Friday, January 27, 2012

Take back your home


Dixie waged a campaign to keep her home and won. Begin your own campaign to save our homes for the 99%. 
 
Click here for the Guide!

Dear MoveOn member,

Meet Dixie Mitchell. She's a mother, cancer survivor, and homeowner who came within days of losing her home. 

After the economic collapse, as Dixie and her husband both battled illness, they were unable to make the rising payments on their house. Dixie spent months filling out paper work and making phone calls. But the bank refused to work with her. They sent her a foreclosure notice and scheduled an auction for October 28, 2011.  

Fed up and desperate, Dixie decided to take matters into her own hands. She started an online petition and quickly gathered 7,000 signatures. Working with local, allied organizations, she then organized a simple event to deliver the petitions to her bank. They invited the media, and just two days later, the bank offered to modify her loan—and save her home.1

Homeowners are battling banks everyday. Dixie's story shows that when we stand up for ourselves and fight together, we can win.

Can you join the groundswell of homeowners who are taking action and start a petition calling on your bank to save your home?

Click here to get started.

As the public eye turns toward these cases, banks are taking action. That's why we've assembled a guide to give homeowners some of the tools to start building the same kind of pressure Dixie began. There's no guarantee that your bank will do what's right—but by organizing community support and telling the media your story, you'll have a little more leverage in dealing with your bank.

Click here for a step-by-step guide to wage a campaign to stay in your home and begin your own online petition.

On the national level, momentum is building. On Tuesday, President Obama announced a federal investigation into the Wall Street banks and the practices that led to the housing crisis.2 But the fight is not over—investigations take time and many homeowners cannot afford to wait. If you're one of these homeowners, please use this guide to help take back the homes of the 99%.

Thanks for all you do.

Lenore, Stefanie, Elena, Eli, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Victory for Dixie Mitchell!," The New Bottom Line, October 24, 2011 http://www.newbottomline.com/victory_for_dixie_mitchell

2. "Obama Creates Unit to Probe Mortgage Misconduct by Banks", Business Week, January 25, 2012 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269816&id=35173-10220574-hws0_4x&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 January 27, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

BREAKING: Wall Street investigation launched!


    MoveOn members in action: 


Dear MoveOn member,

Did you watch the State of the Union tonight? President Obama did exactly what hundreds of thousands of us have been calling on him to do—he announced a federal investigation into Wall Street. Here's what he said:

"I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the housing crisis. This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans."

The best part is, progressive champion New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is co-chairing the investigation and will make sure it stays on track.

Just weeks ago, this investigation wasn't even on the table, and the big banks were pushing for a broad settlement that would have made it impossible. Your work changed all that.

This is truly a huge victory for the 99% movement. Hundreds of thousands of us signed petitions, made calls, and held signs outside in the cold to make this issue something that President Obama couldn't ignore. Here's some of what MoveOn members and our allies did to bring about this victory: 

  • Over 360,000 of us signed a petition calling on President Obama to fully investigate the banks. 
  • We delivered that petition at over 150 events last Thursday around the country at Obama for America campaign offices.  
  • Our pressure on state attorneys general stopped the rush to a sweetheart deal that would have precluded this investigation. 
  • And we've called, Facebooked, and tweeted at the White House repeatedly to ask the president to launch this investigation. 
Can you take a few minutes and thank President Obama for holding Wall Street accountable? 

Without an investigation, real accountability for the banks wouldn't be possible. But while this is a big win, it isn't enough all by itself. We still need to keep a close eye on the investigation, make sure top bankers don't escape prosecution, and keep fighting for real solutions for the 11 million underwater homeowners who are still struggling to keep their homes. 

And, we need to keep pushing for more wins for the 99%, including our campaigns to get big money out of politics and tax the rich fairly. That all takes resources, and for obvious reasons, MoveOn doesn't get big checks from bank CEOs! So please click here to donate to keep the momentum going: 

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/investigation.html?id=35068-10220574-2PoNN7x&t=2 

Progressive victories don't come that often, and there's so much more to do. But this is a very big one. Thank you for all you did to make it happen! 

