Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Nepal

The death toll in Nepal has passed 5,000. Each time we look at the news, this heart-wrenching number climbs higher.

Dear MoveOn member,

The death toll in Nepal has passed 5,000.1 Each time we look at the news, this heart-wrenching number climbs higher.

The images of devastated homes, obliterated villages, and distraught families tell only part of the story. There are also remote villages tucked into the mountains we haven't seen yet—where the situation may be even more dire.

Countless people are in need of food, water, medical support, and shelter—countless because the victims are, so far, uncountable. There is no way yet to know the total extent of the disaster.

But we do know the need is great.

International relief organization Mercy Corps is an exceptionally effective, efficient organization—and its Nepal-based staff and partners are already on the ground doing critical work. Can you chip in to help them? MoveOn Civic Action will cover the credit card fees so every dollar of your donation goes to help people in desperate need.

Yes, I'll chip in now.

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Corinne, Ben W., Maria, and the rest of the team 

Source:

1. "Frustration Grows in Nepal as Earthquake Relief Trickles In," The New York Times, April 28, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304228&id=113775-10220574-q8Mdm9x&t=1

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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.


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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Baltimore

Dear MoveOn members,

All eyes are on Baltimore. Massive protests are ongoing in memory of Freddie Gray, a 25-year old man who died of spinal injuries he sustained while in police custody.1 Media coverage has focused largely on episodes of violence in the streets—often missing essential pieces of the rapidly unfolding story.2

In this moment of crisis, we can learn something from Ferguson: the most important voices to listen to right now are local ones. And the most important images and videos will be captured not by out-of-town professionals but by the people of Baltimore themselves.

That's why MoveOn is partnering with our friends at the online civil rights organization ColorOfChange.org to launch a website and a support team to find and spread videos, tweets, and images from local organizers, observers, and residents of Baltimore. We'll help elevate important stories and perspectives through the site, our social media accounts, and our relationships with journalists.

Here's how to get involved: Check out moveon.org/baltimore—we'll be posting there regularly over the next week, as this story continues to unfold.

If you're in Baltimore or connected to people there, or if you can offer technical assistance, email us at baltimore@moveon.org or send us a direct message on Twitter at @MoveOn. (You can also share your thoughts and perspectives on what's happening in Baltimore, and what else you'd like to see from MoveOn, at those addresses.)

And if you see something you think the nation should see, please tweet it with the hashtag #BaltimoreUprising or #FreddieGray and tag @MoveOn and @ColorOfChange in your post so we don't miss it.

The media wants to focus on broken windows and damaged property. But the overwhelming causes of violence must be addressed. What Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said in 1968 is still true today:

But it is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard.3

Make no mistake: the conditions in Baltimore have been intolerable. Not just in the death of Freddie Gray. To a degree that shocks outsiders, the Black citizens and people of color in Baltimore have been bleeding for years under the unprovoked clubs and fists of some Baltimore police officers.

As a shattering Baltimore Sun investigative piece last year documented, more than 100 cases of police brutality led to court judgments or settlements between 2011 and 2014 alone.4 And that surely represents only a small fraction of the incidents that actually took place. The details of many of these cases are shocking. Here's a quote from the Sun:

Victims include a 15-year-old boy riding a dirt bike, a 26-year-old pregnant accountant who had witnessed a beating, a 50-year-old woman selling church raffle tickets, a 65-year-old church deacon rolling a cigarette and an 87-year-old grandmother aiding her wounded grandson.

Those cases detail a frightful human toll. Officers have battered dozens of residents who suffered broken bones—jaws, noses, arms, legs, ankles—head trauma, organ failure, and even death, coming during questionable arrests. Some residents were beaten while handcuffed; others were thrown to the pavement.

Today, the nation is starting to wake up to what the residents of Baltimore have already been dealing with for a very long time.5 But this history of violence can easily be obscured by images of flipped cars in the streets. And unless local voices are heard, many Americans may react to the escalating violence as they did in King's day: by supporting more aggressive policing, rather than a reckoning with the structural conditions that turned Baltimore into a tinderbox.

