Sunday, August 31, 2014

Hear how this law professor's beating the billionaires

Dear MoveOn member, 

The political world is still reeling. 

On July 4, Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig did the impossible: He crossed the $5 million finish line, hitting a fundraising goal that everyone said was impossible ... in less than a month. 

And what was all that money for? Fighting against money in politics. A Super PAC to fight Super PACs. As Lessig likes to say, you have to embrace the irony. 

Now, the real battle begins—actually using that money to beat the billionaires at their own game. And Lessig has a plan for that, too. If you want to hear the inside story on how it all happened and what's coming next, you've got to hear this brand-new episode of "The Good Fight."

The first time "The Good Fight" sat down with Lessig, he was waking up in the middle of the night, his mind racing with anxiety about the $5 million deadline. His pledge, all along, had been that if he didn't reach the goal, he'd refund all of the donations. Then, in the final hours, thousands of MoveOn members—and many others—poured in their support, and everything changed. 

On this episode, you'll hear about that day, and you'll hear why Lessig still thinks, against all the odds, that big money's hammerlock on our democracy can be broken. When you're done, you'll share Lessig's belief that the fight for American democracy is far from over.
   
Thanks for helping make MayDay's breakthrough possible, and thanks for all you do.

–Ben Wikler

P.S. Don't use iTunes? No problem. You can listen to the podcast on the Web, tune in via Stitcher (an Android and iOS app), or subscribe via RSS. And if you do use iTunes and you like the show, be sure to subscribe ... and post a review! 

P.P.S. In case you missed it, here's the email that Lawrence Lessig sent to MoveOn members on July 4, asking for help with MayDay: 

Dear MoveOn member, 

This is Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig. 

Since the early 1920s, aviators and mariners have used the word MAYDAY to signal distress. 

On the sea, when another captain hears that call, there is an obligation to lend aid. 

At MayDay PAC, we are calling a MAYDAY on this democracy. Americans from across the political spectrum believe our government is broken. More than 90% of us link that failure to the role of money in politics. 

And yet our politicians do nothing to break that link. Instead they spend endless time raising campaign funds from the tiniest fraction of the 1%. 

Our democracy is held hostage by these funders of campaigns. We have announced a plan to get it back. 
 
Learn more in this video, and please let me know if you're interested in being part of this. 

Several years ago, I decided to give up my work on copyright and Internet policy and take up the fight against corruption. 

I started collaborating with others on the best way to build a grassroots movement around campaign finance reform. Washington won't fix itself—the people need to take action. 

That's why we created MayDay PAC, an ambitious "Super PAC to end all Super PACs" that will make reform a 2014 campaign issue. We've raised millions so far, shocking the political world. 
 
Can you watch this video explaining MayDay PAC, and let us know if you'd be interested in supporting this effort?

With hope, 
Lawrence Lessig
 

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 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, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Let's make history

Who's ready for some good news? Join me in supporting MoveOn's critical work to get big money out of politics and take back our democracy.

Chip in $3

Dear MoveOn member,

The American people are poised to make history.

If we act now, generations to come will remember the historic September 8, 2014, U.S. Senate vote on S.J. Res. 19, a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. They will remember the coast-to-coast cheers that erupted from a nation desperate for a solid gain in the fight to rid U.S. politics of the corrosive influence of big money.

For months, I've been working side by side with MoveOn's team to make sure that more Americans understand the sprawling impact of Citizens United, as well as their absolutely critical role in pushing for the very first Senate resolution dedicated to its demise.

We're in a sprint to the finish line. Our work is paying off. Together with our allies, we have secured 50 senators who are on the record as supporting S.J. Res. 19. But there's still much more to do before and after the vote on September 8. And, quite frankly, we need $200,000 to get it all done.

Please join me in supporting MoveOn's work to overturn Citizens United by chipping in $3.