Elena, Emily, Lenore, Robin, and the rest of the team

P.S. I just called Regina, an affected homeowner and MoveOn member, to tell her the news. She was at our rally outside President Obama's campaign event in Harlem last Thursday, calling on the president to investigate the banks on behalf of homeowners like her. Regina shared shared her story in this video. She said, "The president heard the pain of the American people. Thank you, Mr. President!"

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 January 24, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Obama wants your input

The White House will be tracking social media closely all day, gathering questions for the State of the Union. Can you take a moment to ask President Obama when he'll open a federal investigation into Wall Street bank fraud?

Ask on Facebook

Ask on Twitter

Dear MoveOn member,

Today, President Obama gives his State of the Union address, and we have a question for him: When will he open a federal investigation into Wall Street bank fraud that caused the housing crisis?

The White House has set up several ways for people to ask President Obama questions for the State of the Union. They'll have staff watching these feeds all day, and it's critical he hears from as many of us as possible. That's why we're asking you to take just a few moments to ask the president on Facebook and Twitter whether he'll step up to the plate and investigate big bank fraud.

Ask on Facebook
You can post your question directly on the White House Facebook wall, or comment on one of their State of the Union posts.

Ask on Twitter

The State of the Union is watched by millions, and it's an opportunity for the president to announce bold progressive policies that help the 99%. President Obama should use his speech tonight to announce a federal investigation and finally hold the big banks accountable.

Without federal action, there's a strong risk that banks could get away with just a slap on the wrist. Yesterday, a meeting between HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, state attorneys general, and the five biggest mortgage servicers was held in Chicago. The banks were trying to negotiate a settlement that would give them broad immunity and let them off the hook for the fraud that caused the housing market collapse.1

Thanks to the pressure from hundreds of thousands of MoveOn members who signed the petition asking the president to investigate, held events across the country, and made phone calls to the White House, those talks have stalled once again.2 But that's not enough.

We need to keep the pressure on President Obama to take a strong stance and open a federal investigation into the banks' wrongdoing. And we need to make sure he knows that we have his back if he stands up for the 99% against Wall Street fraud.

Can you ask the president when he'll open a federal investigation into the wrongdoing of Wall Street banks?

Ask on Facebook

Ask on Twitter

Thanks for all you do.

–Elena, Stefanie, Laura, Steven, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Protests intensify as mortgage settlement nears," Reuters, January 23, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269764&id=35058-10220574-_uLylix&t=1

2. "Iowa AG Miller Claims No Foreclosure Fraud Settlement This Week," Firedoglake, January 23, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269765&id=35058-10220574-_uLylix&t=2

"MoveOn, Color Of Change Demand Obama To Investigate Wall Street Banks, Housing Crisis," Huffington Post, January 19, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269678&id=35058-10220574-_uLylix&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 January 24, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, January 23, 2012

If you were mayor of Inwood

More than 4,000 MoveOn members are exploring running for elected office. If you've thought about how things could be different in Inwood, you should join them! Will you join the progressive wave and consider running for office? 

Yes, I'm interested!

Dear MoveOn member,

If you were mayor of Inwood, what would be the first thing you'd do? Make sure city employees don't lose their pensions? Support green business startups? Or maybe fight back against cuts to crucial local services?

This isn't just a hypothetical scenario—it's exactly what more than 4,000 MoveOn members just like you have been thinking about since taking the first step to run for elective office. And they're not just running for mayor. They're exploring running for offices including school board, town council, and state legislature in cities and towns across the country.

If you've ever thought, "I've got some ideas for doing things differently in Inwood," or seen a local politician and thought, "If that were me, things would be different," then it's time to join thousands of other progressives across the country and run for office. 

And if you decide to run, you won't be alone. You'll be part of a nationwide progressive strategy to take back local offices in 2012 and beyond. To help give you the resources you need to run a competitive campaign, we've partnered with the New Organizing Institute to provide you with online training and strategic advice. Trust me—running for office is easier than you think. So what do you say?

Yes, I'd consider running for office.

Back in 2010, tea party candidates, backed by national tea party groups, were elected to hundreds of local offices. That's exactly what we're going to do in 2012—but with a wave of candidates who will stand up for the 99% in communities across the country.  

