do harm.

Click the link below to join us and our partners at Truthout.com in standing up to Fox, and we'll give you a free TurnOffFox sticker. And then please ask your friends and family to do the same:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90115&id=22941-10220574-1mNJR6x&t=3

Thanks and Peace,

–James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Milton, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team

1. "Beck caps off week of race-baiting by calling Obama a 'racist'," Media Matters, 07-30-2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90116&id=22941-10220574-1mNJR6x&t=4

2. "Beck says his 8-28 rally will "reclaim the civil rights movement. ... We were the people that did it in the first place'," Media Matters, 05-26-2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90117&id=22941-10220574-1mNJR6x&t=5

3. "Glenn Beck's plans for rally on a hallowed date and spot spurs countermarches," The Washington Post, 08-17-2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90118&id=22941-10220574-1mNJR6x&t=6

4. "I-580 gunman targeted ACLU, Tides Foundation," KGO-TV, 07-20-2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90119&id=22941-10220574-1mNJR6x&t=7

5. "Beck denies being 'responsible' for planned massacre at office of group he demonized," Media Matters, 07-29-2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90120&id=22941-10220574-1mNJR6x&t=8

6. "George Tiller Killed: Abortion Doctor Shot At Church," AP /Huffington Post, 05-31-2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90121&id=22941-10220574-1mNJR6x&t=9

7. "O'Reilly's campaign against murdered doctor," Salon, 05-31-2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90122&id=22941-10220574-1mNJR6x&t=10

 

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 August 27, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Who's buying your election?

Will you make a call to help stop secret corporate contributions to shadowy front groups? Call your senators and ask them to support Sens. Schumer and Leahy in bringing back the DISCLOSE act for a vote.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451


Report your call
Dear MoveOn member,

Thanks to your work on the Target boycott, millions of people now know about corporations' new power to buy elections. But here's the problem: Target's donation only came to light because of a state law in Minnesota. Under federal law, corporations can still spend money in secret to influence elections, using shadowy front groups.

How much of a problem is this? The Associated Press reported yesterday that the chamber of commerce is planning on spending so much for Republicans in this election that it constitutes a "virtual third party" in America.1 And other groups like Karl Rove's American Crossroads will spend millions more. Enough, potentially, to swing the whole election. All on behalf of secret corporate donors.

Congress has a bill—the DISCLOSE Act—that wouldn't stop these donations but would at least drag these donations out into the light by forcing disclosure of the donors behind the front groups. Republicans have blocked it once, but recognizing how many Americans are angry about the Target case, Sens. Charles Schumer and Patrick Leahy are leading a call to bring the bill back for another vote.

Can you call your senators today and ask them to support Sens. Schumer and Leahy in bringing back the DISCLOSE Act?

Here are the numbers to call:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2&cp_id=1440&id=22903-10220574-kWf7oYx&t=2

The DISCLOSE Act wouldn't bar corporations from buying elections, but it would be one step forward in citizens knowing just which corporations are behind the attack ads. And if the Republicans who blocked even these simple transparency requirements get away with it, we'll never be able to pass the stronger reforms we need to truly fix our democracy.

The Target boycott has shown our leaders that the public is growing tired of backroom deals and unlimited corporate influence. Let's turn that momentum into a concrete step toward curbing corporate control in Washington.

Here are the numbers for your senators:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2&cp_id=1440&id=22903-10220574-kWf7oYx&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilyse, Robin, Milan, Duncan, and the rest of the team

Source:

1. "Chamber emerges as formidable political force," Associated Press, August 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90075&id=22903-10220574-kWf7oYx&t=4

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 August 26, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Again?!

Dear MoveOn member,

Facebook's playing fast and lose with your privacy—again.

With their new application, "Places," you can let friends know where you are. For example, you can "check in" at "Fenway Park" or "Hillside Mall," and a post will appear on Facebook.

But the problem is that once you've used Places, other people can check you in at a location—whether or not you want others to know where you are—without your permission.1

Not only is this a serious privacy concern, there's real potential for danger—from burglars that could use this to target unoccupied homes or for victims of domestic violence or stalking. 