When folks ask me why defeating Citizens United is essential, here's how I frame what's at stake: In case after case, the Roberts majority of the Supreme Court has basically told a handful of billionaires, "You and your corporations already own and control our economy. Now, we're going to give you the opportunity to purchase the U.S. government, as well."

Among these billionaires are Charles and David Koch, who—thanks to Citizens United—are now busy unabashedly buying Tea Party-esque politicians in key states such as North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan, and Colorado. Koch candidates are hell-bent on twisting our nation to match the interests of the elite and ultraconservative.

Let's put the Koch brothers on notice that our democracy is not—and will never be—for sale.

Will you support MoveOn's work to help secure the first big milestone in our long-haul fight to overturn Citizens United?

Here's MoveOn's plan between now and September 8: With your support, MoveOn members will generate a blizzard of phone calls to cement existing Senate supporters of S.J. Res. 19. But that's just the beginning. Using creative media and social-media tactics and hard-hitting on-the-ground events, they'll also go after every senator conspicuously absent from the co-sponsor list, especially key Republicans.

It will be impossible to hide from MoveOn members. Each senator's vote on S.J. Res. 19 will answer the question: Which side of history do you want to be on—that of your constituents or that of big money?

Please help MoveOn ask this critical question of every single senator and candidate by donating now.

Senators who have the nerve to vote against overturning Citizens United will be held accountable by MoveOn members through the midterm elections and beyond.

Think of S.J. Res. 19 as the American people's first giant springboard. The fact that it's coming to the Senate floor for a vote is already a big victory. Our job now is to secure as many votes as possible and—in a critical election year—not let the American people forget the senators who voted for the interests of big money instead of their constituents.

Will you join me in supporting MoveOn's work before and after the groundbreaking September 8 vote? Click here to donate $3.

I can't help but reflect on past constitutional amendment victories that changed our nation—like the ones propelled by people just like us to give women the right to vote or advance civil rights. We have big lessons to learn from each of these breathtaking victories and others like them.

The journey to a successful amendment passage—two-thirds majorities in both houses of Congress—was long and arduous. Millions and millions of Americans joined together in common cause. Every single person was necessary. And because of the grit and faith of our courageous predecessors, our nation emerged from these struggles a little wiser and a whole lot more just.

And so it will be when we rid our nation of Citizens United and take back our democracy. Let's take a bold step forward on September 8, and let's not look back until we win.

Thanks for all you do.

–Senator Bernie Sanders

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 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 30, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Two ads the GOP doesn't want you to see

Dear MoveOn member,

This could be a game changer.

When news broke Wednesday that Senator Mitch McConnell and fellow right-wing Senate candidates Joni Ernst, Cory Gardner, and Tom Cotton were caught on tape pandering to a roomful of right-wing billionaires like Charles and David Koch, MoveOn members swung into action.

Within 48 hours—thanks to thousands of small-dollar contributions from MoveOn members—we were able to release two new 30-second TV ads introducing the real Ernst—a Tea Party candidate hoping to take progressive Tom Harkin's Senate seat in Iowa —and McConnell to their constituents.1 2

The Des Moines Register called Ernst's comments "evidence that Ernst is beholden to billionaires."3 The Washington Post said the ad "signals how the revelation will be used against other GOP candidates."4

 
This may be Ernst and McConnell's "47% moment." Their comments, caught on tape, could risk their election—just as Mitt Romney sparked voter backlash and outrage after he called 47% of Americans freeloading victims in 2012—but only if we make this moment one that voters will remember when they go to the polls.

Can you take a moment to watch MoveOn's ad targeting Senator Mitch McConnell and share it with everyone you know?

If further proof was needed that Ernst and McConnell have been hand-picked by the Koch brothers to advance their extreme policy agenda, this is it.

With your help, we'll be able to turn these leaked recordings into a political liability for Ernst, McConnell, and others beholden to the ultra right-wing, ultra-wealthy Koch network.

Thanks for all you do.