If you decide to run, you'll gain access to the New Organizing Institute's great online training programs. And to help progressive candidates in 2012, they've created a comprehensive set of candidate guides. Here are some examples of what you'll have access to:

  • Expert online courses on how to run your own campaign and how to get started
  • Help finding the elected position that's right for you 
  • An online community so that you can ask questions and share advice with other progressive candidates around the nation
  • A database of time-tested strategic campaign tips, and more

So if you've ever wanted to change things in New York, or imagined yourself running for office in Inwood, now's the time.

What do you think? Are you in?

Yes, I'd consider running for office.

Thanks for all you do.

 –Kat, Elena, Tate, Garlin, 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 January 23, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

48 hours before a sweetheart deal?

Dear MoveOn member,

We're getting down to the wire. Reports are out that in the next 48 hours, President Obama could make the call on whether to hold Wall Street accountable by opening an investigation into the banks' role in the housing crisis, or agree to a sweetheart deal that lets them off the hook.1

You're one of 360,000 progressives who's called on the president to investigate the banks, rather than giving them the broad immunity they seek. But we need to ramp up the pressure this weekend before the decision is made. 

This could be the make or break moment. Can you share the petition right now on Facebook, Twitter, and email to make sure the president hears loud and clear that we're counting on him to stand up to Wall Street?

Click here to share the petition right away.

On Thursday, at events across the country, MoveOn members delivered our signatures to the president asking him to investigate.2 Now, we need to keep building grassroots pressure with more people signing on. We'll send new petition signatures to the White House throughout the weekend.  

This weekend could turn out to be the most crucial moment in this campaign. By sharing the petition on Facebook and Twitter, and making sure as many of your friends and family as possible sign, you can turn our voice into something President Obama can't ignore.

Click here to share our petition and hold big banks accountable.

Thanks for all you do.

–Elena, Michael, Marika, Wes, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Shaking Their Windows and Rattling Their Walls," Huffington Post, January 20, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269677&id=34958-10220574-cnKJ_px&t=3

2. "MoveOn, Color Of Change Demand Obama To Investigate Wall Street Banks, Housing Crisis," Huffington Post, January 19, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269678&id=34958-10220574-cnKJ_px&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 January 21, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

The blackout worked

Senators now against PIPA


Share This Victory!

Dear MoveOn member,

Wednesday's Internet blackout was historic because of your activism and the millions of others who spoke out strongly against Internet censorship.Our voices were heard loud and clear through major media coverage of the blackout. 

What did we accomplish? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid indefinitely postponed this coming Tuesday's vote on the Internet censorship bill in the Senate, the PROTECT IP Act.2

Ten million people spoke out online to reject Internet censorship and drowned out the lobbyists who thought they could get whatever bill they wanted passed only a few months ago.3 Wednesday proved that the energy, enthusiasm, and influence of real people contacting Congress is stronger than anything lobbyist money can buy.

This week's Internet blackout was a success, but there's more work to do. As long as these Internet censorship bills are being considered, we'll keep fighting. Stay tuned.

Thanks for all you do.

Garlin, Eli, Ryan, Elena, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Sopa support drops off as blackout protest rattles the internet," The Guardian, January 18, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269646&id=34956-10220574-D425pjx&t=3

2. "SOPA, PIPA votes to be delayed in House and Senate," The Washington Post, January 20, 2012 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269670&id=34956-10220574-D425pjx&t=4

3. "Largest online protest in history—January 18," SOPA STRIKE, January 19, 2012 
http://sopastrike.com/numbers/

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 January 21, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Update: President Obama got our message

"It's very cold in New York tonight—but we're heated every time we think about what the banks have gotten away with."

–Regina McRae, MoveOn member and Wall Street survivor


Dear MoveOn member,

Like many Americans, Regina has been directly affected by the housing crisis—she lost her home. Fueled by our anger at Wall Street, she was one of thousands who gathered at local Obama campaign offices and big banks to urge the president to investigate Wall Street. Regina took her message right to President Obama's fundraiser at the Apollo Theater in New York City. Watch Regina in this short, powerful video report—then share it with friends: 

As the 99% chanted "Hold the banks accountable! Hold the banks accountable!" in Harlem, MoveOn members in 140 communities across the country demanded justice for the 99%—from blustery Grand Rapids, MI, to sunny San Diego, CA. Local TV news and newspapers came out to hear stories of struggling homeowners fed up with banks getting a pass—ensuring that big and small events reached a wide audience.