So we've launched a new Facebook group calling on Facebook to stop invading its users' privacy and to make all "Places" sharing features fully opt-in.

Click here to join the group: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90082&id=22881-10220574-Mc8BpQx&t=1

Then, take two minutes to update your privacy setting right now by following the steps laid out at the link below.

Click here: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90079&id=22881-10220574-Mc8BpQx&t=2

And make sure to share this page with all your friends on Facebook and Twitter, or by forwarding this email.

We know users can have a big impact on Facebook's policies, especially where privacy is concerned. In 2005, a user revolt led Facebook to get rid of their intrusive Beacon program.2 And earlier this year, MoveOn members and others helped force Facebook to roll back some changes that left users' information exposed without their consent.3

But privacy is still a major concern for many Facebook users, and the recent creation of "Places" has only made the situation worse. Users now face the prospect of having their location revealed by others without their explicit permission and with no warning. It's encouraging that Facebook decided to make the Places application opt in, but unless users give explicit permission for others to post their location, that feature shouldn't be enabled.

As the ACLU of Northern California put it, "In the world of Facebook Places, 'no' is unfortunately not an option...Facebook is rolling out 'here now,' privacy later."4

Privacy isn't just a personal preference—it's a matter of personal safety and security. The bottom line is that sites like Facebook should respect user privacy, and that means only giving away information if users affirmatively opt in to any sharing first.

Click the link below to join our Facebook group, and be sure to share this news with friends as well:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90082&id=22881-10220574-Mc8BpQx&t=5 

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Steven, Duncan, Jeff, Amy, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "5 Things to Know About Facebook Places," Detroit Free Press, August 24, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90077&id=22881-10220574-Mc8BpQx&t=6

"New Facebook Feature Raises More Privacy Concerns," CNN, August 19, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90078&id=22881-10220574-Mc8BpQx&t=7

"Keep Facebook Places From Driving You Crazy," The New York Times, August 25, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90090&id=22881-10220574-Mc8BpQx&t=8

"The First Thing You Should Do With Facebook Places: Don't Let Other People Tag You," Gawker, August 18, 2010
http://gawker.com/5616329/

2. "Facebook Apologizes, Pulls Back on Social Ads," San Francisco Chronicle, December 6, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88085&id=22881-10220574-Mc8BpQx&t=9

3. "Facebook Releases New Privacy Policy," NPR, May 26, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90086&id=22881-10220574-Mc8BpQx&t=10

4. "Facebook Places: Check This Out Before You Check In," ACLU of Northern California, August 18, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90091&id=22881-10220574-Mc8BpQx&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 August 25, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Can you fulfill your pledge?

Earlier this year, you pledged to to donate $200.00 to primary challengers against House Democrats who opposed health care reform. Now we've got a great progressive challenger who needs your help: Mac D'Alessandro, running against Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch, who voted against the health care bill. Can you fulfill your $200.00 pledge by donating to Mac's campaign right now?

Contribute Now

Dear MoveOn member,

Remember earlier this year, when a handful of corporate Democrats in the House of Representatives nearly killed health care reform at the last minute?

In March, we vowed to hold House Democrats accountable for siding with Republicans to oppose health care reform—and you pledged to donate $200.00 to progressive primary challengers against Democrats who voted against the bill.

Now it's primary season, and we've got a great challenger who needs our help. Mac D'Alessandro is running against Rep. Stephen Lynch, who voted against health care reform despite representing a Massachusetts district that voted overwhelmingly for Obama in 2008.

Mac D'Alessandro is exactly the kind of a Democrat we need more of in Congress. He's a progressive fighter, an experienced labor and community organizer, and he was the first candidate in the country to sign MoveOn's Fight Washington Corruption pledge. 