–Victoria, Kristin, Aiyi'nah, Justin, and the rest of the team

Source:

1. "At Koch Retreat, Top GOP Senate Candidates Credited Koch Network For Their Rise," Huffington Post, August 27, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=300494&id=100556-10220574-yv7MdFx&t=5

2. "Caught on Tape: What Mitch McConnell Complained About to a Roomful of Billionaires (Exclusive)," The Nation, August 26, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=300499&id=100556-10220574-yv7MdFx&t=6

3. "New TV ad hits Ernst on Koch Brothers conference," The Des Moines Register, August 28, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=300532&id=100556-10220574-yv7MdFx&t=7

4. "Happy Hour Roundup," The Washington Post, August 28, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=300533&id=100556-10220574-yv7MdFx&t=8

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 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, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Leaked!

Breaking news: Secret recordings were just leaked from a private meeting between the Koch brothers, Mitch McConnell, and other Republican donors and Senate candidates. We're rushing to produce ads now so voters hear the disturbing recordings—can you chip in?

Chip in $3

Dear MoveOn member,

Breaking news: Early this morning, secret recordings were leaked from a private meeting between the Koch brothers and some of the top Republicans in the country—including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Republican nominees for Senate in pivotal election states like Iowa and Colorado.1

There are some deeply troubling comments in the audio that's been leaked—including Mitch McConnell gushing to the Koch brothers, "I don't know where we'd be without you"; McConnell boasting over the Supreme Court's Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions; and ominous declarations of what Republicans will do if they take the Senate in November:

We're going to go after [the President and Democrats generally] on healthcare, on financial services, on the Environmental Protection Agency, across the board ... All across the federal government, we're going to go after it.2

There's more. This could be Mitch McConnell's 47% moment—just as Mitt Romney was undone by the leaks of his controversial remarks where he called 47% of Americans "mooches" and "victims." This is a golden opportunity to make sure the American public understands just how extreme and out-of-touch the leadership of the Republican Party is—and how beholden to these right-wing billionaires they've become.

We're putting together ads NOW that feature these recordings. We'll air them in Kentucky—where voters are already skeptical of McConnell. And we'll add in other key Senate-race states like Colorado and Iowa if we have enough resources. This could become a pivotal moment. Will you help us rush ads onto the air tomorrow—to catch the story while the media is just tuning in?

Thanks for all you do.

–Mark, Jo, Ai'yinah, Ilya, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Caught on Tape: What Mitch McConnell Complained About to a Roomful of Billionaires (Exclusive)," The Nation, August 26, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=300499&id=100447-10220574-e3NtJ8x&t=3

2. Ibid.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 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, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Stop Burger King's tax dodge

Dear MoveOn member,

We're The Other 98%, and we started a petition to the Burger King board of directors, which says:

Burger King benefits enormously from being an American company and should pay its fair share of taxes here in America. Don't even attempt this whopper tax dodge or we will boycott Burger King.

Burger King is an American company worth more than $9 billion dollars. They're in talks to buy Tim Hortons Inc., Canada's largest coffee-shop chain. 

Burger King's sinister plan is to relocate their corporate headquarters to Ontario, Canada, thereby dodging their American taxes in a calculated move called "tax inversion." 

Burger King's largest shareholder, a private equity firm called 3G Capital, will win and the American people will lose. Again. Unless we stop them.

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

Thanks!

–The Other 98%

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. The Other 98% 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 8 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 26, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Sign my petition to overturn Citizens United

Sign the petition: Join me in urging Congress to amend the Constitution to overturn Citizens United and McCutcheon.

Dear MoveOn member,

Huge news: On September 8, the Senate is voting for the first time in history on a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United and McCutcheon Supreme Court decisions. That's why I started a petition to my colleagues in Congress, which says:

The Koch brothers and other billionaires are spending huge sums of money to buy elections and make the rich even richer. Please join me and MoveOn.org to defend American democracy by supporting S.J. Res. 19, a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court rulings of Citizens United and McCutcheon.

