Friday, August 31, 2012

Clint made our day

Dear MoveOn member,

Did you miss it?

The Romney campaign produced a video biopic to show Americans how Mitt Romney is a regular guy—just like them.

But most Americans missed it, because its prime time slot was taken up by Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair (occupied by an invisible President Obama).1 You just can't make this stuff up.

We didn't think that was fair, so we're offering Americans our own mock-umentary based on the true story of Romney's hardscrabble upbringing in one of the wealthiest towns in the country. It's called, "The Man from Bloomfield Hills."

After people watch this video, even that empty chair will out-poll Romney on likeability. So click here to watch it, laugh, and share it with everyone you know.

Thanks for all you do.

–Lenore, Victoria, Mark, Carrie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Rachel Maddow: Clint Eastwood RNC Speech Was 'The Weirdest Thing I Have Ever Seen At A Political Convetion' (VIDEO)," The Huffington Post, August 31, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279632&id=50268-10220574-5IdPIBx&t=3

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Ryan's five lies

Below is an email from Brenda Witt, a MoveOn member who created a petition on SignOn.org, the nonprofit site that allows anyone to start their own online petition. If you have concerns or feedback about this petition, click here.

Last night, Paul Ryan lied to the American people. Add your name to my SignOn.org petition demanding that the mainstream media expose the truth.

"Mainstream media: Fact-check and call out candidates when they lie. You have an obligation as journalists to educate the public on the facts of the major campaign issues."

Sign the Petition!

Dear MoveOn member,

Last night, Paul Ryan lied to the American people. Some journalists and outlets covered Ryan's lies. But others failed to check the facts and didn't call Ryan out on his brazen lies.

In this crucial election, news reporters have an obligation to educate the public about the facts regarding the major issues and call out the candidates every time they lie.

That's why I created a petition urging the major news corporations—ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX, and MSNBC—to live up to their obligation to report the truth. The petition says:

Mainstream media: Fact-check and call out candidates when they lie. You have an obligation as journalists to educate the public on the facts of the major campaign issues.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Here is a list of five lies that Paul Ryan told when he gave his speech at the Republican National Convention last night. Every single news outlet should report on these lies.

1. Lie: President Obama is the "greatest threat" to Medicare.

Truth: Obama didn't make any cuts to Medicare benefits; he made cuts to provider reimbursements, to improve cost efficiency and extend the fiscal security of Medicare by eight years. According to the Medicare actuary, "[Obama's] Affordable Care Act makes important changes to the Medicare program and substantially improves its financial outlook."1

But Ryan actually does want to cut benefits. He proposed dismantling Medicare and replacing it with a voucher system, leaving millions of seniors to come up with more money to pay for care out of pocket.2,3

2. Lie: President Obama didn't save a General Motors plant in Wisconsin.

Truth: First, Obama wasn't even in office when the GM plant closed. Second, Obama never made a promise to save it.4

3. Lie: President Obama ignored recommendations of a bipartisan debt commission.

Truth: Paul Ryan actually sat on that commission. And he led Republicans in voting down the commission's own recommendation. So the commission never gave a report to Obama, because Ryan himself voted to kill the report before it could.5

4. Lie: President Obama is responsible for the downgrading of the U.S. Credit Rating

Truth: House Republicans, including Paul Ryan, held the full faith and credit of the United States hostage to try to ransom it for trillions of dollars in cuts to social programs without increasing taxes on the wealthy one dime. Standard & Poors said specifically, "We have changed our assumption on [revenue] because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues." That's why our nation's credit rating was downgraded.6,7

5. Lie: Ryan wants to protect the "weak."

Truth: Ryan's biggest feat in his political career was proposing a budget with dramatic cuts to programs benefiting the poor. He'd cut Medicaid by one third, take away health care insurance from 30 million Americans, and cut Pell Grants for 1 million students. All so that he could give more tax breaks to the rich.8

Click here to add your name to my SignOn.org petition urging ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX, and MSNBC to call out candidates when they lie, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Brenda Witt

Sources:

1. "Fact check: Paul Ryan at the RNC," USA Today, August 30, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279602&id=50188-10220574-_UoB98x&t=8

2. "Undoing Obama Medicare cuts may backfire on Romney," The Boston Globe, August 18, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279597&id=50188-10220574-_UoB98x&t=9

3. "Romney-Ryan Medicare Plan Would Cost 29-Year-Olds $331,200: Report," Huffington Post, August 27, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279596&id=50188-10220574-_UoB98x&t=10