Dozens more braved frigid temperatures at Obama for America headquarters in Chicago to deliver all 360,000 petitions gathered by MoveOn, Credo Action, Color of Change, Progressives United, Campaign for America's Future, and The New Bottom Line.

Our work to hold Wall Street accountable isn't finished. We got the president's attention yesterday. Now we're counting on him to do what's right—investigate Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and others for their criminal conduct

You'll receive an email on Tuesday with the chance to send another message to the president right before he delivers the State of the Union address. If you have ideas for what we should do next on this campaign, email help@moveon.org.

Thanks for all you do.

–Elena, PaKou, Eric, Emily, 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 January 20, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Your donation didn't go through--Please try again

Dear MoveOn member,

Earlier today, you may have had trouble making a donation to help stop the GOP's efforts to steal the 2012 election by disenfranchising millions of students, seniors, African-Americans, and poor people.

The technical problems with our donation page are now fixed, and we strongly urge you to try making your donation again now. Just click here:

http://civ.moveon.org/donatec4/votingrights.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=34842-10220574-V6jLdZx&t=1

The full original email about this campaign is pasted below.

Again, we're really sorry for the glitch and hope you can still chip in $5

–Steven, Anna, Adam Q., Stefanie, and the rest of the team


Republicans are trying to steal the 2012 election by disenfranchising millions of students, seniors, African-Americans, and poor people—the most sweeping attack on voting rights since Jim Crow. Can you chip in $5 to stop them?

Chip in $5

Dear MoveOn member,

Imagine Mitt Romney in the White House. Tea party Republicans still in control of Congress. No Obama to veto their worst bills.

The election is months away, but this scenario could definitely happen, and here's a big reason why: voter suppression laws passed by Republicans in battleground states to make it as hard as possible for students, poor people, African-Americans, and Latinos to vote. 

Already, Wisconsin, Florida, and Ohio have passed laws to restrict voter registration drives, end early voting, or require voters to present photo IDs at the polls.1 And now Republicans are scrambling to pass laws in virtually every other key battleground state to make it harder to vote in 2012.

These laws shamelessly target key segments of the Obama coalition from 2008, including first-time voters, poor people, and people of color, and could easily tip a close election to Mitt Romney or whoever the Republican nominee is. We're looking at Florida in 2000 all over again.

The good news is that Attorney General Eric Holder has used the Voting Rights Act to block one of the worst GOP voter suppression laws in South Carolina. But the election won't be decided in South Carolina—and to protect every vote Holder needs to keep going.

It'll be a huge fight with Republicans, and with the election approaching, we don't have much time. So we're aiming to raise at least $150,000 this week to launch an emergency grassroots campaign for voting rights. Can you chip in $5?

Yes, I can give $5 to help stop the GOP attack on voting rights.

Here's our plan: First, we'll team up with the leading voting rights groups in each state—great organizations like the Advancement Project, who have top-notch expertise in the policy but who don't have the grassroots network that MoveOn has.

Then, MoveOn will organize events to deliver petitions calling out the Republican legislators behind these despicable attacks on voting rights, swamp their phone lines, and show Attorney General Holder that if they refuse to back down, we'll be right there with him. 

Voting is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy. But Republicans know that if they can shave off even 1-2% of turnout among these key voting blocs, it'll be enough to tip the scales in race after race. 

These laws are a major attack on voting rights. Nationwide, 21 million eligible voters lack the kinds of photo ID required by these laws.2 And especially if you're elderly, poor, or a student, it's not easy to jump through the hoops required by these laws.

