Yesterday, MoveOn and the Center for American Progress teamed up to call out Senator McCain and Congressional Republicans for pretending that handing out huge sacks of cash to Big Oil constitutes an energy policy. CAP released a report estimating the value of subsidies and tax breaks McCain supports for Big Oil over the next five years at $39 billion. Local MoveOn volunteers around the country released the report, and called for those tax dollars to be spent on clean energy alternatives, including wind and geothermal power, home weatherization, conservation and public transit.
MoveOn.org presents this production with a desire to seek donations. This self-proclaimed "Progressive" organization hopes to advance the Democratic candidate, and look for dollars to do so. In essence, MoveOn would wish the public to think that if we advocate for Barack Obama then the Party platform will be fulfilled. As one who does not necessarily see these two entities as equivalent, I offer this audio-visual presentation more as a tool to inform than a request for a contribution.
A few months back, I took advantage of MoveOn.org's offer for free Obama bumper stickers in exchange for a donation.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I held a ginorous BBQ, but only about half the people we invited showed (who knew JULY was a big wedding month?), and I didn't give away nearly as many as I wanted to.
So now I have this stack of stickers on my desk, gathering dust. I look to you, good Kossacks, for suggestions re: what to do with them?
Based on McCain's recent trollish behavior, the following ad is just desserts. I haven't seen it until today, but it aired four times just this evening.
Now playing in PA (and playing often) courtesy of Moveon.org:
I just saw the new MoveOn.org ad called McCain: Get to Work. It plays off of McCain's speech in Sturgis yesterday when he talks about Congress taking a break.
As an artist, and a member of MoveOn.org's Support Corps Managers Team, I'm very pleased to share this info with anyone artistically inclined. Several days ago, MoveOn sent out the following email:
MoveON.org has a devastating new ad that is now being shown all over neoCNN and MSNBC (before the Olympic coverage started) that actually debuted online on youtube last week, but is finally getting attention during an interesting time: With John McCain admitting that Barack Obama was right about checking your tires indirectly.
I know a lot of people have been feeling discouraged about Obama not hitting back on scurrilous attacks as perhpas we would like him to.
I submit that there is an overall strategy that involves more than just the Obama campaign and its media team.
While Obama hit back yesterday about the "celeb" ad by saying quite pointedly that "John McCain needs to talk less about [me] and what he's against and more about what he's for..." Moveon.org has produced a new video to hit back against the offshore drilling fallacy
First up, in what could be a very influential ad, Planned Parenthood Action Fund goes on air in Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. on Bravo, Lifetime and Oprah with an ad that will be eye opening for the 98% of women in America who have used birth control.
I love this ad for so many reasons. I think it's a direct attack on McCain on so many fronts and cuts across his "Straight Talk" stage show directly hitting him on an issue that affects just about everyone. McCain was a damned fool for voting against birth control and its great to see his legislative incompetence getting some airplay. I'd grade the ad a solid A!
The events which unfolded following General Wesley Clark's appearance on Face the Nation this Sunday, have exonerated the General and proved conclusively that he was correct. The General praised John McCain's heroism and patriotism and then argued that his military experiences were insufficient in themselves to provide the judgment necessary to lead the free world.
The McCain campaign pounced and denounced Clark. The media hyperventilated calling it a "Swift Boat" smear. MoveON.org and Vote Vets defended Clark. McCain and his surrogates throughout the traditional media belittled and berated them. Others, notably Jim Webb, suggested that McCain should calm down, that the politicization of the military should be reduced. The McCain campaign, again supported by media surrogates, decided that their best bet was to put on the tin-foil hat, proclaim the whole thing a coordinated attack and play the victim. You almost expected his campaign surrogates to break into tears.
In many e-mails and conversations with friends, I have remarked often how much Obama, his campaign and my guess as to how he'll govern so resemble Abraham Lincoln. Candidates Lincoln and Obama share a very similar resume, represent the same state and share a gift for oratory. Obama has noted that he'll be using Lincoln's cabinet as an example. We all know, he announced his presidency on the same spot as the House Divided speech. And numerous diaries here mention that Team of Rivals would be a good first glimpse at an Obama presidency.
So, if this a politician who's stepping in these footsteps, we need not freak out by his "scolding" of MoveOn.org and Wesley Clark and his recent comments of FISA and the Supreme Court. (I happen to think only 50% of those examples are mistakes)
Here is a recap of last night's episode of The Daily with Jon Stewart. It was a particularly good episode so while I haven't done one of these recaps in a while I feel this one is worthy.
It starts off with Jon reacting to Charlie Black's statement that a terrorist attack would help John McCain rebound in the polls. Jon then explains to the audience why terrorism helps Republicans by writing a complex formula on a chalk board. I'm not going to spoil the ending but its pretty good.
Jon also goes after Barack Obama and MoveOn.org's ads for pandering and making even people that agree it cringe. He also goes after John Cornyn's absurd "Big Bad John" commercial in Texas and they even do their own parody with "Big Jew", an elitist Jew who drinks lattes and plays chess for fun.
The interview is James Harding, the editor from the Times of London. Weigh in with thoughts, comments and opinion below:
On Sunday, I co-hosted a bake sale to raise money for MoveOn.org's efforts to put progressive candidates in office. Wait, what did you think I meant? Something else?
Been lots of diaries here about people's disappointment, sense of betrayal, complete outrage with or justification for Obama because of his statement regarding the House-passed FISA bill.
My suggestion is that we stop complaining or arguing with each other and do something.
So, after the jump are a couple of things I know about that we can do: one that's better for those who are merely disappointed, and another for those who feel betrayed. (I don't have anything for those who are completely outraged or those who feel that Obama was justified).
I'm hoping that many of you will know of other actions we can take and will put them in comments to this diary.