But the election is next month, and so far he's being massively outspent. Can you fulfill your pledge and chip in $200.00 to Mac's campaign today?

https://pol.moveon.org/give/dalessandro.html?aa=5&id=22847-10220574-z0N5xvx&t=3

Here are the details of your pledge:

NAME: eddie alfaro 
DATE: March 18, 2010 
AMOUNT: $200.00 

It's crucial that we make good on our promise to hold corporate Democrats accountable. If we don't, they'll decide that they don't have anything to fear from grassroots progressives—and they'll continue siding with corporate interests to block real change in Washington.

And Mac D'Alessandro is the right candidate to take them on. One MoveOn member in the district called him "a stand-up guy with a track record of fighting on behalf of working families." Another says he's "the true progressive: pro-jobs, anti-war, pro-immigrant, pro-choice."

And he himself tells reporters that he's running to make sure the Democratic Party "fights for Democratic values and policies ... When Democrats vote like Republicans, it really does lead to dissatisfaction and disenchantment."1

Click here to fulfill your pledge right now:

https://pol.moveon.org/give/dalessandro.html?aa=5&id=22847-10220574-z0N5xvx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Adam, Michael, Nita, Carrie, and the rest of the team

Source:

1. "D'Alessandro criticizes Lynch for health care vote," Stoughton Journal, August 14, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89989&id=22847-10220574-z0N5xvx&t=5

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 August 24, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Pakistan under water


Dear MoveOn member,

You've probably heard about the devastating flooding in Pakistan, where an astonishing one-fifth of the entire country is under water.

According to a UN spokesman, "This disaster is worse than the tsunami, the 2005 Pakistan earthquake and the Haiti earthquake."1

The people of Pakistan desperately need help—and with the response from international donors "scant" so far,2 our friends at Avaaz, a international MoveOn-style group, are mobilizing to raise much-needed funds for Pakistan. 

Please check out their recent email, below, and give as much as you can to help relief efforts.

You can donate simply by clicking here: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90034&id=22794-10220574-opFAt6x&t=1

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Laura, Lenore, Jeff, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Pakistan floods: disaster is the worst in the UN's history," The Telegraph, August 9, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90015&id=22794-10220574-opFAt6x&t=5

2. "Why is the world not responding as Pakistan drowns?" Reuters, August 19, 2010
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100819/india_nm/india509182


Dear friends,

Pakistan

A humanitarian catastrophe of terrifying proportions is unfolding in Pakistan, with a fifth of the country under water, and millions of people homeless and desperately needing assistance.

Some relief efforts are underway, but the international response to the mega-disaster has been irresponsibly slow and weak—the UN has urgently appealed for $460 million of vital aid, but just 40% has been delivered.

Relief workers warn that without an immediate increase in aid the death toll could sky-rocket. We can help by sending funds directly to the most reliable aid organizations, and by pressing our governments to step up their efforts. Let's show our leaders what generosity looks like, and demand that they join us. Click here to send a personal message to key donor governments:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90017&id=22794-10220574-opFAt6x&t=7

And click here to donate to the relief effort:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90034&id=22794-10220574-opFAt6x&t=8

After visiting the flood stricken areas, a visibly upset UN General Secretary, Ban Ki Moon, said "This has been a heart-wrenching day for me. In the past, I have visited many natural disasters, but I have never seen anything like this."

Thousands of towns and villages have been washed away—roads, buildings, bridges, crops. Now people are stranded on tiny islands surrounded by flood waters. With no clean water to drink, cholera, diarrhea and other sicknesses are on the rise, threatening the millions of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods.

The international response so far has not matched that of previous large scale disasters. Organisations like UNICEF and WHO have said they lack the funds to provide adequate assistance.

The governments of the world need to do more, and we can lead by example. Let's stand with Pakistan at this time of crisis, and ask important donor governments to do the same.

Click here to donate:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90034&id=22794-10220574-opFAt6x&t=9

Click here to send a message:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90017&id=22794-10220574-opFAt6x&t=10

Our community has risen to the challenge of awful disasters before. In 2008, Avaaz members raised over 2 million dollars for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma. Earlier this year, $1.4 million was raised for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Our ability to move quickly in times of crisis can make the difference between life or death for people struggling to cope with disaster. Let's show the people of Pakistan that people and governments around the world stand with them in this awful crisis.