Take Joy Lieberman of Missouri. She's 80 years old and has been voting for 60 years. But now she won't be able to vote because her birth certificate does not list her middle name. Or Larry Butler, who was born in 1926 in South Carolina, when birth certificates often were not issued to black Americans. Now, it would cost Mr. Butler $150 to get the documents required by South Carolina's voter suppression law.3

The 2012 election is coming up fast, so we don't have much time. Can you chip in $5?

Yes, I can give $5 to help stop the GOP attack on voting rights.

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Anna, Adam Q., Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Voter Identification Requirements," National Conference of State Legislatures, January 9, 2012
http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16602

2. "Voting Law Changes in 2012," Brennan Center for Justice, October 3, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268598&id=34842-10220574-V6jLdZx&t=5

3. "Democracy Under Assault: The Truth About Voter Disenfranchisement Laws," Advancement Project, accessed December 6, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268596&id=34842-10220574-V6jLdZx&t=6 [PDF]

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is 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.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on January 18, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Your donation didn't go through--Please try again

Dear MoveOn member,

Earlier today, you may have had trouble making a donation to help stop the GOP's efforts to steal the 2012 election by disenfranchising millions of students, seniors, African-Americans, and poor people.

The technical problems with our donation page are now fixed, and we strongly urge you to try making your donation again now. Just click here:

http://civ.moveon.org/donatec4/votingrights.html?id=34841-10220574-qccrHJx&t=1

The full original email about this campaign is pasted below.

Again, we're really sorry for the glitch and hope you can still chip in $5

–Steven, Anna, Adam Q., Stefanie, and the rest of the team


Republicans are trying to steal the 2012 election by disenfranchising millions of students, seniors, African-Americans, and poor people—the most sweeping attack on voting rights since Jim Crow. Can you chip in $5 to stop them?

Chip in $5

Dear MoveOn member,

Imagine Mitt Romney in the White House. Tea party Republicans still in control of Congress. No Obama to veto their worst bills.

The election is months away, but this scenario could definitely happen, and here's a big reason why: voter suppression laws passed by Republicans in battleground states to make it as hard as possible for students, poor people, African-Americans, and Latinos to vote. 

Already, Wisconsin, Florida, and Ohio have passed laws to restrict voter registration drives, end early voting, or require voters to present photo IDs at the polls.1 And now Republicans are scrambling to pass laws in virtually every other key battleground state to make it harder to vote in 2012.

These laws shamelessly target key segments of the Obama coalition from 2008, including first-time voters, poor people, and people of color, and could easily tip a close election to Mitt Romney or whoever the Republican nominee is. We're looking at Florida in 2000 all over again.

The good news is that Attorney General Eric Holder has used the Voting Rights Act to block one of the worst GOP voter suppression laws in South Carolina. But the election won't be decided in South Carolina—and to protect every vote Holder needs to keep going.

It'll be a huge fight with Republicans, and with the election approaching, we don't have much time. So we're aiming to raise at least $150,000 this week to launch an emergency grassroots campaign for voting rights. Can you chip in $5?

Yes, I can give $5 to help stop the GOP attack on voting rights.

Here's our plan: First, we'll team up with the leading voting rights groups in each state—great organizations like the Advancement Project, who have top-notch expertise in the policy but who don't have the grassroots network that MoveOn has.

Then, MoveOn will organize events to deliver petitions calling out the Republican legislators behind these despicable attacks on voting rights, swamp their phone lines, and show Attorney General Holder that if they refuse to back down, we'll be right there with him. 

Voting is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy. But Republicans know that if they can shave off even 1-2% of turnout among these key voting blocs, it'll be enough to tip the scales in race after race. 

These laws are a major attack on voting rights. Nationwide, 21 million eligible voters lack the kinds of photo ID required by these laws.2 And especially if you're elderly, poor, or a student, it's not easy to jump through the hoops required by these laws.

Take Joy Lieberman of Missouri. She's 80 years old and has been voting for 60 years. But now she won't be able to vote because her birth certificate does not list her middle name. Or Larry Butler, who was born in 1926 in South Carolina, when birth certificates often were not issued to black Americans. Now, it would cost Mr. Butler $150 to get the documents required by South Carolina's voter suppression law.3

The 2012 election is coming up fast, so we don't have much time. Can you chip in $5?

Yes, I can give $5 to help stop the GOP attack on voting rights.