4. "Paul Ryan Misleads With GM Plant Closure Tale," Huffington Post, August 29, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279598&id=50188-10220574-_UoB98x&t=11

5. "Fact Check: Paul Ryan misleads on debt panel's spending cut plan," CNN, August 30, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279608&id=50188-10220574-_UoB98x&t=12

6. "Top 5 Fibs In Paul Ryan's Convention Speech," Talking Points Memo, August 30, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279595&id=50188-10220574-_UoB98x&t=13

7. "Paul Ryan Address: Convention Speech Built On Demonstrably Misleading Assertions," Huffington Post, August 30, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279604&id=50188-10220574-_UoB98x&t=14

8. "4 Ways Paul Ryan's Budget Would Devastate The Poor," ThinkProgress, August 17, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279605&id=50188-10220574-_UoB98x&t=15

This petition was created on SignOn.org, the progressive, nonprofit petition site. SignOn.org is sponsored by MoveOn Civic Action, which is not responsible for the contents of this or other petitions posted on the site. Brenda Witt didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 7 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 August 30, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Story of Mitt

Dear MoveOn Member,

Polls show that our efforts to redefine Mitt Romney as the candidate of the 1% have been effective, but at this week's Republican Convention, Mitt's got one more chance to re-introduce himself to the country.1 He's running a three-day advertising campaign, with prime time media coverage, to convince voters that he's actually concerned about the average citizen.

But that's a lie we're not going to let him tell.

This Thursday, we're releasing "The Man from Bloomfield Hills," a hilarious mini-doc based on the true story of Mitt's hardscrabble upbringing in one of the wealthiest towns in the U.S. The "mockumentary" is in the style of other candidate biographies shown at conventions, and is told from the perspective of the people who know Mitt best, including his wife Ann Romney.

To celebrate the release, and to coincide with Romney's acceptance of the Republican nomination, we're having an online watch party Thursday evening. Will you watch with us? Click here to view the trailer and RSVP for the online watch party.

Thanks for all you do.

–Lenore, Victoria, Mark, Carrie, and the rest of the team

Source:

1. "Poll: Mitt Romney better for the rich," Politico, August 27, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279545&id=50069-10220574-7HrQamx&t=1

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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 29, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Obama by 9?

This election is all about who votes. If Republicans succeed in suppressing turnout, they win. So we're focused like a laser on turning out people who support Obama, but might not vote. Chip in today to help make this breakthrough multimillion-dollar program possible.

Chip in $5

Dear MoveOn member,

CNN's latest poll has President Obama winning by nine points...among registered voters.1

But his lead is just two points—within the margin of error—among likely voters. And that's the whole ballgame.

If voters turn out like they did in 2008, President Obama will win in a landslide, and progressive champions like Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Baldwin will be senators. If it looks like 2010, we could face a Republican sweep.

That's why MoveOn is focused like a laser on turning out unlikely voters. We're partnering with the AFL-CIO affiliate Workers' Voice to combine the grassroots power of MoveOn and organized labor, we're making sure candidates know how to talk about the Romney-Ryan plan to end Medicare, and we're releasing a barrage of ads to remind voters how great a Republican victory would be for the 1%.

But to fund all this, we need to raise $400,000 this week. It's crunch time. Can you chip in?

Yes, I can contribute $5.

Republicans are doing everything they can to make 2012 a repeat of the tea party wave in 2010. They're putting up all kinds of new barriers to make it harder to vote, lying about President Obama's policies, and have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on ads.

Their plan is simple: Shrink the electorate by keeping progressives, young people, and people of color away from the polls. If they fail, we win.

MoveOn members once powered the most effective voter-turnout program ever studied.2 Now we have an opportunity to shatter past records, in an election where voter turnout will decide the outcome. But it's a multimillion-dollar program, and we need your help to make it happen.

Click below to chip in $5.

https://pol.moveon.org/2012c/donate/nine_points.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=49964-10220574-IdgH0gx&t=3

The money you contribute today creates an opportunity for all of us to make calls, knock on doors, and make a difference this election.