With hope,

Luis, Iain, Mia, Ricken, Paul, Giulia, Ben, David, Graziela, Pascal, Milena and the rest of the Avaaz team

More information:

UN Chief's heart wrenching appeal for Pakistan flood victims:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90011&id=22794-10220574-opFAt6x&t=11

Pakistan floods fail to spark strong global aid:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90012&id=22794-10220574-opFAt6x&t=12

Death toll rises from Pakistan flooding:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90013&id=22794-10220574-opFAt6x&t=13

Avaaz Burma Cyclone relief—http://www.avaaz.org/en/highlights#burma

Avaaz Haiti Earthquake response—http://www.avaaz.org/en/highlights#emergency_response


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 August 22, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Is John Boehner right?

Dear MoveOn member,

Republican Minority Leader John Boehner just proposed deep cuts to Social Security to pay for big tax breaks for the richest Americans.1

To see how popular Boehner's plan is, we asked Sam Seder—the former Air America host and political satirist—to hit the streets to see what some everyday folks think.

How did they respond? They're smart, funny, and passionate—and, well, let's just say they don't see eye to eye with Boehner. Check out the video below to see what Sam found, and then pass it on:

Video screenshot
Watch the video

To see the video, go to:

http://pol.moveon.org/ss_cuts/?id=22750-10220574-5VkX5Vx&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Duncan, Carrie, Nita, and the rest of the team

1. "Boehner, Pence: Raising Social Security Retirement Age An Option," The Huffington Post, August 10, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89931&id=22750-10220574-5VkX5Vx&t=4

"Boehner punts on paying for tax cuts," Politico, August 8, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90027&id=22750-10220574-5VkX5Vx&t=5

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 August 20, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

VIDEO: Target boycott flash mob

Dear MoveOn member,

This weekend, Target customers fed up with Target's shameless attempt to buy an election in Minnesota took their message straight to their local store—but with a great creative twist!

You have to check this video out:

Click the link to see the video
Target seems to be hoping the outrage will die down. Let's show the company it won't. If you like this video, pass it along. Thanks!

http://pol.moveon.org/state/target/?id=22714-10220574-DG4MhDx&t=2

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilyse, Robin, Milan, Duncan, 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 August 19, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

A real promise to protect Social Security

Dear MoveOn member,

The battle to save Social Security has just begun, but we're already making progress.

Last week, MoveOn members and our coalition partners sent more than 30,000 faxes to Congress asking representatives to sign the coalition's Social Security Promise, which commits them to:

  • Oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits
  • Oppose increases to the retirement age
  • Oppose any effort to privatize Social Security
And it's working! Representatives across the country—from Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona1 to Earl Pomeroy in North Dakota2 to Alan Grayson in Florida3—have pledged to protect Social Security from cuts and privatization.

But we haven't heard back from Rep. McCarthy yet. So we need to keep the pressure on, and the best way to do that is to follow up the faxes with phone calls.

Can you call Rep. McCarthy right now? Ask her if she'll sign the pledge so voters in New York know that she is committed to protecting Social Security from all three threats: benefit cuts, raising the retirement age, and privatization.

Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: 202-225-5516

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FHNY_04&cp_id=1437&id=22679-10220574-_zkvA1x&t=1

The threat to Social Security is growing. Radical Republicans like Rep. Paul Ryan want to privatize Social Security.4 Others, like Majority Leader John Boehner want to raise the retirement age—the equivalent of an across-the-board benefit cut—to pay for tax giveaways for millionaires.5

And unfortunately, it's not just Republicans who are pushing cuts. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer recently said that, "We could and should consider a higher retirement age."6 And Rep. James Clyburn, another member of the Democratic leadership, has indicated that he, too, is open to "adjusting" Social Security.7

Voters won't stand for politicians who want to cut Social Security. A new poll shows that 65% of voters reject raising the retirement age to 70, 52% of them strongly.8 And that's despite the huge campaign by those who want to cut Social Security to scare voters into thinking Social Security is in crisis.

