Friday, November 30, 2012

NYC fast food workers' strike

Below is an email from Joshua Williams, a Wendy's employee in New York City who created a petition on SignOn.org, the nonprofit site that allows anyone to start their own online petition.


Dear MoveOn member,

By lunch time, the CEO of Wendy's will have earned more than $11,009.95. That's more than I take home in a year as a regular Wendy's employee.1

That's why I joined hundreds of fast food workers in NY and walked out of the Wendy's at 125th and Lexington in New York City to demand higher wages and the right to form a union.

Despite the stereotype, most of us are not teenagers working after school. We're grown adults with kids of our own and bills to pay. Many have worked in fast food for years and never received a raise from $7.25 an hour while the companies we work for make massive profits.

Going on strike is a big deal for folks like me—and to win we need the support of the general public. That's why I created a petition on SignOn.org and hope you'll sign and share it with your friends.

Click here to tell the CEOs of Wendy's, McDonald's and other big fast food chains to pay their employees a living wage.

If we can get 50,000 people to sign the petition by our Day of Solidarity on December 6th, we'll hand-deliver your signatures to the CEOs at their headquarters all over the country. We know this is a David vs Goliath battle—workers against a $200 billion industry—but we can win if Americans from all walks of life stand in solidarity with us.

I am only one of more than 50,000 New Yorkers working in the fast food industry. With average annual incomes as low as $11,000, many fast food workers must turn to public assistance to make ends meet. We are striking because we believe fast food companies should pay workers enough to be able to pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.

Companies like McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, and Pizza Hut reap huge profits and shower CEOs with exorbitant compensation, while many of their employees qualify for food stamps—and it's time to do something about it.

Don't stand for the minimum wage. Stand for something greater. Sign the petition today.

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

Thanks!

–Joshua Williams

1. Emile Brolick earned $4,580,146 in 2011. Assuming a 40 hour work week, this breaks down to $2,201/hr. Joshua took home $10,920.

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. Joshua Williams 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 November 30, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Elizabeth Warren's first big fight

Wall Street is "going nuts" trying to keep Elizabeth Warren off the Senate Banking Committee—the one place where she'll have the most power to rein in the big banks and stand up for middle class families. Can you chip in $5 to help put Elizabeth Warren on the Banking Committee where she belongs?

Chip in $5

Dear MoveOn member,

Elizabeth Warren hasn't even been sworn in yet. She hasn't hired most of her staff. And already Wall Street lobbyists are scrambling to cut her off at the knees by keeping her off the Senate Banking Committee.

According to multiple sources, Wall Street "has been going nuts" to keep her off the committee.1 And it's not hard to see why. She's an expert on the issues. She has no conflicts of interest. She's PERFECT.

So we're launching an emergency campaign to counter Wall Street's attacks on Elizabeth Warren. The plan is for MoveOn members to rally state by state to make sure their own senators support putting Senator-Elect Warren on the Banking Committee.

If enough senators speak out, she'll be unstoppable. But we need to raise at least $175,000 to make it big. Can you chip in $5?

Chip in $5 to help put Elizabeth Warren on the Senate Banking Committee where she belongs.

The bankers are afraid of her because they've tried to stop her and they can't. First they tried to block her from creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Then they spent millions trying to keep her out of the U.S. Senate.

Now, because of retirements, there are two seats open on the Senate Banking Committee. If she gets on, she'll be more powerful than ever—and the bankers are furious.

And if there's one person who should be on the Banking Committee, it's Elizabeth Warren. She's a bankruptcy law expert. She was the chief watchdog of TARP, the $700 billion taxpayer bailout of the U.S. financial system, giving her an unmatched view into its flaws. She was the architect of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

As a member of the Banking Committee, she'll be able to cross-examine the big bank CEOs and make them finally answer the hard questions. More importantly, she'll be able to push regulators to fully enforce the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform bill—including tough limits on reckless Wall Street trading, higher capital requirements, and rules forcing "too big to fail" banks to shrink.

This is Elizabeth Warren's first big fight, and we have to have her back—we fought too hard to get her in the Senate in the first place.

Chip in $5 to help put Elizabeth Warren on the Senate Banking Committee.

Thanks.

–Steven, Wes, Marika, Laura, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1.  "Big Banks vs. Elizabeth Warren: It's On (Again!)," Mother Jones, November 19, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=284747&id=58597-10220574-GaSub9x&t=4

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 November 29, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Start a petition?