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Levana, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "CNN Poll: Obama 49%-Romney 47% among likely voters," CNN, August 24, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279501&id=49964-10220574-IdgH0gx&t=4

2. "Middleton 2006—MoveOn and Voter Mobilization in 2004," GOTV website, Institution for Social and Policy Studies, 2006
http://gotv.research.yale.edu/?q=node/50

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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 28, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Don't tread on us

Dear MoveOn member,

Our efforts to define Mitt Romney as the candidate for the 1% are working. Nearly 6 in 10 Americans think Romney will look out for the rich more than the middle class if he becomes president.1

But Romney just pulled ahead of President Obama in the latest national poll, and he's gaining ground in some key swing states.2 At the Republican Convention in Tampa this week, Romney's going to try to do what all the experts say he has to—make us believe that he actually cares about the middle class, even though all the evidence shows otherwise.

That's why it's so important to remind voters that Romney and Ryan will step on cash-strapped seniors by dismantling Medicare and walk over the struggling middle class with more taxes to pay for steep tax cuts for the rich.3 And we have a video that LITERALLY shows just that.

Watch this short video of Romney and Ryan accepting their nomination for President and Vice President of the 1%. And then share it with all your friends so that they're not fooled.


Stepping on the  middle class

Thanks for all you do.

–Lenore, Tate, Emily, Robin, and the rest of the team

P.S. Tune in soon for the hilarious mockumentary about how Mitt Romney survived his hardscrabble childhood 'burbs of Bloomfield Hills to become the man he is today. It's aptly named The Man from Bloomfield Hills, and it's coming out just in time for Romney's acceptance speech!

Sources:

1. "Poll: Obama, Romney neck-and-neck ahead of party conventions," The Washington Post, August 27, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279437&id=&t=5&id=49894-10220574-YnfqVox&t=4

2. Ibid.

"Despite Medicare plan, Romney gains in swing states," The Boston Globe, August 23, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279459&id=49894-10220574-YnfqVox&t=5

3. "Study: Romney tax plan would result in cuts for rich, higher burden for others," The Washington Post, August 1, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278241&id=49894-10220574-YnfqVox&t=6


Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Have an idea for a petition?

Dear MoveOn member,

About a year ago, MoveOn launched a website called SignOn.org to help anyone to start their own online petition. And since then we've seen thousands of MoveOn members use the site to do truly amazing things.

A community in New York City came together to save their local independent bookstore. A school bus driver in Utah stopped a bill banning sex education in public schools. And a law school graduate wrote a petition calling for student debt forgiveness that went viral and was signed by over one million people—helping convince President Obama to issue an executive order cutting loan debt for millions of families.

It reminds us of how MoveOn started in 1998, when we started our own petition demanding that the Republicans in Congress stop talking about impeaching President Clinton over a sex scandal and "Move On to Pressing Issues Facing the Nation." We had never been involved in politics and were amazed when our one-sentence petition gathered names from across the country from Democrats, Republicans, Independents and more. In retrospect, we think we stepped into a vacuum of leadership.

Now it's your turn. Using SignOn.org, you too can start your own online petition 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.

As always, thanks for all you do.

–Joan Blades & Wes Boyd Founders of MoveOn.org

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 7 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 August 25, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Reich breaks it down

Dear MoveOn member,

You may know that the Romney-Ryan plan spells disaster for the middle class, but do you know all 5 reasons why? And could you explain it to a friend? Or an undecided voter?

You will after you watch this video of former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who breaks down the 5 ways Romney and Ryan's plan would destroy all our hopes of a stable economy for the middle class.

Then you won't even have to explain it to a friend—you can let Reich do that for you, by sharing this compelling video. But, the next time a conservative starts spouting the virtues of the Romney-Ryan ticket, you'll be ready with 5 sharp comebacks from an economic expert.



Thanks for all you do.

–Lenore, Milan, Robin, Amy, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Re: Romney's secret weapon (hint: it's not Paul Ryan)

Hi—I wanted to make sure you saw this note. Time is running out to stop Republican voter suppression efforts, so every dollar invested today is critical.  
President Obama is leading in the polls, but he could still lose because of voter suppression laws in key battleground states like Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and more. Chip in $5 to help convince local election officials to opt out of the Republican voter suppression campaign. 

Chip in $5

Dear MoveOn member,

The latest polls since Mitt Romney picked Paul Ryan show President Obama still holding a narrow lead of 1-2 points in several key states.1

But, if the election was held today, President Obama could still lose—because of widespread Republican voter suppression tactics in key swing states.

Republicans are purging the voter rolls, shortening voting hours in Democratic precincts, kicking Democrats off local election boards, and requiring registered voters to show photo ID.2

There's no bigger priority between now and November than stopping these GOP voter suppression tactics so that no eligible Obama voter is turned away at the polls. And MoveOn is one of the few groups in America with enough grassroots supporters to do something about it.