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Anna, Adam Q., Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Voter Identification Requirements," National Conference of State Legislatures, January 9, 2012
http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16602

2. "Voting Law Changes in 2012," Brennan Center for Justice, October 3, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268598&id=34841-10220574-qccrHJx&t=5

3. "Democracy Under Assault: The Truth About Voter Disenfranchisement Laws," Advancement Project, accessed December 6, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268596&id=34841-10220574-qccrHJx&t=6 [PDF]

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is 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.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on January 18, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

URGENT: GOP plan to the steal election

Republicans are trying to steal the 2012 election by disenfranchising millions of students, seniors, African-Americans, and poor people—the most sweeping attack on voting rights since Jim Crow. Can you chip in $5 to stop them?

Chip in $5

Dear MoveOn member,

Imagine Mitt Romney in the White House. Tea party Republicans still in control of Congress. No Obama to veto their worst bills.

The election is months away, but this scenario could definitely happen, and here's a big reason why: voter suppression laws passed by Republicans in battleground states to make it as hard as possible for students, poor people, African-Americans, and Latinos to vote. 

Already, Wisconsin, Florida, and Ohio have passed laws to restrict voter registration drives, end early voting, or require voters to present photo IDs at the polls.1 And now Republicans are scrambling to pass laws in virtually every other key battleground state to make it harder to vote in 2012.

These laws shamelessly target key segments of the Obama coalition from 2008, including first-time voters, poor people, and people of color, and could easily tip a close election to Mitt Romney or whoever the Republican nominee is. We're looking at Florida in 2000 all over again.

The good news is that Attorney General Eric Holder has used the Voting Rights Act to block one of the worst GOP voter suppression laws in South Carolina. But the election won't be decided in South Carolina—and to protect every vote Holder needs to keep going.

It'll be a huge fight with Republicans, and with the election approaching, we don't have much time. So we're aiming to raise at least $150,000 this week to launch an emergency grassroots campaign for voting rights. Can you chip in $5?

Yes, I can give $5 to help stop the GOP attack on voting rights.

Here's our plan: First, we'll team up with the leading voting rights groups in each state—great organizations like the Advancement Project, who have top-notch expertise in the policy but who don't have the grassroots network that MoveOn has.

Then, MoveOn will organize events to deliver petitions calling out the Republican legislators behind these despicable attacks on voting rights, swamp their phone lines, and show Attorney General Holder that if they refuse to back down, we'll be right there with him. 

Voting is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy. But Republicans know that if they can shave off even 1-2% of turnout among these key voting blocs, it'll be enough to tip the scales in race after race. 

These laws are a major attack on voting rights. Nationwide, 21 million eligible voters lack the kinds of photo ID required by these laws.2 And especially if you're elderly, poor, or a student, it's not easy to jump through the hoops required by these laws.

Take Joy Lieberman of Missouri. She's 80 years old and has been voting for 60 years. But now she won't be able to vote because her birth certificate does not list her middle name. Or Larry Butler, who was born in 1926 in South Carolina, when birth certificates often were not issued to black Americans. Now, it would cost Mr. Butler $150 to get the documents required by South Carolina's voter suppression law.3

The 2012 election is coming up fast, so we don't have much time. Can you chip in $5?

Yes, I can give $5 to help stop the GOP attack on voting rights.

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Anna, Adam Q., Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Voter Identification Requirements," National Conference of State Legislatures, January 9, 2012
http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16602

2. "Voting Law Changes in 2012," Brennan Center for Justice, October 3, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268598&id=34835-10220574-HrFx8dx&t=4

3. "Democracy Under Assault: The Truth About Voter Disenfranchisement Laws," Advancement Project, accessed December 6, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268596&id=34835-10220574-HrFx8dx&t=5 [PDF]

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is 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.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on January 18, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

MoveOn.org Blackout

MoveOn.org: CENSORED

If you have a website, join the blackout to protest Internet censorship legislation on January 18. 

Join the Blackout

Dear MoveOn member,

Tomorrow, MoveOn.org will go dark. No news, no information, no resources. Why? Because we're protesting Internet censorship.