What happens over and over in crises like these is that America and the world see a distorted picture, refracted through a sensationalist press corps and the power of public officials to define the media narrative. But social media offers a chance to turn the tables, to make sure people see what's really happening and how it affects regular people's lives.

Let's help amplify the voices that need to be heard in this moment, and stand in solidarity with the movement in Baltimore and across the nation fighting for a day when no new name becomes a tragic hashtag.

Thanks for all you do,

Corinne, Ben O., Joan, Nick, and the rest of the team

P.S. Our friends at Showing Up for Racial Justice are holding a conference call aimed primarily at white Americans who want to take action in solidarity with Black communities to stop police violence. RSVP to find out more (or share with a friend): http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304236&id=113684-10220574-yshHfOx&t=2

Sources:

1. "The Mysterious Death of Freddie Gray," The Atlantic, April 22, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304229&id=113684-10220574-yshHfOx&t=3

2. "10,000 Strong Peacefully Protest In Downtown Baltimore, Media Only Reports The Violence & Arrest of Dozens," Black Westchester, April 27, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304231&id=113684-10220574-yshHfOx&t=4

3. "The Other America," Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., March 14, 1968
http://www.gphistorical.org/mlk/mlkspeech/

4. "Undue Force," The Baltimore Sun, September 28, 2014
http://data.baltimoresun.com/news/police-settlements/

5. "The Brutality of Police Culture in Baltimore," The Atlantic, April 22, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304232&id=113684-10220574-yshHfOx&t=5

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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 28, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Sign the petition: Tell Congress to keep the estate tax

This is Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, co-founders of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. And we don't want another stupid tax cut.
Dear MoveOn member,

It's Ben and Jerry—the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream—and we need your help.

We want to pay our fair share of taxes, but Republicans in Congress are trying to pass an unnecessary tax giveaway to America's wealthiest citizens. We don't want, need, or deserve this tax cut—which is why we're asking you to sign our petition to Senate Democrats that states:

If Senate and House Republicans have their way, they will eliminate the estate tax, which affects only the wealthiest 0.2% of taxpayers. Repealing the estate tax would hurt our economy and be fundamentally unfair. Senate Democrats: Stand with us—and stay united against the repeal.

Here's the truth: We don't need this stupid tax cut.

As we recently wrote in an op-ed in USA Today, we're wealthy thanks to the good fortune of our efforts—but also because of many other societal factors that contributed to our wealth.1 The estate tax is one of the ways that the wealthy pay forward so the next generation has the opportunities we had.

The estate tax, which the U.S. has had for more than a century, currently affects Americans with estates worth at least $5.4 million, or $10.8 million for a couple—only 1 out of every 500 taxpayers.2 And yet, it's been a target of right-wing lawmakers, working on behalf of their wealthy donors. 

Click here to sign our petition calling on Senate Democrats to stand united and stop this Republican giveaway to the superrich.

Congress has shrunk the estate tax in recent years—and now the Senate and House, in advisory votes largely along party lines, have voted to repeal it entirely.3 The votes are only advisory, for now, but when the Republicans press this issue again, Senate Democrats will need to be ready to beat back the repeal and block this latest Republican giveaway to the superrich.

We know this may not be as fun as helping us choose names for ice cream flavors—but it's critical to send a message that Congress shouldn't be working on behalf of only the wealthiest Americans but should get back to the people's business. Wages have been stagnant for decades.4 Young people are carrying around anvils on their backs called student debt.5 Our public infrastructure is falling apart.6

Good grief, Congress. With all this going on, are you really going to give another tax break to those of us who need it least?

Sign our petition—tell Senate Democrats to stand united and ensure that Republicans don't give multimillionaires and billionaires even more tax breaks.

Thanks for all you do.

Ben and Jerry

Sources: 

1. "Ben & Jerry: We don't need this stupid tax cut," USA Today, April 16, 2015  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304167&id=113354-10220574-vYdtJOx&t=3

2. Ibid.

3. "House votes to repeal estate tax," The Hill, April 16, 2015  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304169&id=113354-10220574-vYdtJOx&t=4

4. "For most workers, real wages have barely budged for decades," Pew Research Center, October 9, 2014  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303882&id=113354-10220574-vYdtJOx&t=5

5. "Average Student Loan Debt Approaches $30,000," U.S. News & World Report, November 13, 2014  
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/13/average-student-loan-debt-hits-30-000

6. "Falling apart: America's neglected infrastructure," CBS, November 23, 2014  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304172&id=113354-10220574-vYdtJOx&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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 26, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Have an idea for a petition?