Can you chip in $5 to help pay for our emergency campaign to stop GOP voter suppression? We need county-level campaign teams in hundreds of places, lawyers to figure out the local voting rules, field organizers to cover all the key states, and an ad budget for targeted local ads urging election officials to do the right thing.

Yes, I'll chip in $5 to stop voter suppression.

Make no mistake: because of GOP voter suppression efforts, local election officials you've never heard of could easily decide the outcome of the presidential race.

The battle unfolding in Ohio is a perfect example. First, the Republican secretary of state tried to set shorter voting hours in Democratic counties versus Republican counties. Voters freaked out and he backed off, setting uniform voting hours statewide.

That was a great partial victory for voters, but the new hours he set are still shorter than in 2008, which will make it impossible for some students, folks with two jobs, and other Democratic-leaning groups to vote. And his new rules do not allow for any in-person early voting on weekends, the best time for many folks to vote.3

MoveOn members are pushing to reinstate weekend early voting hours so everyone can vote, but it's going to require another major grassroots push.

Similar fights are playing out Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and other key states, and come Election Day it'll be too late. We have to pull out all the stops now.

Click here to chip in $5 to stop the GOP's voter suppression.

MoveOn is running local campaigns all over the country to make sure local officials do all they can to protect the right to vote.

You might have seen Pennsylvania MoveOn member Steven Singer on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" this week talking about the Allegheny County petition he started on SignOn.org, MoveOn's petition website.

An election official in one Pennsylvania county is refusing to enforce that state's discriminatory new Voter ID Law, and now MoveOn members all across Pennsylvania are urging county election supervisors to instruct poll workers to let all registered voters vote.They have the authority to make that decision—we just need to give them the political backing to do the right thing.

We need county-level campaigns like this in hundreds of places around the country to make a dent in this problem. Can you chip in $5 to help pay for the lawyers, field organizers, and ads we need to win?

Yes, I can chip in $5.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilya, Anna, Steven, Bobby, Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources: 

1. "Election 2012 State Polls," Real Clear Politics, accessed August 18, 2012 http://bit.ly/NlHyMa

2. "Masters of voter suppression: Republicans employ many techniques to keep low-income voters away from the polls," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 9, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279098&id=49584-10220574-4YXqEQx&t=5

3. "Ohio Secretary Of State Restricts Voting Hours In All Counties," Think Progress, August 16, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279099&id=49584-10220574-4YXqEQx&t=6

4. "Keystone to Victory," The Ed Show, MSNBC, August 16, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279100&id=49584-10220574-4YXqEQx&t=7

5. "Delco election official vows to defy ID law," Philadelphia Inquirer, July 28, 2012 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278191&id=49584-10220574-4YXqEQx&t=8

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 7 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 August 23, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Re: "Mean-spirited and intolerant"

Dear MoveOn member,

After we sent you the following email, some MoveOn members contacted us to point out that it contained ambiguous language. To be clear, MoveOn is and always has been a strong supporter of women's reproductive freedom, and we oppose any aspect of the Republican Party platform that seeks to limit that freedom for any woman.

We have modified the petition language to clarify that position, so that it now reads: Romney and Ryan: "Remove the abortion ban for rape survivors—and all women—from the Republican Party platform."

If you have not yet signed the petition, you can do so by clicking here.

Thank you for continuing to fight back against the Republican War on Women.

–Lenore



Click here to sign your name:
Romney and Ryan:
"Remove the abortion ban for rape survivors from the Republican Party platform."

Sign the Petition!
Dear MoveOn member,

Representative Todd Akin's comment about "legitimate rape" was no gaffe. It was a glimpse into the GOP War on Women.

Republicans are just days away from ratifying a personhood amendment as part of their party platform, which would ban all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest.1

32,000 rape survivors get pregnant in America each year.2 And the Republican party would ban abortions for all of these women.

Today's New York Times editorial is challenging Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to amend this "extremist," "mean-spirited and intolerant platform."3

MoveOn members need to join that call with hundreds of thousands of voices, because even if Romney and Ryan won't listen, America is listening. Representative Todd Akin's comments were a wake-up call about Republican views on women.

This shameful moment is our best opportunity to draw attention to the dangerous woman-hating agenda of the Republican Party and expose it to American voters.

But the GOP Convention is next week, and we want to confront Ryan and Romney with a massive petition at an event TOMORROW for the media to see, so we need to act urgently. Can you sign today and ask everyone you know to sign, too?