The Koch brothers' agenda is to repeal every major piece of legislation that has been signed into law over the past 80 years that has protected the middle class, the elderly, children, the sick, and the most vulnerable in this country.

And make no mistake, Citizens United has radically changed the nature of our democracy, further tilting the balance of power toward the rich and the powerful at a time when already the wealthiest people in this country have never had it so good.

Our great nation can no longer be hijacked by right-wing billionaires like the Koch brothers. For the sake of our children and our grandchildren, for the sake of our economy, we have got to let democracy prevail.

Sign the petition: Stand with me to get Koch money out of politics, and tell Congress you support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and McCutcheon.

With the Citizens United decision, the Supreme Court is telling billionaires to go ahead and buy the U.S. government. We must not allow that to happen.

Stand with me, and tell Congress to end the special-interest takeover of our democracy and pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and McCutcheon.

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

Thank you for your support.

–Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)

 

This petition was started by Senator Bernie Sanders on MoveOn Petitions Political Action Edition, which is licensed to and paid for by MoveOn.org Political Action. Senator Sanders didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on August 25, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Got an idea for a petition?

Got an idea for your own campaign? Click below to start a petition on MoveOn's petition website.

Start your Petition

Dear MoveOn member,

Here's how it'll go:

You see something that needs a change, so you start a petition on MoveOn's website.

You recruit your friends to sign it and they, in turn, get their friends.

We send it out to some of our members and they get really excited about it, so we send it to everyone in your city, your state, or maybe even all 8 million MoveOn members.

Now that you have a bunch of people on board, you organize them. We give you the support you need. You use our email tool to have them call their representatives, get more signers, go to events.

MoveOn pays for you to print up copies of your petition, and you deliver it to the person you're petitioning. You get on TV and in the newspaper. 

And you win.

It's happened hundreds of times already. It could very easily happen to you. All you need is a good enough idea and the willingness to put in the time. Show us you mean business and we'll be with you every step of the way. You really can do this. How about it?

Click here to start your own petition right now.

Thanks for all you do.

–Milan, Maria, Bobby, Mark, and the rest of the team

P.S. If you get 20 signatures on your petition, we'll email it to at least 1,000 people in your area to help it grow (assuming, of course, that it's consistent with MoveOn members' progressive values).

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 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, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

FW: This is huge (Citizens United)

Wow. This is huge. 50 U.S. senators have come out against Citizens United—ahead of a historic vote in just 15 days to amend the Constitution to get money out of politics.

We're launching a full-court press right now: We've initiated a petition drive with Senator Bernie Sanders—and are planning to generate a blizzard of phone calls targeting senators who have not yet co-sponsored legislation to overturn Citizens United. Next, we'll earn key news coverage with the goal of pressuring lawmakers to vote money out of politics. And after the vote, we'll immediately launch a hard-hitting ad campaign, going after senators who defend the indefensible and wildly unpopular Citizens United decision.

We've raised nearly $100,000 this weekend—but we need $200,000 to do it all.

Can you make a one-time donation of $5 today to help us get ads on the air and run a blitz campaign? Click here to chip in.

Want to do even more? Click here to make a monthly contribution to power MoveOn's year-in-year-out campaign to overturn Citizens United.

For more details on our campaign, see my note from the other day.
The Senate is about to vote on Citizens United, one of the least popular Supreme Court decisions ever. Any senator who votes wrong is putting a huge political target on their back—if we have enough ongoing support to really hold them accountable. Can you chip in $5 a month?

I'll Chip In

Dear MoveOn member,

Next month, for the first time ever, the U.S. Senate will vote on a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

This. Is. Huge. And it could change this entire election.

Citizens United isn't just one of the worst Supreme Court decisions ever—it's one of the least popular. Seriously—80 percent of Americans oppose it. Even 72% of Republican voters think the Supreme Court got it wrong.1

That's why almost every politician claims that they don't like Super PACs. But when there's a high-profile vote like this, every senator will need to put up or shut up.