We need to keep up the pressure on Rep. McCarthy until she commits to all three parts of the promise. Will you call her right now and ask her to sign the Social Security Promise? Make sure to hit all three points—you want her to pledge to oppose privatization, oppose benefit cuts, and oppose raising the retirement age.

Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: 202-225-5516

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FHNY_04&cp_id=1437&id=22679-10220574-_zkvA1x&t=2

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Duncan, Marika, Nita, and the rest of the team
  

Sources:

1. "Democrats Defend Social Security on Multiple Fronts," Firedoglake, August 4, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90000&id=22679-10220574-_zkvA1x&t=3

2. "Pomeroy: Social Security Benefit Cuts 'Completely Unacceptable'," August 11, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90001&id=22679-10220574-_zkvA1x&t=4

3. "Signed Social Security Promise," Campaign for America's Future, July 23, 2010
http://www.ourfuture.org/files/SSW-pledge_grayson.pdf

4. "A Roadmap for America's Future," The Budget Committee Republicans, August 18, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90002&id=22679-10220574-_zkvA1x&t=5

5. "Boehner, Pence: Raising Social Security Retirement Age An Option" Huffington Post, August 8, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89931&id=22679-10220574-_zkvA1x&t=6

6. "John Boehner: Raise Social Security Retirement Age to 70," CBS News, June 29, 2010
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20009192-503544.html

7. "James Clyburn Supports Means Testing for Social Security," Firedoglake, May 28, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90003&id=22679-10220574-_zkvA1x&t=7

8. "Deficits and Economic Recovery," Campaign for America's Future, August 12, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90004&id=22679-10220574-_zkvA1x&t=8

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 August 18, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Join a call Thursday night?

MoveOn member—

Thanks so much for all you've done to support our Fight Washington Corruption campaign.

We're planning a special Fight Washington Corruption briefing call this Thursday, August 10 at 9 p.m. Eastern (8 CT/ 7 MT / 6 PT) to give updates on the campaign so far and go over our plans to get our members of Congress and Democratic candidates on board with the pledge.

Can you join the call? Click here for complete call-in details and to RSVP:


We're also still looking for volunteers in the Inwood area to help with the next steps in the campaign. Can you help out? Click here to let us know:

http://pol.moveon.org/actioncorps/recess_survey.html?id=22654-10220574-vSB8qqx&t=2

Thanks so much for all you're doing.

–Ilyse, Jeff, Ilya, Marika, 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 August 17, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Can you volunteer in Inwood?

MoveOn member—

I just wanted to make sure you saw my note from Friday about the next phase in our Fight Washington Corruption campaign. 

We still need volunteers in the Inwood area to help with the next steps in the campaign. Can you help out? Click here to let us know: 

We're launching the next phase of our Fight Washington Corruption campaign to get 100 members of Congress signed on by the end of the recess.

Can you help with the next steps in your congressional district? Click here to let us know what role you can play:

Click Here




Fight Washington Corruption Rallies a Success!

Thousands of MoveOn members organized over 160 Fight Washington Corruption rallies demanding an end to corporate corruption in politics. At the rallies, Senate candidate Elaine Marshall (NC) and House candidates Bryan Lentz (PA-7) and Dan Connolly (PA-18) all joined the fight. We now have more than 30 candidates and members of Congress signed on to the Fight Washington Corruption pledge!

Dear MoveOn member,

This week at over 160 rallies across the nation, we officially put politicians on notice: They need to clean up corporate corruption now! We've got the momentum—over 30 politicians have signed the Fight Washington Corruption pledge.

Now MoveOn members in Inwood and nearby areas are using the momentum from the rallies to get elected officials and candidates in New York to sign the Fight Washington Corruption pledge. 