Dear SignOn.org member,

The election is finally over. President Obama was re-elected and Democrats gained seats in the U.S. House and Senate. And in New York, Democrats won control of the state senate.

Now it's time for our elected officials to actually get some things done, and it's up to you to let you them know what issues you think they should prioritize first.

Maybe there's an important law that needs to be passed,   or some key problem in New York that isn't getting attention at all. You can make your voice heard by starting your own petition on SignOn.org and sharing it with your friends.

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

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Carrie, Ilya, Laura, and the rest of the SignOn.org team

P.S. If you get at least 20 signatures on your petition within the next five days, we'll email your petition to at least 1,000 other SignOn.org members in your area! (Assuming of course that it's consistent with SignOn.org's progressive values.)

Subscription Management:
This is a message from SignOn.org. To change your email address or update your contact info, please visit:
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Didn't we just win an election?

Can you call your members of Congress? Tell them:

"Don't back any fiscal deal unless it lets the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% expire on December 31 and doesn't cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits."  

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: (202) 224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: (202) 224-4451

Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: (202) 225-5516

Report Your Call!
Dear MoveOn member,

It's almost hard to believe after such a lopsided defeat in the election, but Republicans in Congress are pushing for a "fiscal deal" that would extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich and slash Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits before the end of the year—and they might win.

They've fabricated a story that, somehow, our economy will fall apart if they don't get what they want. It's not true, but negotiations are underway and a "deal" could come together at any time.

This is a crucial moment—before a deal emerges—when we need our leaders to stand strong. Can you call your members of Congress and tell them:

"Don't back any fiscal deal unless it lets the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% expire, as scheduled, on December 31 and doesn't cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits."

Here's where to call:

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: (202) 224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: (202) 224-4451

Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: (202) 225-5516

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1.FSNY_2.FHNY_04&cp_id=1847&id=58512-10220574-dmgBL0x&t=2

Today, in addition to all our calls, tens of thousands of MoveOn members are dropping off letters at the local offices of every member of Congress. Every call helps amplify the message—and we need to make Congress understand that we won't stand for a bad fiscal deal.

The truth is that nothing drastic will happen to our economy on January 1. The House can simply vote to extend tax cuts to 98% of Americans—as the Senate has already done. It's that easy. The only reason there's even a debate over cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits right now is that Republicans know they'll lose all their leverage if the Bush tax cuts expire as scheduled.

The whole election was about whether the rich should pay their fair share or whether to give them more tax breaks and cut into our safety net—and WE won.

Can you call your members of Congress right now and tell them to stand up for the will of the American people?

Here are the numbers again:

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: (202) 224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: (202) 224-4451

Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: (202) 225-5516

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1.FSNY_2.FHNY_04&cp_id=1847&id=58512-10220574-dmgBL0x&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilya, Robin, Mark, Victoria, and the rest of the team

P.S. New districts and newly-elected members of Congress don't go into effect until January, so the information above is still current.

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 November 28, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Can you drop by Rep. McCarthy's office in Garden City this Wednesday?

Republicans are desperate to extend tax cuts for the rich and slash Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits before the end of the year. We have to stop them. Can you help by dropping off a message at Rep. McCarthy's office this Wednesday?
 
Drop by Wednesday

Dear MoveOn member,

Congress is heading back to Washington this week, and there's only one thing on the agenda: Republicans trying to ram through another extension of the Bush tax cuts for the rich and big cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid before the end of the year.

The Republicans have been pushing the story of economic Armageddon on December 31 unless Democrats give in to their demands.

But it's not true; this isn't Armageddon. It's a fiscal choice—and it's one our elected officials get to make. Unfortunately, it's unclear what Congress is going to do.

That's why on Wednesday we're mobilizing nationwide to deliver letters along with photographs of loved ones who would be impacted by any cuts, to the local offices of every member of Congress. We need to tell them that Americans are paying attention, we know that the Republicans are scaremongering to ram through their 1% agenda, and we won't stand for any more tax giveaways for the top 2% or cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits.

Can you help amplify this message by delivering a letter to Rep. McCarthy's office in Garden City this Wednesday?

Yes, I can drop by on Wednesday.