Senators who have the nerve to vote against overturning Citizens United will be putting a massive political target on their back—if we have enough ongoing support to really hold them accountable.

That's why we're aiming to recruit 5,000 "movement makers"—folks who chip in monthly to help end the corrosive influence of money in politics. If we meet our goal, we'll start with a hard-hitting ad campaign right after the vote, going after senators who vote to uphold Citizens United. And that'll be just the beginning—it's the next big step in our years-long campaign to overturn Citizens United. Can you chip in $5 a month to help overturn Citizens United?

Yes, I'll contribute $5 a month.

No, I can't.

Fifty senators have said they support the amendment to overturn Citizens United. A bunch of the rest haven't said which way they'll vote.

If we can recruit 5,000 monthly donors before the vote, undecided senators will know what's coming and feel enormous pressure to vote the right way.

So here's the plan: Before the vote, we're going to launch a full-court press with phone calls, petitions, and news conferences to get as many senators as possible to vote the right way. And we'll keep track of who supports the bill and who doesn't on a public website so everyone knows.

Then, after the vote, we'll launch a hard-hitting ad campaign going after senators who vote the wrong way. And we'll keep going: We'll hold senators who vote the wrong way accountable during election season—and then fight to overturn Citizens United for as long as it takes.

Can you chip in $5 a month to help fight the corrupting influence of money in politics?

Yes, I can contribute $5 a month.

No, I can't.

Your first donation—today—will allow us to run a big enough ad campaign to make sure our message is heard even in a crowded election year. And then your ongoing support will enable us to fight the destructive influence of money in politics through election season and beyond.

Thanks for all you do.

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

Source:

1. "Broad Bi-Partisan Consensus Supports Reforms to Supreme Court," Democracy Corps, May 7, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=300406&id=100294-10220574-9nPFbOx&t=9

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 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, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Bumble Bee Foods: Protect sharks and ensure your tuna is legal and sustainable

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Sarah Rasmussen of Greenpeace, and I started a petition to Chris Lischewski, CEO of Bumble Bee Foods, which says:

Millions of sharks are killed by tuna vessels every year--as bycatch or from illegal shark finning practices.

Major companies like Bumble Bee have a responsibility to ensure that their products do not come with the hidden cost of millions of dead sharks.

Millions of sharks are killed every year only for their fins. Policies banning shark finning, including the guidelines of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), are not enough. 

Unless Bumble Bee Foods can publicly prove that all aspects of its supply chain, including the independent vessels that it buys fish from, are not finning sharks, those guidelines become meaningless. 

Bumble Bee Foods: Protect sharks and ensure your tuna is legal and sustainable.

I am requesting that Bumble Bee take the following steps to ensure its tuna is legal and sustainable: 

(1) Stop relying on wire leaders—which are unnecessary for catching tuna but ensure high rates of shark bycatch—and stop using transshipment at sea, which allows tuna boats to hide illegal practices. Bumble Bee must take steps to ensure that its tuna is not caught at the expense of dwindling shark populations.

(2) Provide living wages for fishermen. 


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

Thanks!

–Sarah Rasmussen

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Greenpeace 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 8 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, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

This is huge (Citizens United)

The Senate is about to vote on Citizens United, one of the least popular Supreme Court decisions ever. Any senator who votes wrong is putting a huge political target on their back—if we have enough ongoing support to really hold them accountable. Can you chip in $5 a month?

I'll Chip In

Dear MoveOn member,

Next month, for the first time ever, the U.S. Senate will vote on a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

This. Is. Huge. And it could change this entire election.

Citizens United isn't just one of the worst Supreme Court decisions ever—it's one of the least popular. Seriously—80 percent of Americans oppose it. Even 72% of Republican voters think the Supreme Court got it wrong.1

That's why almost every politician claims that they don't like Super PACs. But when there's a high-profile vote like this, every senator will need to put up or shut up.