Do you have an idea for a petition? Help change the world and start your own MoveOn petition today.

Dear MoveOn member,

Ever heard Margaret Mead's famous saying? "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

That's the story of MoveOn. In 1998, when a Republican Congress was focusing all its efforts on impeaching President Clinton, two people with no political experience started a simple online petition: "Censure President Clinton and Move On to Pressing Issues Facing the Nation."

They shared their petition with their friends, and within days they had hundreds of thousands of signatures. Today, MoveOn has over 8 million members—mostly folks who got involved by signing an online petition, and have stayed active in helping to fight for a progressive America.

That's why we launched MoveOn Petitions where you can start your own online petition and invite your friends to sign it. We'll send the most popular petitions to other MoveOn members to help build support for your cause.

It's easy to get started—just click here.

Thanks!

–Milan, Corinne, Maria, Ben, and the rest of the team

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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 25, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

VIDEO: Why Elizabeth Warren should run

On Monday, I gave a speech in NYC about why Elizabeth Warren would be the best presidential candidate to take on big money in politics. Will you give it a watch and maybe share with a friend?
Run Warren Run

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

On Monday, I spoke with a room full of MoveOn members about the critical need to get big money out of our politics—and why I think Elizabeth Warren would be the best presidential candidate to take on this challenge today.

Will you watch me explain why and then share the video with friends?

Larry Lessig at Run Warren Run event

We all know that there's a laundry list of issues that need to be addressed by our next president—climate change, Social Security expansion, and more. But I believe wholeheartedly that the root of corruption in our government and economic inequality in our country today is the rampant, unaccountable money in our politics.

Elizabeth Warren has consistently shown that she has the independence, passion, and commitment to tackle this problem.

That's why I hope you'll watch me explain why we need her voice in the 2016 presidential debate and then share my video with a friend or two.

Thanks for all you do.

–Lessig

Lawrence Lessig is a professor at Harvard Law School and a co-founder of Mayday PAC, which fights to get big money out of politics.


Like us on Facebook Watch our video Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram

We're part of a growing grassroots movement to convince Senator Warren to run for president. Help build the momentum—start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation 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 April 22, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Elizabeth Warren

I'm joining the growing, grassroots movement and calling on Elizabeth Warren to run for president.
Dear MoveOn member,

This is Lawrence Lessig, the founder of Mayday PAC. Last night I made a big announcement: I'm joining the growing, grassroots movement and calling on Elizabeth Warren to run for president.

Now that I've spoken out, I'd like you to join me.

Will you support the campaign to draft Elizabeth Warren for president?

America is facing huge challenges. Growing income inequality. Money in politics. Wall Street corruption.

And the reality is that too many of these issues will simply be ignored without someone like Elizabeth Warren in the race.

Now you've probably heard that Senator Warren says she isn't running for president. But you know who also said that? Barack Obama.

He's not the only one. Dwight Eisenhower insisted he wouldn't run until the January before the election in 1952. (Check the calendar—January 2016 is nine months from now.) People started urging Ted Kennedy to run for president all the way back in 1968, and he finally ran in 1980.

In each of these cases, the candidate changed his mind because of an outpouring of grassroots support.

And that's what we're seeing today—but it's up to us to keep the momentum going. Will you chip in $3?

Yes, I'll chip in to help keep the Run Warren Run movement going strong.

Thanks for all you do.

–Lawrence Lessig

Lawrence Lessig is a professor at Harvard Law School and the founder of Mayday PAC, which fights to get big money out of politics. 

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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation 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 April 21, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Governors Scott Walker and Chris Christie are joining forces

Governors Scott Walker and Chris Christie are joining forces with 24 other state leaders to challenge the White House's historic deportation deferment policy. On Friday, the federal appeals court opened its hearing on this case—and hundreds of activists rallied to support immigration reform. Join them in standing up for immigrant families and telling Governors Scott Walker and Chris Christie to drop this bogus lawsuit. Click here to add your name.


Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Matt Hildreth of America's Voice, and I started a petition to Gov. Chris Christie and Gov. Scott Walker, which says:

Withdraw your support for the lawsuit attacking immigrant youth and undocumented parents of U.S. citizens.

Two Republican presidential hopefuls, Gov. Scott Walker and Gov. Chris Christie, have joined forces to attack an estimated five million immigrants with deeps roots to their communities.1

Last November, after months of pressure from millions of immigration reform activists, President Obama announced two new immigration policies to protect millions of people who grew up in America without papers and parents of US citizens who don't have an immigration status from deportation.

This was one of the biggest wins for the immigrant community in nearly a generation, but Gov. Walker and Gov. Christie have joined a host of Republican Governors and state attorneys general on a bogus and mean spirited lawsuit designed to delay the implementation of these new programs.

I'm so sick of Republicans playing politics with the lives of so many people.

Please join me in demanding that Gov. Walker and Gov. Christie withdraw their support for the bogus lawsuit attacking immigrant youth and undocumented parents of U.S. citizens.

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

Thanks!

–Matt

Source:

1. "Christie Tacks Right by Joining Republican Immigration Lawsuit," Bloomberg Politics, March 26, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304094&id=112362-10220574-10rg5zx&t=2

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. America's Voice 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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 19, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Call Pres. Obama: Strike a blow vs. Citizens United

Dear MoveOn member,

Can you take a moment to call President Obama and ask him to strike a blow against Citizens United? He needs to hear from you today.

Over 500,000 Americans—including more than 100,000 MoveOn members—recently signed a petition asking the president to sign an executive order requiring federal contractors to disclose all their political spending, which amounts to potentially hundreds of millions of dollars flowing from some of our nation's biggest corporations into political organizations. Then, two weeks ago, many Americans joined rallies across the country to sound the alarm.1

Now, it's time to call the president directly.

Can you call the White House to support an executive order combating political dark money?

When you call, deliver a message like this: "The president was right when he called for 'better politics' during his State of the Union address. That's why he should use his authority to combat dark money and sign an executive order requiring government contractors to disclose their political spending."

Here's where to call: 855-980-5638
You'll hear a short message about this executive order, then be directed to the White House comments line where you can speak to an operator.

Then, report your call so we can hear your feedback and count you among the thousands of Americans who are speaking out for reducing corporate influence in our political system.

Right now, the country's biggest corporations can funnel millions of dollars into political organizations without disclosing it—and some of these companies are federal contractors, which means they are using taxpayer dollars.2

We have a right to know whom they're donating to and how much. Shining a light on that information may reveal the contours of pay-to-play politics in America and may make CEOs think twice about how they are using their corporate coffers.

The president can take this step with a stroke of his pen—and Republicans in Congress can't stop him.3 But he needs to know that this is what the American people want.

Many of the other organizations that work on getting big money out of politics are asking members to call the White House today—and all of us together can create a clamor so loud that the president and the media will have to pay attention. That's why MoveOn members are joining this action today to help amplify this message—and why we'll stay in this fight against Citizens United for the long haul.

Please call the White House now and help strike a blow against Citizens United.

Please call now:

855-980-5638—which will direct you to the White House comments line.  

Then, click here to tell us about your call.

Thanks for all you do.

Jo, Jadzia, Bobby, Justin K., and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Will Obama Shine Light on Dark Money?" Bloomberg View, April 10, 2015  
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-04-10/will-obama-force-corporate-donors-to-disclose-

2. "Dark Money Casts a Sinister Shadow Across the Land," The Huffington Post, March 2, 2015       
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303774&id=&id=111935-10220574-m02KfUx&t=3

3. "President Obama Could Unmask Big Political Donors," The New York Times, March 23, 2015  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303773&id=&id=111935-10220574-m02KfUx&t=4

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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.