Romney and Ryan: "Remove the abortion ban for rape survivors from the Republican Party platform."

Republicans, including Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, are trying to run away from the terrible comments of their Senate candidate, Rep. Todd Akin, about "legitimate rape." But they can't.

Here's a brief history of Romney and Ryan's own words and deeds on this issue:

  • Ryan and Akin were the original co-sponsors of a bill that would limit the definition of rape to "forcible rape" (Akin's idea of "legitimate rape").4
  • Ryan co-sponsored a personhood bill with Akin, which would outlaw some forms of birth control and all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest.5
  • Mitt Romney told Mike Huckabee that he would have "absolutely" supported a constitutional amendment establishing the definition of life at conception.6

Of course, now that the media is paying attention to their extreme views, the Romney-Ryan campaign stated that they would not prohibit abortion in cases of rape.7 But talk is cheap.

If Romney and Ryan want to prove that they don't stand with Akin on abortion bans for rape survivors, they need to get it out of the party platform. And our job is to make sure the country is watching what they do.

Sign today—Romney and Ryan: "Remove the abortion ban for rape survivors from the Republican Party platform."

Thanks for all you do,

–Lenore, Elena, Amy, Marika, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "GOP party platform sticks with anti-abortion stance, does not address rape exception," The Washington Post, August 21, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279220&id=49516-10220574-8hs5Lux&t=7

2. "Injury Center: Violence Prevention," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279195&id=49516-10220574-8hs5Lux&t=8

3. "What the G.O.P. Platform Represents," The New York Times, August 21, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279242&id=49516-10220574-8hs5Lux&t=9

4. "How Todd Akin and Paul Ryan Partnered to Redefine Rape," Think Progress, August 19, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279196&id=49516-10220574-8hs5Lux&t=10

5. "Paul Ryan Sponsored Fetal Personhood Bill, Opposes Family Planning Funds," Huffington Post, August 11, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278852&id=49516-10220574-8hs5Lux&t=11

6. "Romney: I Would 'Absolutely' Support State Constitutional Amendment to Define Life As Beginning At Conception," Think Progress, October 3, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279210&id=49516-10220574-8hs5Lux&t=12

7. "Romney Statement on Abortion Contradicts Ryan's Earlier Stance," The New York Times, August 20, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279214&id=49516-10220574-8hs5Lux&t=13

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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 22, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

"Mean-spirited and intolerant"

Click here to sign your name:
Romney and Ryan:
"Remove the abortion ban for rape survivors from the Republican Party platform."

Sign the Petition!
Dear MoveOn member,

Representative Todd Akin's comment about "legitimate rape" was no gaffe. It was a glimpse into the GOP War on Women.

Republicans are just days away from ratifying a personhood amendment as part of their party platform, which would ban all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest.1

32,000 rape survivors get pregnant in America each year.2 And the Republican party would ban abortions for all of these women.

Today's New York Times editorial is challenging Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to amend this "extremist," "mean-spirited and intolerant platform."3

MoveOn members need to join that call with hundreds of thousands of voices, because even if Romney and Ryan won't listen, America is listening. Representative Todd Akin's comments were a wake-up call about Republican views on women.

This shameful moment is our best opportunity to draw attention to the dangerous woman-hating agenda of the Republican Party and expose it to American voters.

But the GOP Convention is next week, and we want to confront Ryan and Romney with a massive petition at an event TOMORROW for the media to see, so we need to act urgently. Can you sign today and ask everyone you know to sign, too?

Romney and Ryan: "Remove the abortion ban for rape survivors from the Republican Party platform."

Republicans, including Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, are trying to run away from the terrible comments of their Senate candidate, Rep. Todd Akin, about "legitimate rape." But they can't.

Here's a brief history of Romney and Ryan's own words and deeds on this issue:

  • Ryan and Akin were the original co-sponsors of a bill that would limit the definition of rape to "forcible rape" (Akin's idea of "legitimate rape").4
  • Ryan co-sponsored a personhood bill with Akin, which would outlaw some forms of birth control and all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest.5
  • Mitt Romney told Mike Huckabee that he would have "absolutely" supported a constitutional amendment establishing the definition of life at conception.6

Of course, now that the media is paying attention to their extreme views, the Romney-Ryan campaign stated that they would not prohibit abortion in cases of rape.7 But talk is cheap.

If Romney and Ryan want to prove that they don't stand with Akin on abortion bans for rape survivors, they need to get it out of the party platform. And our job is to make sure the country is watching what they do.