Senators who have the nerve to vote against overturning Citizens United will be putting a massive political target on their back—if we have enough ongoing support to really hold them accountable.

That's why we're aiming to recruit 5,000 "movement makers"—folks who chip in monthly to help end the corrosive influence of money in politics. If we meet our goal, we'll start with a hard-hitting ad campaign right after the vote, going after senators who vote to uphold Citizens United. And that'll be just the beginning—it's the next big step in our years-long campaign to overturn Citizens United. Can you chip in $5 a month to help overturn Citizens United?

Yes, I'll contribute $5 a month.

No, I can't.

Forty-eight senators have said they support the amendment to overturn Citizens United. A bunch of the rest haven't said which way they'll vote.

If we can recruit 5,000 monthly donors before the vote, undecided senators will know what's coming and feel enormous pressure to vote the right way.

So here's the plan: Before the vote, we're going to launch a full-court press with phone calls, petitions, and news conferences to get as many senators as possible to vote the right way. And we'll keep track of who supports the bill and who doesn't on a public website so everyone knows.

Then, after the vote, we'll launch a hard-hitting ad campaign going after senators who vote the wrong way. And we'll keep going: We'll hold senators who vote the wrong way accountable during election season—and then fight to overturn Citizens United for as long as it takes.

Can you chip in $5 a month to help fight the corrupting influence of money in politics?

Yes, I can contribute $5 a month.

No, I can't.

Your first donation—today—will allow us to run a big enough ad campaign to make sure our message is heard even in a crowded election year. And then your ongoing support will enable us to fight the destructive influence of money in politics through election season and beyond.

Thanks for all you do.

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

Source:

1. "Broad Bi-Partisan Consensus Supports Reforms to Supreme Court," Democracy Corps, May 7, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=300406&id=100161-10220574-Bba7rgx&t=6


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 21, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Join us in New York for the People's Climate March

Can you join the People's Climate March on September 21 in New York City and help pressure world leaders to take immediate action on climate change? 

Click Here to RSVP

Dear MoveOn member,

This September, world leaders—including President Obama—are coming to New York City for a landmark UN summit on the climate crisis. 

And MoveOn members—along with members of hundreds of other allied organizations, including Avaaz and 350.org—will be there to greet them in the world's largest climate change demonstration: the People's Climate March.

Scientists have made it clear that we're running out of time to avoid catastrophic climate change. Already, communities across the country are facing the destructive impacts of extreme weather like hurricanes, superstorms, droughts, and wildfires. The carbon pollution accelerating climate change needs to be addressed and reduced. Every new report reveals a shorter time frame for action, and every new disaster shows how catastrophic inaction is. Our future is on the line. 

With the whole world watching the climate talks in New York City, we have an unprecedented opportunity to demand climate action. We need to turn up in full force and show world leaders that without a doubt people demand real action on climate change right now.

Can you join us September 21 in New York City for the People's Climate March? 


When you RSVP for the People's Climate March, you will hear directly from the march organizers—a steering committee from allied organizations—with logistics and other updates. Your information won't be shared outside of the purposes of the march. Member privacy is a priority, and we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

The last time world leaders met to discuss climate change—five years ago in Copenhagen—the talks failed. We cannot let that happen again. If world leaders walk away from this summit without seeing a strong, public demand for action, there's no chance that they'll make real commitments on their own. That's why it's so important for you to join the People's March alongside the tens of thousands of others planning to be there in September. 

Can you join us in taking a historic stand at the People's Climate March this September? 


It's time to stand up for the future. Unless we can protect the planet and turn this economy around, our children aren't going to have a chance to survive and thrive. 

That's why it's critical we make this the largest climate demonstration in history. The success of the summit depends a lot more on us than it does on our politicians. If we seize this moment and show real political power, it could open up the space for meaningful action.