We've got a real need for lots of different types of volunteers to power the campaign—so whatever your expertise or interest, you are needed! If you're interested in helping out, click here to let us know what you can do:

http://pol.moveon.org/actioncorps/recess_survey.html?id=22594-10220574-zGMer1x&t=4

Here's how we're planning to get our political leaders to sign the pledge:

  • Get Together: We'll get connected with other active MoveOn members in our communities and form a MoveOn Action Team for each congressional district.
  • Meet with Congress and candidates: MoveOn members around the country—in "red" states and "blue" states alike—are holding face-to-face meetings with targeted members of Congress and candidates. We'll work to schedule a meeting locally and keep following up with calls and visits.
  • Organize Local Events: If our targeted elected officials and candidates won't sign the pledge, we'll make sure we have a presence at public appearances by politicians, such as campaign events and town halls, to ask them why they haven't signed the pledge.
During the congressional recess, we need grassroots volunteers leading the on-the-ground campaign to Fight Washington Corruption. Click here to let us know what role you can play:

http://pol.moveon.org/actioncorps/recess_survey.html?id=22594-10220574-zGMer1x&t=5

This week's rallies were a huge step in the fight against corporate influence, and now is the critical moment to follow up with politicians and let them know they need to listen to the Other 98% of us—and not to big corporate contributors.

Thanks for all you do. 

–Ilyse, Joan, Jeff, Duncan, 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 August 15, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, August 13, 2010

What you did--and what's next!

We're launching into the next steps of our Fight Washington Corruption campaign to get 100 members of Congress signed on by the end of the recess.

Can you help with the next steps in your congressional district? Click here to let us know what role you can play:

Click Here




Fight Washington Corruption Rallies a Success!

Thousands of MoveOn members organized over 160 Fight Washington Corruption rallies demanding an end to corporate corruption in politics. At the rallies, Senate candidate Elaine Marshall (NC) and House candidates Bryan Lentz (PA-7) and Dan Connolly (PA-18) all joined the fight. We now have more than 30 candidates and members of Congress signed on to the Fight Washington Corruption pledge!

Dear MoveOn member,

This week at over 160 rallies across the nation, we officially put politicians on notice: They need to clean up corporate corruption now! We've got the momentum—over 30 politicians have signed the Fight Washington Corruption pledge.

Now MoveOn members in Inwood and nearby areas are using the momentum from the rallies to get elected officials and candidates in New York to sign the Fight Washington Corruption pledge. 

We've got a real need for lots of different types of volunteers to power the campaign—so whatever your expertise or interest, you are needed! If you're interested in helping out, click here to let us know what you can do:

http://pol.moveon.org/actioncorps/recess_survey.html?id=22562-10220574-nnDDU.x&t=3

Here's how we're planning to get our political leaders to sign the pledge:

  • Get Together: We'll get connected with other active MoveOn members in our communities and form a MoveOn Action Team for each congressional district.
  • Meet with Congress and candidates: MoveOn members around the country—in "red" states and "blue" states alike—are holding face-to-face meetings with targeted members of Congress and candidates. We'll work to schedule a meeting locally and keep following up with calls and visits.
  • Organize Local Events: If our targeted elected officials and candidates won't sign the pledge, we'll make sure we have a presence at public appearances by politicians, such as campaign events and town halls, to ask them why they haven't signed the pledge.
During the congressional recess, we need grassroots volunteers leading the on-the-ground campaign to Fight Washington Corruption. Click here to let us know what role you can play:

http://pol.moveon.org/actioncorps/recess_survey.html?id=22562-10220574-nnDDU.x&t=4

This week's rallies were a huge step in the fight against corporate influence, and now is the critical moment to follow up with politicians and let them know they need to listen to the Other 98% of us—and not to big corporate contributors.

Thanks for all you do. 

–Ilyse, Joan, Jeff, Duncan, 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 August 13, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Tuesday in Garden City: Rally against corporate influence

Garden City vs. Big Money: Stand with the Other 98% against corporate corruption  

Host: Susie B.

Where: Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's District Office (in Garden City) 

When: Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010, at 12:00 PM 


What: We have to stop Target and other big corporations from changing the rules of democracy. The Fight Washington Corruption pledge aims to stop corporations from buying our elections and holds politicians accountable to the Other 98% of us. But politicians will only sign on to the pledge if voters demand it—that's why we're gathering across the country on Tuesday to ask all politicians to sign the pledge


Can you make it to our rally? 