Sign today—Romney and Ryan: "Remove the abortion ban for rape survivors from the Republican Party platform."

Thanks for all you do,

–Lenore, Elena, Amy, Marika, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "GOP party platform sticks with anti-abortion stance, does not address rape exception," The Washington Post, August 21, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279220&id=49504-10220574-P9aihBx&t=6

2. "Injury Center: Violence Prevention," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279195&id=49504-10220574-P9aihBx&t=7

3. "What the G.O.P. Platform Represents," The New York Times, August 21, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279242&id=49504-10220574-P9aihBx&t=8

4. "How Todd Akin and Paul Ryan Partnered to Redefine Rape," Think Progress, August 19, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279196&id=49504-10220574-P9aihBx&t=9

5. "Paul Ryan Sponsored Fetal Personhood Bill, Opposes Family Planning Funds," Huffington Post, August 11, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278852&id=49504-10220574-P9aihBx&t=10

6. "Romney: I Would 'Absolutely' Support State Constitutional Amendment to Define Life As Beginning At Conception," Think Progress, October 3, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279210&id=49504-10220574-P9aihBx&t=11

7. "Romney Statement on Abortion Contradicts Ryan's Earlier Stance," The New York Times, August 20, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279214&id=49504-10220574-P9aihBx&t=12

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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 22, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Romney's secret weapon (hint: it's not Paul Ryan)

President Obama is leading in the polls, but he could still lose because of voter suppression laws in key battleground states like Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and more. Chip in $5 to help convince local election officials to opt out of the Republican voter suppression campaign. 

Chip in $5

Dear MoveOn member,

The latest polls since Mitt Romney picked Paul Ryan show President Obama still holding a narrow lead of 1-2 points in several key states.1

But, if the election was held today, President Obama could still lose—because of widespread Republican voter suppression tactics in key swing states.

Republicans are purging the voter rolls, shortening voting hours in Democratic precincts, kicking Democrats off local election boards, and requiring registered voters to show photo ID.2

There's no bigger priority between now and November than stopping these GOP voter suppression tactics so that no eligible Obama voter is turned away at the polls. And MoveOn is one of the few groups in America with enough grassroots supporters to do something about it.

Can you chip in $5 to help pay for our emergency campaign to stop GOP voter suppression? We need county-level campaign teams in hundreds of places, lawyers to figure out the local voting rules, field organizers to cover all the key states, and an ad budget for targeted local ads urging election officials to do the right thing.

Yes, I'll chip in $5 to stop voter suppression.

Make no mistake: because of GOP voter suppression efforts, local election officials you've never heard of could easily decide the outcome of the presidential race.

The battle unfolding in Ohio is a perfect example. First, the Republican secretary of state tried to set shorter voting hours in Democratic counties versus Republican counties. Voters freaked out and he backed off, setting uniform voting hours statewide.

That was a great partial victory for voters, but the new hours he set are still shorter than in 2008, which will make it impossible for some students, folks with two jobs, and other Democratic-leaning groups to vote. And his new rules do not allow for any in-person early voting on weekends, the best time for many folks to vote.3

MoveOn members are pushing to reinstate weekend early voting hours so everyone can vote, but it's going to require another major grassroots push.

Similar fights are playing out Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and other key states, and come Election Day it'll be too late. We have to pull out all the stops now.

Click here to chip in $5 to stop the GOP's voter suppression.

MoveOn is running local campaigns all over the country to make sure local officials do all they can to protect the right to vote.

You might have seen Pennsylvania MoveOn member Steven Singer on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" this week talking about the Allegheny County petition he started on SignOn.org, MoveOn's petition website.

An election official in one Pennsylvania county is refusing to enforce that state's discriminatory new Voter ID Law, and now MoveOn members all across Pennsylvania are urging county election supervisors to instruct poll workers to let all registered voters vote.They have the authority to make that decision—we just need to give them the political backing to do the right thing.

We need county-level campaigns like this in hundreds of places around the country to make a dent in this problem. Can you chip in $5 to help pay for the lawyers, field organizers, and ads we need to win?