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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Tweet now to defend diplomacy with Iran

Tweet your House member right now to ask them to sign on to the Schakowsky-Price-Doggett pro-diplomacy letter to President Obama.
Dear MoveOn member, 

Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed S.615, which is essentially an anti-diplomacy bill that—if it becomes law—would give hawks in Congress the power to block a deal with Iran.1

And today, the fight for diplomacy with Iran made its way to the House of Representatives, with three lawmakers—Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), and David Price (D-NC)—circulating a letter to President Obama expressing their strong support for the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the P5+1 nations and Iran.

We need MoveOn members to support these historic talks and the emerging framework for peace. Can you tweet at your representative right now asking that he or she sign on to the Schakowsky-Doggett-Price letter to President Obama? 

We've made it easy for you to tweet at your representative. All you have to do is click on the link below. The deadline for sign-ons is noon tomorrow.

Tweet your representative now.

Let's be clear: Yesterday's Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote on S.615, the so-called Corker bill, was a setback for MoveOn members who have fought long and hard for diplomacy. But it's certainly not the end of the fight, and diplomacy can still prevail.

The Schakowsky-Doggett-Price letter is an opportunity for us to get pro-diplomacy Democrats in the House on the record. And we'll need them to be visible as we press on to the June 30 deadline for negotiations. 

Signing on to a high-visibility, pro-diplomacy letter is a great first step.

Thanks for all you do.

–Jo, Erica, Ben O., Brian, and the rest of the team

Source:

1. "How Ben Cardin and Bob Corker clinched the Iran deal," Politico, April 14, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=304075&id=111844-10220574-9dwxr3x&t=1

  

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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 15, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Elizabeth Warren: "I want to see who else gets in this race ..."

"... and what the issues are that they push." Have you heard Elizabeth Warren's recent interview? Check out this video.
Run Warren Run

Dear MoveOn member,

Just two days before Hillary Clinton made her candidacy for president official, this is what Senator Elizabeth Warren said on CNN when asked about whether she'd consider stepping into the presidential race:

I want to see who else gets in this race, and I want to see what the issues are that they push, because this is really key. What issues are people going to talk about?1

That's exactly what the Run Warren Run campaign is about—elevating that unique voice that Sen. Elizabeth Warren gives to the most important issues we face today and bringing it into the presidential debate.

Recently, Sen. Warren appeared on The HuffPost Show to talk about the issues that matter most to her—those that she considers to be the most pressing for our country.

The interview epitomizes the reason people can't stop talking about Elizabeth Warren. She speaks with conviction and moral clarity on the issues in a way nobody else is doing right now.

Check out the video today and share it with friends. It's the best reminder we've seen in a long time of the politics we should be aspiring to:

Elizabeth Warren on the HuffPo Show

Thanks for all you do.

–Mark, Stephen, Ben O., Maria, and the rest of the team

P.S. The interview's a little long, but it's entirely worth it. And be sure to watch the part where the hosts play a special message from actor and activist Mark Ruffalo that he recorded especially for Sen. Warren—it's just after the 21-minute point.

Sources:

1. "Elizabeth Warren: My 2016 dream candidate fights for middle-class families," CNN, April 10, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304053&id=111820-10220574-EpEevFx&t=3

Like us on Facebook Watch our video Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram

We're part of a growing grassroots movement to convince Senator Warren to run for president. Help build the momentum—start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation 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 April 15, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Wednesday: How to organize effective actions

Run Warren Run

Dear MoveOn member,

This week, members of Congress are headed back to Washington, D.C. from their spring recess, and they may face a possible vote on granting fast track authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) any daywhich means we need to be ready to help stop this destructive job-killing legislation and highlight Senator Elizabeth Warren's leadership, as well as the leadership of other progressive senators including Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, and others.

This is just one of many battles Congress will face during the next few years. No matter the fight we know our ability to organize effective actions can make the difference in how members of Congress vote and what legislation gets passed.

That's why this Wednesday, April 15, at 9 p.m. ET/8 CT/7 MT/6 PT we are hosting a training call titled, "How to organize effective actions." The call will focus on turnaround time, turnout and recruitment, and making your action media worthy. 

Can you join the training call this Wednesday, April 15, at 9 p.m. ET/8 CT/7 MT/6 PT?

Yes, I can join the training call. 