Click here for more details and to RSVP: 

 
I can come

 
Sorry, I can't make it this time.

For more info and to find other events in your area, click here.

And don't worry, this email was sent through the MoveOn system, so your personal contact info is kept private.

 

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 August 9, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Could this really happen?

Opponents of Social Security are ramping up the fight to cut benefits. Congress can stop it, but they'll only act if they hear from concerned voters back home. Can you sign the petition to tell Congress to protect—not cut—Social Security? 

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

You can't make this stuff up. The economy is in shambles, unemployment is at record levels and home foreclosures are soaring. Congress can't get it together to act on these issues. But there's growing momentum in Washington to—wait for it—slash Social Security?

Believe it. Republicans are campaigning on benefit cuts. Conservative Democrats like Steny Hoyer are echoing their talking points.1

Everyone's counting on the Deficit Commission to do the dirty work. The commission is stacked with conservatives who've embraced cutting Social Security, and both houses of congress promised to fast-track a vote on its recommendations.2 3 That means that even though no jobs bill can pass congress right now, Social Security cuts might.

To stop the cuts, we need to send a crystal-clear message to members of Congress: Americans reject benefit cuts, and we expect them to do the same. Can you sign our promise to oppose cuts to Social Security? We'll use your signature to pressure them to sign a pledge protecting Social Security while they're home in New York for recess. But we need a strong response to make our point. Click below to add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/sspetition/index.html?id=22411-10220574-Qr9jhlx&t=3

The petition says: "I oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits, including raising the retirement age."

We're going to be running a hard-hitting campaign on this issue from now straight through the election. After you sign, we'll give you more opportunities to weigh in with your member of Congress, invite you to local events in your community, and keep you posted on our progress and key media reports on our campaign. Together with our allies, we'll make sure Congress knows that cutting Social Security is unacceptable.

The people who want to cut it are spreading lots of myths meant to make you think there is a looming crisis. Well, it's not true—there is no Social Security crisis. The program's trust fund will have a 4.3 trillion dollar surplus by 2023, and can pay all of its obligations for decades to come.4 Also, legally it can't contribute to the deficit—it only ever gives out benefits it can pay for.

Strengthening Social Security is easy—making the rich pay their fair share by lifting the cap on contributions by the wealthy would allow Social Security to pay all of its obligations indefinitely.5 

Fear-mongering over Social Security is led by Pete Peterson, a hedge fund manager spending $1 billion of his own money in a campaign to slash benefits.6 Conservatives in congress have been too happy to join him—Minority Leader John Boehner said he would cut benefits to pay for two unfunded wars,7 and the GOP's long term budget plan would fully privatize the program.8

Social Security belongs to us, the people who pay into it every day of our working lives, and it shouldn't be cut to pay off a deficit it didn't create. If we show congress that voters won't stand for cuts to our benefits, we can make sure cuts stay off the table and instead focus on real solutions. Can you sign our promise to oppose cuts and then ask your representatives to sign on as well?

http://pol.moveon.org/sspetition/index.html?id=22411-10220574-Qr9jhlx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Nita, Duncan, Marika, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "John Boehner: Raise Social Security Retirement Age to 70," CBS News, June 29, 2010
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20009192-503544.html

2. "Reid Appoints Durbin, Baucus, Conrad To Presidential Commission That Will Help Rein In Spending And Reduce The Deficit" Democrats.Senate.Gov, February 23, 2010
http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=322454&

3. "What happened on the war supplemental," Congress Matters, July 3, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89836&id=22411-10220574-Qr9jhlx&t=5

4."To Deficit Hawks: We the People Know Best on Social Security," New Deal 2.0, June 14, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89703&id=22411-10220574-Qr9jhlx&t=6

5. "Social Security is sustainable," Economic and Policy Institute, May 27, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89707&id=22411-10220574-Qr9jhlx&t=7

6. "Spending Big to Stop Spending," BusinessWeek, July 1, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89837&id=22411-10220574-Qr9jhlx&t=8

7. "GOP shrugs over Boehner comment," Politico, June 29, 2010
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/39185.html

8. "The Ryan Budget's Radical Priorities," Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, July 7, 2010
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3114

 

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 August 8, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Google vs. the Internet?