Here's where to go:

300 Garden City Plaza, Garden City, NY 11530

Just pick a time of day to drop off the letter, and we'll follow up with everything you need, including a copy of the letter for you to print out. If you have a photo of someone who would be impacted by cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, you can bring that as well. It'll take only a few minutes, and the more folks who show up throughout the day, the better.

The Republicans are desperate to strike a deal before the Bush tax cuts for everyone expire on their own on January 1—because after that, they won't have any leverage to demand cuts to crucial programs or more tax giveaways for the rich. On January 1, Congress can simply pass tax cuts for Americans making less than $250,000.

So our goal is to make sure Congress hears, loud and clear, that their constituents don't buy the Armageddon myth and won't stand for any deal that cuts safety net programs or gives more tax breaks to the people who need them least.

Can you help amplify this message by dropping off a letter and a photo at Rep. McCarthy's office in Garden City this Wednesday?

Yes, I can drop off a letter this Wednesday.

Thanks for all you do.

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

P.S. New districts and newly-elected members of Congress don't go into effect until January, so the information above is still current.

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 November 26, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Start a petition?

Dear MoveOn member,

The election is finally over. President Obama was re-elected and Democrats gained seats in the U.S. House and Senate. And in New York, Democrats won control of the state senate.

Now it's time for our elected officials to actually get some things done, and it's up to you to let you them know what issues you think they should prioritize first.

Maybe there's a bad law being proposed that should be stopped, or some key problem in New York that isn't getting attention at all. You can make your voice heard by starting your own petition on SignOn.org and sharing it with your friends.

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

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Carrie, Ilya, Laura, and the rest of the SignOn.org team

 

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 November 25, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thankful

Dear MoveOn member,

As MoveOn members sit down for dinner today with friends and family, many of us—particularly here in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut—are thinking about those still hurting in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. There's still a long way to go in the recovery, but today I'm giving thanks for the thousands of MoveOn members who stepped up to help those in need.

Earlier this month, MoveOn members donated over half a million dollars for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. That money has helped local organizations on the ground in the worst-hit areas to:

  • Provide Thanksgiving meals to more than 20,000 people
  • Pass out 100,000 body warmers for those still without heat as the cold rolled in
  • Establish portable sanitation systems for areas with no sewer service
  • Create warming stations in neighborhoods without power
  • Establish charging stations for cell phones so that folks could keep in touch with loved ones and work
  • Distribute food, water, blankets, clothing, and other basic supplies to those made homeless by the storm
That's just a partial list. But in short, MoveOn members' generosity helped provided vital assistance to those critically in need. In addition, MoveOn members partnered with a local group to go door-to-door in one devastated area, many volunteered in their own communities, and thousands signed a petition asking Mayor Bloomberg to make sure the recovery efforts don't leave out the most vulnerable communities.

There's still much work to do. But the generosity and dedication of MoveOn members has made a real difference in the lives of many hit by Hurricane Sandy, and I am thankful to be a part of this community and this movement.

Thank you, truly, for all you do.

–Daniel, Laura, Angela, Carrie, and the rest of the team

P.S. If you would like to contribute to the ongoing relief efforts, you can do so here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on November 22, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Walmart strike

Below is an email from Jamie Way of the organization Making Change at Walmart. Jamie 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 MoveOn member,

Instead of listening to and learning from its workers, Walmart has sought to silence us and retaliate against those who dare to speak up. Warehouse workers who work for Walmart contractors have also experienced retaliation for speaking out. Now, Walmart workers have had enough.

It's not an easy decision. But without an end to the retaliation in sight, workers Walmart workers from coast to coast are walking off the job in protest.

On Black Friday, and throughout the Holiday Season, we're standing up for an end to the retaliation against workers who speak out for what's right for our families, our communities, and our country. Will you show your support?

Click here to sign the petition in support of the Walmart workers who are striking at stores across the country.

Around the country, Walmart employs 1.4 million people. We are not just the Associates that you see in stores. We are moms and dads, sons and daughters, and husbands and wives working hard to support our families. We have been speaking out for good jobs with decent pay, regular hours, affordable healthcare, and respect—but instead of working with us to make changes, Walmart has attempted to silence us and retaliate against us for speaking out.

Our jobs have been threatened, our hours cut, our schedules changed. Some of us have even been fired. We will not be silenced.

Click here to add your name to our petition to Walmart Board Chairman Rob Walton, and then pass it along to your friends.