Websites all over the Internet, including sites like YouTube and even MoveOn.org, could be made unavailable if big entertainment companies, the Chamber of Commerce, and their lobbyists get their way by ramming Internet censorship legislation through the Senate.

That's why tomorrow, Wednesday, January 18, we're joining Reddit, Wikipedia, Mozilla, Wordpress, TwitPic, Boing Boing, and thousands of other sites and blacking out MoveOn.org in protest.1

You can participate in the blackout too and show the world tomorrow why you oppose Internet censorship.

Do you have a website?

Yes, I have a website and will participate in the blackout.

No, I don't have a website, but I want to participate.

Last summer, these greedy corporations and their lobbyists thought they could wave their wallets and pass whatever bill they wanted that would harm the Internet. But over 230,000 MoveOn members, along with hundreds of thousands of other activists, spoke loudly at the end of 2011, letting Congress know that we would not support Internet censorship. The result of this was a significant weakening of support for the bill in the House.2

They heard us then, and the Senate needs to a strong statement from us now because they're set to vote on this bill on January 24.

So we're taking tomorrow to show just what the Internet would look like in an Internet censorship era. If you don't like it, let everyone you're connected to online know tomorrow. Then stay tuned for the next phase of this fight.

Yes, I have a website and will participate in the blackout.

No, I don't have a website, but I want to participate.

Thanks for all you do.

–Garlin, Elena, Peter, Mark, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Wikipedia Blackout: Websites Wikipedia, Reddit, Others Go Dark Wednesday to Protest SOPA, PIPA," ABC News, January 17, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269602&id=&id=34811-10220574-LWMhBxx&t=6

2. "SOPA on hold, PIPA may be weakened as Congress revisits the bills." InfoWorld, January 16, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269603&id=34811-10220574-LWMhBxx&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 January 17, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Take it to the banks in Inwood

Dear MoveOn member,

Thanks again for signing the petition asking President Obama to launch a full investigation into the Big Banks! Hundreds of thousands of people have signed the petition, and groups like Russ Feingold's Progressives United, CREDO Action, and Color of Change are also calling on the president to investigate. 

To maximize the petition's power, MoveOn members are organizing petition deliveries and events at banks next Thursday. We'll let the president know how much the 99% is counting on him for bold action and rally in front of banks to let him know exactly who he should be investigating.

There's still not an event in Inwood—can you host a "Yes He Can?" event in front of your local Obama campaign office or Wall Street bank (Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, etc.)?

Yes, I can organize an event!

Check out the email below for more information about the fraudulent practices of the banks and how hosting an event can help hold Wall Street accountable.

Thanks for all you do.

Elena, Milan, Adam Q., Amy, and the rest of the team


 

The 99% is urging President Obama to call for a full investigation of Wall Street banks to hold them accountable. Can you help deliver our petition signatures to your local Obama campaign office on Thursday, January 19? 

Click here to host!

Dear MoveOn member,

In just 3 days, more than 200,000 people have signed our petition asking President Obama to "hold Wall Street banks accountable by fully investigating the Big Bank fraud that caused the housing crisis." Next Thursday, January 19, we'll deliver these petitions to local Obama campaign offices so that he uses his power to make Wall Street pay. 

Despite wrecking our economy and harming millions of Americans, Wall Street still hasn't had to account for its actions. Adding insult to injury, although Big Banks foreclosed on nearly 350,000 homes over the past few months,1 banks are set to give out a whopping $156 billion in compensation this year, including executive bonuses.2 

President Obama has a choice to make: Let the banks off the hook or order a full federal investigation into bank practices during the housing crisis. President Obama has referenced FDR's famous quote before: "You've convinced me. Now go out and make me do it." Can you help "make him do it" by hosting an event in front of your local OFA campaign office?

Yes, I can organize an event!

The president has the power to order this investigation today and start the year off right. Emboldened by the energy of the 99% movement, he recently bucked the GOP and Wall Street to appoint Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Now we need President Obama to keep fighting to bring Wall Street to justice. 