Yes, I can chip in $5.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilya, Anna, Steven, Bobby, Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources: 

1. "Election 2012 State Polls," Real Clear Politics, accessed August 18, 2012 http://bit.ly/NlHyMa

2. "Masters of voter suppression: Republicans employ many techniques to keep low-income voters away from the polls," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 9, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279098&id=49415-10220574-tC9IuYx&t=5

3. "Ohio Secretary Of State Restricts Voting Hours In All Counties," Think Progress, August 16, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279099&id=49415-10220574-tC9IuYx&t=6

4. "Keystone to Victory," The Ed Show, MSNBC, August 16, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279100&id=49415-10220574-tC9IuYx&t=7

5. "Delco election official vows to defy ID law," Philadelphia Inquirer, July 28, 2012 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278191&id=49415-10220574-tC9IuYx&t=8

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 7 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 August 21, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Blaming rape survivors

Below is an email from Kat Barr of the organization UltraViolet. Kat created a petition on SignOn.org, the nonprofit site that allows anyone to start their own online petition. If you have concerns or feedback about this petition, click here.

Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

Victims of "legitimate rape" can't get pregnant because a woman's body will shut down and prevent the pregnancy. Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) actually said that—in other words, he's saying that if a woman does get pregnant, she must not have been raped. Even scarier? He's running—and leading—in the race for Missouri's senate seat.

What he said was bad, but it was hardly a gaffe or poor choice of words. In 2011 he and Rep. Paul Ryan led the push in the House of Representatives to redefine rape as "forcible rape" in order to further restrict rape survivors' access to abortions. As a state senator, Akin questioned whether anti-marital rape laws would be abused by women in messy divorces.

Anyone who doesn't understand basic biology and tries to create more hurdles for rape survivors seeking justice doesn't belong in the United States Congress.

That's why I created a petition on SignOn.org to Rep. Todd Akin, U.S. House of Representatives, which says:

Rep. Todd Akin, your comments about survivors of rape are shocking and offensive. Anyone who doesn't understand basic biology and wants to create more barriers for rape survivors seeking justice does not belong in the United States Congress. You must resign right away.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Kat Barr, UltraViolet

This petition was created on SignOn.org, the progressive, nonprofit petition site. SignOn.org is sponsored by MoveOn Civic Action, which is not responsible for the contents of this or other petitions posted on the site. UltraViolet didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 7 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 August 20, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, August 17, 2012

This Video MIGHT Stop Romney From Becoming President

Dear MoveOn member,

Mitt Romney could win. Don't believe it?

Well, you're not alone. Most people don't understand that the GOP has an incredibly upsetting plan in place to put Mitt Romney in the White House—a plan that, frankly, is working.

This video spells it out for you—a three pronged GOP strategy that includes a little-known, shocking, and racist strategy designed to help Romney win. Watching and sharing it might be the most important thing you do to defeat Romney in this election.



If we understand what we're fighting against, we CAN mobilize and fight back. People power works—MoveOn members have proven it time and time again.

Please watch this video and get in the game by sharing it with your Facebook and social networks.

Thank you for all you do.

–Justin, Mark, Victoria, Tate, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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 17, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

1 million jobs. Gone.

 
You're fired!
(or at least you could be if Romney and Ryan are elected)
Possible reasons for termination:
  •   The Romney-Ryan budget would kill 1 million U.S. jobs in 2013
  •   To give more to the rich, Romney and Ryan would raise taxes on the middle class—tanking the economy and killing jobs
  •   Romney is proposing to give even bigger tax breaks to corporations that outsource jobs
Will you help us share 1 million pink slip messages today so voters know what to expect if Romney and Ryan are elected?
Yes, I can share this!
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are the dream ticket for the 1%. But their plan to give even more to the rich would be disastrous for the economy. We're distributing 1 million pink slips this week to show voters just how many jobs Romney and Ryan would cost us in the first year alone. Can you share this pink slip message with everyone you know?
Romney & Ryan: Don't hire them,
unless you want them to fire you.

Sources:

1. "Ryan's budget cuts would cost jobs," The Economic Policy Institute Blog, March 21, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278656&id=49017-10220574-gpB5nQx&t=3

2. "Five Times Mitt Romney Has Embraced The Ryan Budget," ThinkProgress, August 11, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278984&id=49017-10220574-gpB5nQx&t=4

3. "Study: Romney tax plan would result in cuts for rich, higher burden for others," Washington Post, August 1, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278241&id=49017-10220574-gpB5nQx&t=5

4. "Romney's Bain Capital invested in companies that moved jobs overseas," Washington Post, June 21, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278985&id=49017-10220574-gpB5nQx&t=6

5. "Romney's Tax Plan May Cost U.S. As Many As 800,000 Jobs: Report," Huffington Post, July 17, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278610&id=49017-10220574-gpB5nQx&t=7

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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 16, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Thursday in Fresh Meadows: Stop Romney-Ryan from killing jobs

You're Invited:
Thursday in Fresh Meadows:
Romney-Ryan "Pink Slip" Action

Host: Farah C.