Click here to sign the petition to Google:
"Google: Say no to the reported agreement with Verizon to kill Net Neutrality and the open Internet."

Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

Big news: according to reports, Google is about to cut a terrible deal with Verizon that would end the fair, open Internet as we know it.1

The reported Google-Verizon deal would allow giant corporations to control which websites load quickly and easily on the Internet and dump everyone else onto an Internet slow lane. This is exactly the kind of unequal playing field that Google itself has opposed in the past.2

We only have a few days to stop it, so we're launching a grassroots protest calling on Google to scuttle the deal. Will you sign our emergency petition to Google? Click here to sign:

http://pol.moveon.org/google/?id=22383-10220574-IMW_mgx&t=4

The petition says: "Google: Say no to the reported agreement with Verizon to kill Net Neutrality and the open Internet."

The Internet was founded on the principle that all data is equal—and that no corporation should be able to decide whose data goes faster or slower. It's this principle, called Net Neutrality, that has made the Internet such an amazing platform for individual speech, democratic action, and entrepreneurial creativity.3

And until now, Google—which uses the corporate motto "Don't Be Evil"—has been a staunch defender of Net Neutrality.4 But now, Google is threatening to turn the Internet into a closed, pay-to-play, cash cow for large corporations. This move is evil, and Google knows it.

Here's why this is a big deal. President Obama's new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair initially came out strong for Net Neutrality, in line with the President's campaign promises.5 But the big telecom companies launched a lobbying frenzy, and soon the FCC was meeting with them behind closed doors.

Because Google and Verizon are two powerhouse corporations that have historically been on opposite sides of this issue, an agreement between them will put enormous pressure on the FCC to go along with their recommendations. Essentially, two giant corporations may be deciding the future of the Internet—if the Obama administration goes along, and if the public doesn't push back right away. Click here to help stop them now:

http://pol.moveon.org/google/?id=22383-10220574-IMW_mgx&t=5

Google was once a champion on this issue—Google chief executive Eric Schmidt once attacked "phone and cable monopolies" who "want the power to choose who gets access to high-speed lanes and whose content gets seen first and fastest."6

But today's news stories report that under the new deal, Verizon could be allowed to give some sites preferential treatment. Even more ominously, it appears that Verizon would have free rein to discriminate on the mobile Internet (smartphones, cell phones, etc). Since that's where most people will access the Net going forward, this would essentially spell the end of Net Neutrality.

Google has issued a short, carefully worded statement challenging some of the details in The New York Times story, but it hasn't denied that it is going along with this agreement to kill Net Neutrality.7 So much for "Don't be evil." Will you sign our petition today and tell Google not to be evil on Net Neutrality?

http://pol.moveon.org/google/?id=22383-10220574-IMW_mgx&t=6

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Justin, Carrie, Steven, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Google and Verizon Near Deal on Web Pay Tiers," The New York Times, August 5, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/technology/05secret.html

2. "Google Just Killed Net Neutrality," Gizmodo, August 5, 2010
http://gizmodo.com/5605310/google-just-killed-net-neutrality

3. "Network Neutrality Fact Sheet," Common Cause, April 6, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87794&id=22383-10220574-IMW_mgx&t=7

4. Google Investor Relations: Code of Conduct, accessed August 5, 2010
http://investor.google.com/corporate/code-of-conduct.html

5. "FCC Chair Proposes Net Neutrality Rules," Digital Daily, September 21, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87795&id=22383-10220574-IMW_mgx&t=8

6. "Google Just Killed Net Neutrality," Gizmodo, August 5, 2010
http://gizmodo.com/5605310/google-just-killed-net-neutrality

7. "Google Denies Priority Internet Access Deal With Verizon," PC Magazine, August 5, 2010
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2367436,00.asp

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 August 7, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.