In Iowa and New Hampshire, Run Warren Run leaders have made huge impacts through the actions they've organized. They have hosted over 100 actions, from house parties to ice cream socialsand have earned significant media coverage. Even MSNBC gave national coverage to a well-timed honk-and-wave event in Iowa. 

Most important, the actions these leaders are organizing are helping change the political conversation in America. More and more, the coverage of the 2016 presidential race is focusing on who will fight for the middle class and for a fair economy—the issues that Senator Warren champions. 

With corporate America looking to score a win with a massive new trade deal, now's our chance to stand with Elizabeth Warren and, through our grassroots actions, amplify her message and her important work. Will you make the training call this Wednesday, April 15, at 9 p.m. ET/8 CT/7 MT/6 PT, to learn how to make actions more effective?

Yes, I want to RSVP for the training call. 

Thanks for all you do.

–Alejandro, Josh, Corinne, Robert, and the rest of the team


 Like us on Facebook Watch our video Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram

We're part of a growing grassroots movement to convince Senator Warren to run for president. Help build the momentum—start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation 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 April 13, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Sign the Petition: Tell Science Museums to Kick Koch off the Board!


Dear New York member,

I'm The Natural History Museum, a MoveOn member in Brooklyn, NY, and I started a petition to Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and American Museum of Natural History , which says:

Your museum is a center of learning and a home for science. There's no place for David Koch, or anyone behind funding the denial of man-made climate change, on the board of your trusted institution.

This month dozens of the world's top scientists, including several Nobel laureates, released an unprecedented letter calling on science and natural history museums to cut all ties to the fossil fuel industry.

In particular, the letter points a finger at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (D.C.) and the American Museum of Natural History (NY), where David Koch is a member of the board, a major donor and exhibit sponsor.

Oil mogul David Koch sits on the board of our nation's largest and most respected natural history museums, while he bankrolls groups that deny climate science.

Sign this petition to the Smithsonian and the American Museum of Natural History: It's time to get science deniers out of science museums. Kick Koch off the board!


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

Thanks!

–The Natural History Museum

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. The Natural History Museum 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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 12, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

One-minute survey: Which big idea are you most excited about?

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

There is a lot wrong with our economy. 

Wages are flat, or falling.1 Student debt is skyrocketing.2 Big banks have gotten so large, they're actually hurting economic growth.3

But the good news is that thanks to the support of thousands of fellow MoveOn members, MoveOn and I are teaming up on an ambitious project to build momentum for 10 ideas to save our economy. We're thinking about it as the new New Deal for Americans.

And with the help of MoveOn members, we'll bring these big ideas—these solutions—directly to the American people, bypassing the corporate media entirely.

I need your help to figure out where to begin. Which of these solutions are you most excited about? Click on your top choice below. 

Bust up the big banks and tame Wall Street.

Create a basic minimum income for all.

End "corporate welfare" giveaways to big corporations.

Expand Social Security.

Give parents the help they need so they don't have to choose between being good parents or dedicated workers.

Open Medicare to everyone.

Raise the minimum wage to $15/hour.

Reduce taxes on companies that share profits with their workers and raise taxes on companies that don't.

Reinvent education and pay teachers more.

Strengthen unions and preempt state "right-to-work" laws.

(We also have to get big money out of politics. That's an imperative—and it's so important to MoveOn members, we figure we don't need to include it here. It's a given.)

Now, if we did everything on this list plus got big money out of politics, we'd build an America that truly works for everyone, not just a wealthy handful.

So it's not surprising you won't hear much about these ideas in the corporate-owned media. And that's why to get them out there, we'll need to build a truly people-powered media.

After you tell us which idea is your favorite, I hope you'll answer a few more questions. I want to get a sense of which solutions you'd be most excited to share with your friends and neighbors—and which you think would resonate most in your community.

Thanks for helping change the national conversation.

And thanks for all you do.

Robert Reich

Sources: 

1. "For most workers, real wages have barely budged for decades," Pew Research Center, October 9, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=303882&id=111383-10220574-GXZ8BWx&t=12

2. "40 million Americans now have student loan debt," CNN Money, September 10, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=303883&id=111383-10220574-GXZ8BWx&t=13

3. "Warning: too much finance is bad for the economy," The Economist, February 18, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=303884&id=111383-10220574-GXZ8BWx&t=14

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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 12, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

End "too big to jail"

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, and I started a petition to the Department of Justice, which says:

If Big Banks can buy their way out of criminal prosecution, there's little incentive for them to do what's right. And it's a double standard that says wealthy institutions are above the law.