Where: 76th Avenue & 160th Street (in Fresh Meadows)

When: Thursday, Aug. 16, at 5:45 PM

Can you come?
Click below for more details and to RSVP:

Yes, I'll be there!
I can come.

I can't make it.
Sorry, I can't make it, but I'm interested in getting more updates.

What: MoveOn members across the country are handing out one million Pink Slip flyers to educate voters and the media that a million of us could lose our jobs in 2013 if the Romney-Ryan ticket wins the election. Can you join us to hand out Pink Slips in Fresh Meadows on Thursday?

P.S. Can't make this event? Click here to find another event near you.

 

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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 15, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

No fracking in New York State

Below is an email from Matthew DeSanctis, a MoveOn member in New York who created a petition on SignOn.org, the nonprofit site that allows anyone to start their own online petition. If you have concerns or feedback about this petition, click here.


Dear New York MoveOn member,

Hydrofracking will destroy New York's abundance of fresh water. Bottom line: this is our water. 

50% of cement casings in these oil wells fail within 30 years of use, releasing hundreds of neurotoxins, plastics, natural gas, and other chemicals into our water. 

We should not allow the gas industry to frack in New York. Studies must be conducted to prove these drill rigs will be safe forever—not just for a few years.

That's why I created a petition on SignOn.org to the New York State House, Senate, and Governor Andrew Cuomo, which says:

Do not allow the gas industry to drill the Marcellus Shale in New York State!

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Matthew DeSanctis

This petition was created on SignOn.org, the progressive, nonprofit petition site. SignOn.org is sponsored by MoveOn Civic Action, which is not responsible for the contents of this or other petitions posted on the site. Matthew DeSanctis didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 7 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 August 14, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Thursday: The Romney-Ryan fight begins in Fresh Meadows

One million of us could lose our jobs if the Romney-Ryan ticket wins this fall. So we're distributing a million pink slips online and on the ground to make this a huge national story. There's an action this Thursday, August 16 in Fresh Meadows at 5:45 PM. Can you make it?

Yes! I'll Be There!

Dear MoveOn member,

Even though the Romney-Ryan ticket is front page news, barely anyone is reporting that their extreme economic policies would cost us one million jobs in just one year, and more than 4 million jobs by the end of 2014.1 

Recent polling shows that our campaign to expose Romney as the 1% candidate is working!2 So now, with Paul Ryan on the ticket, voters need to know that Romney-Ryan will kill millions of jobs. 

Because this election will be won or lost on the issue of jobs, we're blowing up the disastrous job loss in the national media. If we can cast doubt on the 1% ticket right now, it will be harder for Romney-Ryan to recover with voters this fall.

Here's the plan: This Thursday, August 16, we're going to distribute one million Romney-Ryan pink slips by hitting the streets and getting this critical information literally into the hands of voters—right as we release a new ad in swing states and flood Facebook and Twitter. We'll gather at post offices, malls, libraries, and other high-traffic areas to distribute the pink slip flyers and make sure voters get the message. And we'll invite the media to amplify our message. 

There's a pink slip action in Fresh Meadows at 5:45 PM, and we need a big turnout to make an impression. Can you make it?

Yes! Sign me up to hand out Romney-Ryan pink slips!

This election year, we've used the power of grassroots organizing to shape the national debate and make sure voters know that Romney is unequivocally the 1% candidate. We've released hard-hitting ads and organized massive protests at Romney's fundraisers and campaign stops—and recent polls show that our hard work is paying off. Sixty four percent of Americans now think Romney favors the rich over the middle class.3

With the Republican National Convention just a few weeks away, Romney and Ryan will crosscross the country on an aggressive media blitz—so we're pulling out all the stops this week to make their plan to kill one million jobs a huge national story. With 7 million members, we can shift the national story about the Romney-Ryan job-killing plan—but it's only going to work if we talk to enough voters and get the attention of the local and national press. 

There's an action this Thursday, August 16 at 5:45 PM in Fresh Meadows. Can you be there?

Yes! Sign me up!

Thanks for all you do. 

–Lenore, Laura, Joan, Robin, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Ryan's budget cuts would cost jobs," The Economic Policy Institute, March 21, 2012

2. "CNN Poll: Obama holds 7-point lead over Romney," CNN Politics, August 9, 2012 

3. Ibid.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 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 13, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.