We ask that supporters take action and spread the word about our strikes. Let's demonstrate to Walmart that there's a wave of support for workers who are speaking out.

–Jamie Way, Making Change at Walmart

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. Making Change at Walmart 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 November 19, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, November 16, 2012

John Boehner wants you to be afraid ... very afraid

Dear MoveOn member,

Republicans, led by House Speaker John Boehner, want to scare Americans into accepting yet another extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% and deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. So they've created a "fiscal cliff" boogeyman.

Unfortunately, if you're following the media story, you may believe Republican claims that the world's about to end. But the only thing going off a cliff on December 31 is the ability of Republicans to hold our economy hostage for the sake of the rich (read below to find out why!).

That's why we have to spread the truth, so our friends and family don't fall for the Republican myth about the fiscal cliff. We've put together a 5-point guide on what this fiscal showdown is really all about. Check it out and then share it on Facebook or Twitter, or just forward this email.

  1. The "Fiscal Cliff" Is A Myth. As Paul Krugman put it, "The looming prospect of spending cuts and tax increases isn't a fiscal crisis. It is, instead, a political crisis brought on by the G.O.P.'s attempt to take the economy hostage."1 Republicans are manufacturing this crisis to pressure Democrats to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and accept painful cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

  2. The Bush Tax Cuts Finally End December 31. If Congress does nothing, the ax will fall on all the Bush tax cuts on New Year's Eve.2 Then, on January 1, the public pressure on John Boehner and House Republicans to extend the middle-class tax cuts (already passed by the Senate and waiting to be signed by President Obama) will become irresistible.3 So the middle-class tax cut will eventually get renewed, and we'll have $823 billion more revenue from the top 2% to do great things with.4

  3. The Sequester. The sequester is another political creation, forced on Democrats by Republicans in exchange for lifting the debt ceiling last year to avoid crashing our economy.5 It's a set of cuts (50% to a bloated military budget and 50% to important domestic programs) designed to make both Republicans and Democrats hate it so much that they'd never let it happen.6 And the cuts can be reversed weeks or months into 2013 without causing damage.7

  4. The Big Three. Nothing happens to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits on January 1—unless Republicans force painful cuts to beneficiaries in exchange for tax increases on the wealthy, which are going to happen anyway if Congress does NOTHING.8 So, there's literally no reason benefits cuts should be part of the discussion right now.

  5. We Should Be Talking About Jobs. The real crisis Americans want Congress to fix is getting people back to work. And with just a fraction of that $823 billion from the wealthiest 2%, we could create jobs for more than 20,000 veterans and pay for the 300,000 teachers and 52,000 first responders, which our communities so desperately need.9 That's not to mention jobs from investing in clean energy and our national infrastructure.

Please share this with your friends and family—and talk about it at the dinner table next week. The first step to winning this showdown is making sure we're all armed with the facts.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilya, Emily, Mark, Tate, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Hawks and Hypocrites," The New York Times, November 11, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=284476&id=57918-10220574-hho0Vux&t=5

2. "Bush-Era Tax Cuts," The New York Times, November 9, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=284477&id=57918-10220574-hho0Vux&t=6

3. "Boehner Is Bluffing," Slate, November 9, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=284478&id=57918-10220574-hho0Vux&t=7

4. "CBO: Ending High-Income Tax Cuts Would Save Almost $1 Trillion," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, August 24, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=284479&id=57918-10220574-hho0Vux&t=8

5. "The sequester, explained," The Washington Post, September 14, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=284480&id=57918-10220574-hho0Vux&t=9

6. Ibid.

7. "Let's Not Make a Deal," The New York Times, November 8, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=284484&id=57918-10220574-hho0Vux&t=10

8. "How the Across-the-Board Cuts in the Budget Control Act Will Work," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 27, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=284489&id=57918-10220574-hho0Vux&t=11

9. "Veterans' Jobs Bill Blocked in the Senate," The New York Times, September 19, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=284488&id=57918-10220574-hho0Vux&t=12

"Jan Schakowsky Announces New Budget Plan With Focus On Jobs," The Huffington Post, August 10, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263135&id=57918-10220574-hho0Vux&t=13

"Fact Sheet: The American Jobs Act," The White House, September 8, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=264021&id=57918-10220574-hho0Vux&t=14

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 November 16, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Papa John's vs. Obamacare

Below is an email from Richard Quandt, 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.



Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

John Schnatter, CEO of Papa John's, is threatening to reduce worker's hours to 30 hours per week in order to avoid covering them under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

He claims it will cost an additional 11 to 14 cents per pizza to cover his employees, a cost he says he cannot absorb or pass along to customers. So he plans to make his employees absorb the cost through reduced hours and reduced pay.

That's why I created a petition on SignOn.org to Papa John's CEO John Schnatter, which says:

Stop punishing your employees. If you can afford to give away 2 million pizzas, you can find a way to afford 14 cents a pizza to cover your employees.

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

Thanks!

–Richard Quandt

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. Richard Quandt 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 November 15, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

You'll never guess where I am

Friend,

I still can't believe it, even as I'm writing it. I'm in Washington, D.C. right now for the Senate's freshman orientation!

They have some strict rules around here, and I don't want to get caught passing notes. But I had to take a quick moment to say:

THANK YOU.

When I came up with the idea for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a lot of people in Washington said it would never happen. But not MoveOn. When Wall Street spent millions of dollars to kill the consumer agency, folks like you rolled up your sleeves and out-worked them. 

So when I decided to run for the United States Senate, I knew that we'd need the heart, the guts, and the muscle of MoveOn members once again—and wow, did you deliver! 

I am amazed and incredibly grateful for the $1 million that MoveOn members contributed to our campaign $5 and $10 at a time. I'm proud of every YouTube video you posted and every quote you shared to introduce your friends to our campaign. And I'll never forget the 750 volunteers that you recruited across Massachusetts in our critical Get Out the Vote efforts to push us over the top.

You took our message not only inbox-to-inbox but doorstep-to-doorstep. That's exactly what this campaign was all about.
 
We've already won two big campaigns together, but we've still got a lot of work to do. 

That starts with getting people back to work. And we've got to make sure that millionaires, billionaires, and Big Oil companies pay their share. We've got to protect Medicare, Social Security, and health care. We've got to hold Wall Street accountable and level the playing field for working families.

I'm ready to fight for that, MoveOn members—and I hope you'll be there with me once again. 

Thanks again for all you do.

–Elizabeth

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 November 14, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Thank you and what's next!

Our election victory was huge news—and now MoveOn is gearing up for the fiscal fight. If you're interested in learning more about upcoming campaigns and how to be involved, join our national strategy briefing on Thursday, November 15, at 9 p.m. ET to learn the ins and outs. Can you join the call?

RSVP for the Call!
Learn more about the MoveOn Council Network by checking out the 2012 Election Council slideshow!

Dear MegaPhone caller,

I'm still basking in the afterglow of last week's victory. It was a true triumph of people power. 

And it wouldn't have happened without you and the MegaPhone program. THANK YOU—it's MegaPhone callers like you who provided strong leadership in every part of our Voters Rising election program. Thanks to your passion and dedication, the hours on the phone paid off—we helped secure four more years for President Obama, hold the Senate, and elect progressive champs like Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy. Here's a brief snapshot of what MoveOn members accomplished:

  • MegaPhone callers made 817,885 calls from home, while call parties made 703,770 calls—surpassing our Election Day goal by totaling 1,521,655 calls. That's more calls than we made in 2008!
  • MoveOn Councils, local MoveOn organizing teams, held 729 call parties—recruiting thousands of swing state volunteers to help get out the vote on top of the thousands recruited by MegaPhone callers.

  • In swing states like Ohio, Council and MegaPhone leaders helped Workers' Voice reach a total of 800,000 voters. Even though her power was out the Friday before Election Day, Dawn R., Cleveland Council Organizer, made it into the office to make recruitment calls, taking a few extra numbers when she left to make calls from home—on her birthday! This is just one of countless examples of MoveOn members displaying leadership through example in dozens of local campaign offices.

We have to seize the momentum. There's a major battle brewing in D.C., and we're gearing up to make sure the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% expire and that we protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits from being cut.

There's a lot of misinformation about this fiscal showdown—so there's a special national call just for election volunteers to get the facts and talk about what we can do to fight back. If you're interested in becoming involved in future campaigns, join the Council briefing on the fiscal showdown this Thursday, November 15, at 9 p.m. ET (8 CT / 7 MT / 6 PT / 4 HT).

Click here to sign up for the call and talk about next steps to keep the momentum going!

Thanks for all you do.