MoveOn members are a powerful force, and when we join together, along with our allies—we can make change happen. But it's going to take all of us.


Thanks for all you do. 

–Amy, Corinne, Milan, Victoria, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 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, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Appoint a Special Prosecutor to Investigate the Murder of Michael Brown

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Missouri State Senator Jamilah Nasheed, a MoveOn member in Saint Louis, Missouri, and I started a petition to Robert P. McCulloch, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney, which says:

The death of Michael Brown at the hands of Ferguson, MO police has stoked tensions and caused unrest across our community, state, and nation. This racially charged climate demands an independent, impartial investigation that the St. Louis County Prosecutor's office simply cannot provide.

Bob McCulloch must fully recuse himself and his office from the investigation related to the murder of Michael Brown. 


McCulloch's decision not to charge officers who murdered two unarmed African-American men in 2000 by shooting into their car 20 times, especially in the face of the U.S. Attorney's independent investigation finding that those officers lied about their actions, gives us no confidence that his office can provide a fair and impartial investigation into this current matter. 


That failure, coupled with McCulloch's recent participation in one of the most racially polarizing elections in the history of St. Louis County, means that his office's continued oversight of this tragedy will only sow further distrust and discord in our community. 


For the good of the entire St. Louis region and the nation as a whole, we call on Robert P. McCulloch to recuse himself and his office from this matter and to appoint a special prose ctor to investigate the murder of Michael Brown.

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

Thanks!

–Jamilah Nasheed

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Jamilah Nasheed 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 8 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 19, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Say goodbye to Garlin Gilchrist II

Dear MoveOn member, 

It's a question all of us ask ourselves: Where should we be, and what should we be doing with our lives? 

Today, we talk to someone who, deep down, always knew the answer. Someone taking the leap and following his heart. It's someone whose name and voice you might recognize: Garlin Gilchrist II, who just left MoveOn to take on the challenge of a lifetime. 

If you ever find yourself searching for your purpose, then you can't help but be inspired by Garlin's story—and you've got to hear this week's episode of "The Good Fight."

 

Thanks for all you do.

–Ben Wikler 

P.S. Don't use iTunes? No problem. You can listen to the podcast on the Web, tune in via Stitcher (an Android and iOS app), or subscribe via RSS. And if you do use iTunes and you like the show, be sure to subscribe and post a review!

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on August 18, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

8 things to know about the Iraq crisis

Dear MoveOn member,

U.S. bombing strikes are now well under way in Iraq in a military mission that President Obama said could go on for months.1 U.S. military planes have also been delivering vital humanitarian assistance to civilians fleeing the violence, including Yazidis who were forced onto Iraq's Mount Sinjar by ISIS militants laying siege on the mountain.2

MoveOn members across the country have weighed in with thoughts on what's happening in Iraq. There are varying opinions on different aspects of this crisis, but there are some common threads. Our hearts break for the people of Iraq who are living through this conflict. We know there are no simple solutions. And we're united in our opposition to America sliding down the slippery slope to another war in Iraq.

As we all try to make sense of the events that are unfolding, here are eight things that you should know about the Iraq crisis

Please read on and then share the list on Facebook or Twitter, or just forward this email. It's vital that we engage the country in a conversation about the U.S. role in Iraq.

8 Things to Know about the Iraq Crisis

1. Right-wing war hawks are pushing for another full-blown war in Iraq.   

Senator John McCain, Senator Lindsey Graham, other Republicans in Congress, and right-wing figures—who blindly led America into invading and occupying Iraq—are now demanding more military action that could drag us back into full-scale war in the region.3,4,5 

2. The slippery slope is real. 

Mission creep can too easily occur—along with unintended consequences and new problems created by the use of U.S. military force.6,7 History shows us that many big wars start out looking small, including the Korean War and the Vietnam War.8 And we are now dealing with a prime example of unintended consequences: Bush's war of choice and military occupation of Iraq set the stage for Iraq's troubles today, including the rise of ISIS.9,10,11,12