On January 19—just five days before his State of the Union address—we'll gather to deliver our petitions in front of Obama's campaign offices in all 50 states for "Yes He Can?" events. We'll call on President Obama to stand strong with the 99% and make sure Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, and other Big Banks are held accountable. 

Can you host a "Yes He Can?" event to ask the president to use his power to make Wall Street pay?

Click here to host!

Hosting an event is powerful and easy. You'll get all the materials you need and access to the petitions from MoveOn members for the delivery. If you don't have an office near by, that's OK—just hold the event outside of the nearest Wall Street bank branch—then, mail in the petitions.

Thanks for all you do.

Elena, Robin, Peter, Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Home foreclosures jump in third quarter," Reuters, December 21, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269265&id=34675-10220574-zvMVm3x&t=5

2. "Report: Big Bank Bonuses in 2011," New Bottom Line, accessed January 10, 2012
http://www.newbottomline.com/report_big_bank_bonuses_in_2011

MoveOn is committed to nonviolence in the long tradition of protest movements throughout our history that have brought America closer to our founding dream—liberty and justice for all. As progressives, we respect all people and do not support or endorse any violence or property destruction.

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 January 12, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Yes, petitions really do work

Dear MoveOn member,

A couple months ago, a MoveOn member named Robert Applebaum started up a petition for student loan forgiveness using our new website, SignOn.org. Robert's petition spread quickly, especially after we emailed it to our list.

Then, something really amazing happened. President Obama actually responded—not with a form letter, but with an actual change in policy that will lower student loan payments for over 1.6 million people.

Of course, Robert didn't do this alone, and this isn't the total solution to the student debt problem. But it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that petitions can make a difference.

Now it's your turn. Using SignOn.org, you can start your own online petition on any issue—local or national—and invite your friends to sign it. We'll send the most popular petitions to other MoveOn members to help build support for your cause. 

Click here to start your own petition on SignOn.org right now.

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Anna, Michael, Adam Q., Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is 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.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on January 11, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Yes he can?

The 99% is urging President Obama to call for a full investigation of Wall Street banks to hold them accountable. Can you help deliver our petition signatures to your local Obama campaign office on Thursday, January 19? 

Click here to host!

Dear MoveOn member,

In just 3 days, more than 185,000 people have signed our petition asking President Obama to "hold Wall Street banks accountable by fully investigating the Big Bank fraud that caused the housing crisis." Next Thursday, January 19, we'll deliver these petitions to local Obama campaign offices so that he uses his power to make Wall Street pay. 

Despite wrecking our economy and harming millions of Americans, Wall Street still hasn't had to account for its actions. Adding insult to injury, although Big Banks foreclosed on nearly 350,000 homes over the past few months,1 banksters are set to get a whopping $156 billion in bonuses this year.2 

President Obama has a choice to make: Let the banks off the hook or order a full federal investigation into bank practices during the housing crisis. President Obama has referenced FDR's famous quote before: "You've convinced me. Now go out and make me do it." Can you help "make him do it" by hosting an event in front of your local OFA campaign office?

Yes, I can organize an event!

The president has the power to order this investigation today and start the year off right. Emboldened by the energy of the 99% movement, he recently bucked the GOP and Wall Street to appoint Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Now we need President Obama to keep fighting to bring Wall Street to justice. 

On January 19—just five days before his State of the Union address—we'll gather to deliver our petitions in front of Obama's campaign offices in all 50 states for "Yes He Can?" events. We'll call on President Obama to stand strong with the 99% and make sure Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, and other Big Banks are held accountable. 

Can you host a "Yes He Can?" event to ask the president to use his power to make Wall Street pay?

Click here to host!

Hosting an event is powerful and easy. You'll get all the materials you need and access to the petitions from MoveOn members for the delivery. If you don't have an office near by, that's OK—just hold the event outside of the nearest Wall Street bank branch—then, mail in the petitions.

Thanks for all you do.

Elena, Robin, Peter, Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Home foreclosures jump in third quarter," Reuters, December 21, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269265&id=34602-10220574-ogqzWLx&t=4

2. "Report: Big Bank Bonuses in 2011," New Bottom Line, accessed January 10, 2012
http://www.newbottomline.com/report_big_bank_bonuses_in_2011


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 January 10, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.