–Emily, Victoria, Robin, Adam, and the rest of the team

P.S. For more about what MoveOn members did this election, check out the Infographic and Reportback.

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 November 13, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Here's how you keep winning:

 
Can you make sure that our election victories turn into real progressive change by getting involved locally with MoveOn? Click here to start or join a local Council. 

Click here to join us!
Dear MoveOn member,

You made Tuesday night's victory possible—by hosting call parties, making calls, knocking on doors, and so much more. We proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that people power can beat big money.

Now it's up to us to write the story of what happens next and turn these hard earned victories into long-lasting progressive change.

That's exactly what MoveOn Councils are built to do. Councils are local organizing teams—from Honolulu to Des Moines to Atlanta and everywhere in between—that organize locally for real progressive change. We're the heart of our people-powered campaigns. In just the last two years, Councils helped win Obamacare, fought Wall Street in Washington, and held our elected officials accountable to the 99%.   

It's MoveOn members like you who drive the Council network. Can you join a Council in your community?  

Yes! I want to join or start a MoveOn Council.

Thanks for all you do.

 –Amy, Susannah, Eric, PaKou 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 November 12, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Macy's: Dump Donald Trump

Below is an email from Angelo Carusone, 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.


Dear MoveOn member,

Macy's has a special deal with Donald Trump to sell his clothing line and fragrance. They have also honored Trump with major events at the Macy's Herald Square location, and they sometimes feature Trump in ads in order to celebrate the "magic of Macy's."

For years Donald Trump has engaged in especially unpleasant, nasty, and despicable behavior, including stoking racist conspiracy theories about President Obama's birth certificate. 

Click here to tell Macy's to Dump Donald Trump.

I'll personally deliver the petition to Macy's headquarters before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to make sure it gets maximum attention.

Macy's boasts about its social responsibility policy, which reads:

There is no shortage of talk about the obligation of public companies to be socially responsible to the people and communities where they do business. At Macy's, Inc., we hold those same beliefs—along with a belief that actions speak louder than words when it comes to helping tackle some of the toughest problems facing us today.

Indeed, Macy's. Actions speak louder than words. So act now, and dump Trump.

To ask Macy's to do the right thing, I created a petition on SignOn.org to Macy's President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board, Terry Lundgren, which says:

Macy's: Donald Trump does not reflect the "magic of Macy's." We urge you to sever ties with him. Macy's says it has a strong obligation to be "socially responsible" and that "actions speak louder than words." Indeed. It's time to act.

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

Thanks!

–Angelo Carusone

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. Angelo Carusone 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 November 11, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Sandy

Dear MoveOn member,

Hurricane Sandy landed a week and a half ago. My family in New York and New Jersey was lucky. Relatives had their houses flooded, and others were without power or heat until last night. It's bad, and it's going to take time to rebuild. But everybody's ok.

I hope the same is true for you and your loved ones.

Unfortunately, for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, things are not ok. Far from it.

People still don't have power or water, basements are still flooded, gas shortages have made it hard to run generators, and temperatures are getting down into the 30s. MoveOn members who have volunteered have told us about finding families wet and shivering in the cold, and meeting people who've stopped eating because they don't have anywhere to relieve themselves.

As you probably know, many of the worst-off places are home to hundreds of thousands of working class and poor families. Families that don't have the resources to get a hotel room, or take weeks off from work, or wait in gas lines for 7 hours.

It's gotten so bad that Doctors Without Borders has set up their first-ever disaster relief effort in the U.S.1 MoveOn members across the tri-state area have already been pitching in by volunteering. But now we're asking MoveOn members—in this area and nationally—who can spare a few dollars to chip in.

Community organizations are doing some of the best relief work—providing hot meals, distributing supplies, helping residents dig out—and they could desperately use our help. We've identified a few making a huge impact. Can you chip in to help them? MoveOn.org Civic Action will cover the credit card fees so every dollar of your donation goes to these organizations helping people in dire need.


Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Anna, Eliza, Carrie, and the rest of the team

Source:

1. "Far Rockaway: Global Disaster Zone," Outside, November 8, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=284334&id=57502-10220574-jh5bmOx&t=2

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

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Hold LIPA accountable for poor Hurricane Sandy response

Below is an email from Jon Soldo, a MoveOn member in Huntington Station, NY, 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 Inwood MoveOn member,

Long Island Power Authority's (LIPA) preparedness and response to Hurricane Sandy have been completely unacceptable

Poor pre-planning has led to more than 50 electrical substations going offline and left more than one million customers without power. Surely these substations could have been located, built, and/or protected better. 