We believe no bank is "too big to jail" and ask that the Department of Justice hold lawbreakers accountable with serious penalties, including jail time, whether they're individuals or Big Banks.

When Credit Suisse pleaded guilty to criminal charges last May, many called it the end of "too big to jail" for Big Banks. But guess what: No bank executives actually went to jail.

Instead, they paid a fine—$2.6 billion—to settle the charges.

That may sound like a lot to you and me, but to a major financial institution, that's a cost of doing business. And it's just one in a series of settlements by Big Banks after wrongdoing when none of the executives went to jail.

That isn't justice. It's time we demand equal enforcement of the law. Click here to add your name.

If we want Big Banks to respect the law, they should be held accountable when they break it.

We're calling on the Department of Justice to end the "too big to jail" scheme the Big Banks enjoy today.

After all, just because you're the banker doesn't mean you should get out of jail free.

Add your name and help us stand up to Big Bank abuses!

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

Thanks!

–Senator Jeff Merkley

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Senator Jeff Merkley 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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on April 11, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, April 10, 2015

War with Iran? (Please read.)

According to some media reports, the U.S. Senate is now just one vote away from a veto-proof majority on a Republican bill that could put us on a path to war.

Dear MoveOn member,

*** We could be starting down the path to a new war in the Middle East—and Democrats are the ones who could tip us over the edge. This isn't hyperbole. Please read this whole email. ***

According to some media reports, the U.S. Senate is now just one vote away from a veto-proof majority on a Republican bill that could put us on a path to war. Will the Republican war hawk bill pass? It's up to Democrats.

Senator Charles Schumer—a front-runner to replace Harry Reid as the Senate Democratic leader—is supporting a Republican bill that could very well undermine President Obama's negotiations with Iran. And a small group of Democrats are joining him.1

Now, it's possible that if even one more Democrat joins with Republicans and overrides the president, we could be on a path to war.

To stop this march to war in its tracks, we've set an ambitious goal: get MoveOn members to commit to withholding at least $1 million in donations from Democrats if they undermine President Obama on Iran.

Can you pledge to withhold contributions from Democrats—if they undermine President Obama's diplomatic efforts with Iran?

Yes, I'll pledge to withhold contributions from Democrats who succeed in undermining the president's diplomacy with Iran—and any party committee that supports them (and tell us how much you could give from now through Election Day 2016).

No, I don't think we should do that (and tell us why).

The good news is: As the Republicans have overplayed their hand, the tide may already be turning in our favor. Democratic Senators Chris Coons and Mark Warner—who had previously supported the Republican bill—are now undecided about whether or not to undermine President Obama with legislation.2

Our activism is working—and we need to keep the pressure up. But we can't leave this to chance—or rely on our normal type of pressure campaign. Not with so much on the line.

This is a big moment—and we need to let Democrats know they'll be held accountable in a big way if they succeed in derailing diplomacy. Credibly threatening to withhold campaign money is a powerful way to do that.

Can you pledge to withhold contributions from Democrats—if they undermine President Obama's diplomatic efforts in Iran?

Yes, I'll pledge to withhold contributions from Democrats who succeed in undermining the president's diplomacy with Iran—and any party committee that supports them (and tell us how much you could give from now through Election Day 2016).

No, I don't think we should do that (and tell us why).

MoveOn members donate millions of dollars to candidates each and every election cycle. A public threat from MoveOn members to withhold $1 million or more from Democrats who would recklessly put us on a path to war will carry real weight.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilya, Matt, Corinne, Alejandro, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Schumer: Let Congress decide on Iran deal," CNN, April 6, 2015
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/06/politics/schumer-iran-deal/

2. "Senate Dems waver on Iran bill," The Hill, April 7, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303918&id=111147-10220574-%3DBf244x&t=5

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. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation 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 April 10, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.