3. Voters elected President Obama to end the Iraq war that George W. Bush recklessly started. 

President Obama's opposition to the Iraq war before it began and his pledge to end it—as part of the contrast between him and those who pushed for war—were key to his success in both the Democratic primary election and the general election in 2008.13 He continues to pledge that he "will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq."14,15

4. Ultimately, Iraq's problems can be solved only by an Iraqi-led political solution. 

President Obama has said that there is no military solution to the crisis in Iraq and that there can only be "an Iraqi solution."16 As this Vox explainer lays out: 

"ISIS isn't just a terrorist group rampaging through Iraq (though they definitely are that). It's in many ways an expression of the Sunni Muslim minority's anger at the Shia-dominated government. . . Some Sunni grievances get to more fundamental issues within the Iraqi state itself, beyond what even a better government could easily fix."17 

These are not problems that more U.S. bombings can solve. That's why experts are saying that "any lasting solution has to be regional in nature and must address the political interests of all the major factions in an equitable and inclusive manner."18

5. Members of Congress, including Democratic lawmakers, are insisting that the president come to Congress for authorization. 

MoveOn members have long opposed endless war in Iraq. Earlier this summer, before the current bombing strikes began, MoveOn members made more than 15,000 calls to lawmakers, urging them to oppose U.S. military intervention in Iraq. In July, the House of Representatives listened to them and the rest of the American people to require, by a bipartisan vote of 370-40, the president to seek congressional authorization before deploying or maintaining a sustained combat role in Iraq.19 Congress should continue to assert its authority under the Constitution to authorize and oversee U.S. commitments to open-ended war overseas.

6. The Middle East is a complicated place where U.S. military intervention has a troubling track record 

The Middle East has many armed actors whose motivations often compete with each other and conflict with American values, and U.S. military intervention there has a track record of often making things worse.20,21 One tragic absurdity of this moment is that the U.S. military is now using U.S. equipment to bomb U.S. weapons wielded by enemies the U.S. didn't intend to arm against the U.S. and U.S. allies.22 That's a good reason to be concerned about the U.S. arming rebels in nearby Syria, which experts say wouldn't have stopped the rise of ISIS anyway.23 Experts further warn that U.S. military force in the region only tends to create more problems, including the risk of terrorist retaliation.24 

7. Military action could lead to even more innocent civilians getting caught in the crossfire and suffering. 

The Iraq war that Bush started didn't just cost America the lives of nearly 4,500 service members, plus $2 trillion according to modest estimates.25,26,27 Approximately 500,000 Iraqi civilians also died in the armed conflict—possibly more.28 In the current conflict, ISIS militants are persecuting various minority populations of Iraq, such as the Yazidis who had fled to Mount Sinjar.29 Escalating military action, including drone strikes, risks catching more civilians in the crossfire.30

8. Opposing endless war isn't the same as being an isolationist. The Iraq crisis, including the humanitarian disaster, demands an international, diplomatic response. 

We have options to support the people of Iraq, as well as tackle this crisis in a way that reflects America's best interests and 21st century realities. For one, the U.S. can work through the United Nations and other multilateral organizations to support a major global diplomatic initiative.31 

In the face of the current crisis, the Friends Committee on National Legislation also recommends a number of steps instead of U.S. bombings, such as working with other nations through the United Nations to organize humanitarian evacuations of stranded and trapped civilians, pressing for and upholding an arms embargo in Iraq and Syria, engaging with the UN to reinvigorate efforts for a lasting political solution for Iraq and Syria, and increasing humanitarian aid.32,33

It's critically important that we engage the nation in conversation and debate to avoid endless war in Iraq. Can you share this "8 Things to Know about the Iraq Crisis" list with your family and friends?

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Jo, Alejandro, Justin, and the rest of the team

Sources: Click here to view the citations.

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 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 17, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.