Poor response is evident in that initial time frames for repair were given as "7-10 days" and then later bumped to "10-15 days." More than 150,000 customers are still without power a full nine days after the storm. Many are being told, "It could be at least another week."

Click here to demand that LIPA be held accountable for their lack of preparedness for Hurricane Sandy.

Calls to customer service provide no estimated repair times for particular addresses, and as of November 7 they are no longer accepting calls. A message simply says, "Due to the high call volume we cannot assign you a representative. Please try again later." To boot, LIPA's text alert system is not functioning. 

The fact that LIPA had to bring in thousands of out-of-state workers also speaks volumes about their level of preparedness. Also, the fact that more than 1,500 workers were turned away is simply appalling. 

With temperatures dropping and gasoline lines growing, harm that comes to people and their homes now falls on LIPA's shoulders. 

For the company that charges some of the highest power rates in the country, this is simply unacceptable. That's why I created a petition on SignOn.org to the New York State House and State Senate and Governor Andrew Cuomo, which says:

If you think LIPA's preparedness and response to Hurricane Sandy have been unacceptable, please sign this petition and tell politicians to hold them accountable. Let's make sure this doesn't happen again!

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

Thanks!

–Jon Soldo

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. Jon Soldo 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 November 8, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

YAHOOOOO!!

Dear MoveOn member,

YAHOOOOO!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything you did to help reelect President Obama, send progressive champions like Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Baldwin, and Chris Murphy to Congress, and score other key victories down the ballot.

This is a victory for everyone who believes in a country and an economy that work for all of us, where the wealthy pay their fair share and everyone has the same rights—no matter what they look like or who they love.

We poured our hearts and souls into the fight. And together with our allies, YOU beat the money, YOU beat the dirty tricks, and YOU beat the lies. Here's how:

Click to see everything  you did this election.

For more detail, check out our full 2012 election report: "People Power Trumped Super PAC Cash."

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Aaron, Adam, Alejandro, Amy, Angela, Angie, Anna, Bobby, Brandon, Cari, Carrie, Daniel, Danny, David, Elena, Eliza, Emily, Eric, Garlin, Holly, Ilya, Jason, Jeff, Jen, Jessica, Joan, Julia, Kevin, Laura, Lenore, Levana, Linda, Luis, Manny, Mariana, Marika, Mark L.C., Mark S.C. , Matt, Michael, Milan, Nate, Nick, Nick B. , PaKou, Patrick, Perrin, Randall, Reshad, Robin, Ryan, Sam, Simon, Stefanie, Stephen, Steven, Susan, Susannah, Tanya, Tate, Tim, Tim, Vicki, Wes

MoveOn.org Political Action is a federally registered political committee and is subject to the Federal Election Campaign Act. MoveOn.org Civic Action is organized as a nonprofit organization of under section 501(c)4 of the Internal Revenue Code. All express advocacy and bundling projects were undertaken by MoveOn.org Political Action. Although each organization undertook its own programs, for the sake of simplicity the graphic above describes the work of both organizations as having been carried out by "MoveOn."

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 November 7, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

If you only read one email today ...

Dear MoveOn member,

It's Election Day! Finally!

Today's the day to re-elect President Obama and determine the course of our country for the next four years.

Lots of people have questions about today—where to vote, who to vote for in down-ballot races, what to bring, what time the polls are open. So we've compiled everything you need to know in one place, customized just for you.

If you have friends and family who have questions, send them to www.moveon.org/vote for all the information they need. Or click here to share the link on Facebook so all your friends can find it.

Progressive Ballot Guide

Local progressives have collaborated on a Progressive Ballot Guide for Inwood with recommendations on how to vote. It's simple and easy to use, and it contains the recommendations of local progressives for races across the state. Click here to check it out and to share it with friends and family.

When and Where to Vote

Polls in New York are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Click here to find your polling place. And remember, as long as you're in line before the polls close, you have the right to cast your ballot.

Changes Because of Hurricane Sandy

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Governor Cuomo signed an executive order allowing voters displaced by the storm to vote at any polling place in the state by "affidavit ballot." All voters will be able to vote for President and U.S. Senate, but if you vote at a polling place outside your state Senate, Assembly, or House of Representatives district, you will not be able to cast a ballot for those offices.

Making Your Vote Count

Progressive voters in New York have a special way to make their vote count extra. In New York, the Working Families Party is a unique party, founded by progressives, community organizations, and labor unions to fight for working families. The WFP has won some major victories in recent years, and you can help increase progressive power today by voting for Barack Obama and your other chosen candidates on the Working Families Party line—line D. Your vote on the WFP line counts the same to elect your candidates—but it packs an extra progressive punch by telling politicians we won't be ignored.

What to Bring

If this is your first time voting in a federal election in New York, you may be required to show identification and/or proof of residence to cast your ballot. For a full list of acceptable forms of ID in New York, click here, and when you get to the page, click "What to Bring."

If Something Goes Wrong

Chances are, you won't have any problems voting, but just in case you do, it's important to be prepared. If your state has voter rolls and you're not listed, the first thing to do is to make sure you're at the right polling place. After you confirm that you are, you should demand a provisional ballot. Remember, your vote is your voice, and if you are an eligible, registered voter, you have the right to vote, whether or not a poll worker finds your name on the list or a political operative challenges your eligibility at the polls.

If you need legal help, you can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE toll-free. Report long lines or voting problems at OurVoteLive.org or via Twitter with hashtag #OVLReport. If possible, use your phone to video the situation or interview the person affected and submit the video to VideoTheVote.org, or post it to YouTube or Twitter tagged with #VideoTheVote.

If you're voting on an electronic machine with a paper record, verify that the record is accurate.

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Daniel, Julia, Adam, and the rest of the team

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on November 6, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Mitt Romney never expected someone to make this video

Dear MoveOn member,

Undecided voters. They're out there—in our families, at our workplaces, and in our extended social networks. And in less than 24 hours, they could decide who will be president. Right now, they're asking themselves, "Who do I really trust?"

This video makes it very clear: they can't trust Mitt Romney!

The video's sharing FAST on our Facebook and Twitter feeds, which means it's already having an impact. So if MoveOn members share it too, we can get it in front of millions of undecided voters as they make their final decision.

Undecided voters need to see this video NOW! Please share it with your social networks.

Click to see  the two faces of Mitt Romney

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Tate, Ryan, 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 November 5, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Conference call with me--and keep calling Ohio!

Dear MegaPhone caller,   

We need today to be the biggest calling day of the campaign so far. We're trying to call every MoveOn member near a volunteer office in Ohio today. As I write this, we've made about 13,000 calls so far today. That's good, but I know we can do better—and we have 28,797 Ohio members left to call!

Can you join me for a quick check-in TODAY at 5pm ET (4pm CT/ 3pm MT/ 2pm PT)? I'd like to give you a special update on the election and thank you for all your hard work.

Just dial (408) 520-2444 and enter code 664302 when prompted.

We need every single one of us on the phone this weekend signing up volunteers if we're going to win this election. So, if you're not already making calls today, here's the link to get started: 


Truly, thanks for all you do.

–Justin Ruben, MoveOn.org Executive Director

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 November 3, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

It all comes down to this

Callers needed in Inwood: 5


Everyone who makes 50 calls TODAY will win a 2012 campaign sticker—and if you make 100 calls, you'll receive a custom MoveOn Voters Rising T-shirt! Can you make calls now to sign up swing state volunteers?

Start making calls!

Dear MegaPhone caller,

Obamacare saved my mother's life. After she lost her job and her health insurance, she needed a major surgery that she couldn't afford. Luckily one of the early provisions of Obamacare kicked in just in time.

She's on the mend now, and with her new reasonably-priced insurance plan, she can continue to get the care she needs to avoid a relapse. But we're scared, because we both know she'll lose her Obamacare coverage if Mitt Romney wins on Tuesday.

That's why I've been hitting the phones this week, calling other MoveOn members and asking them to volunteer to help get out the vote in swing states like Ohio. 

Can you join me today and make a few calls?

President Obama fought for us, so now I'm fighting for him.
Over the final 3 days, we need to recruit as many volunteers as possible—before it's too late for my mother and for millions of others who can't risk a Romney win next week.

In order to reach every MoveOn member in a swing state in time, we need 5 folks to spend 15 minutes making calls today in Inwood.

Please, click here to start calling, before it's too late.

Thank you.

–Jen Job


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 November 3, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.