As reported in Women’s Wear Daily, to maximize awareness of the campaign, MoveOn partnered with high-profile nail artists to create bespoke, voting-themed nail art for their celebrity clientele that include Natasha Rothwell, Hannah Bronfman, Jaime King, Jessica Marie Garcia, Elaine Hendrix, Elizabeth Gillies, and more to be announced. The designs will be shared via the artists’ and celebrities’ social media channels through Election Day. Confirmed nail artist partners include Bel Townsend, Latress, Miho Okawara, and more to come.

This campaign is one of many organizing efforts MoveOn designed to reach out to Democratic surge voters, particularly millenials and Gen Z voters, who might not turn out in November without more-personalized and motivational appeals. Nail the Vote will give participants the chance to multiply their vote with vote tripling, a tactic proven to multiply impact at the polls, asking them to post photos of their nail wrap designs to social media using the hashtag #NailTheVote22 and tagging three friends.

MoveOn Political Action Executive Director Rahna Epting said, “There is so much at stake this election cycle, and historically, only voters highly engaged in politics come out to vote in a midterm election. Yet we know politics is where people are some of the time, culture is where people are all of the time. MoveOn spearheaded the Nail the Vote campaign in the hopes of meeting people who are not tuned into politics 24/7 where they’re at to ensure their voices are heard this November.” 

As part of the initiative, MoveOn is releasing two sets of limited-edition voting-themed nail wraps available for purchase at NailtheVote.com. MoveOn has partnered with TaskForce, an independent agency working at the intersection of art and social justice to produce the nail wraps, designed by fine artist Ariel Wilson.

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MoveOn is a people-powered force for progress. MoveOn mobilizes the left to elect Democrats and enact progressive change. We are the homebase for millions of members who refuse to accept the status quo and are moved to take action. For more than a generation, MoveOn has been a bulwark against the radical right, channeling our voices to end wars, protect democracy, and advance justice for all.

The post MoveOn Announces Nail the Vote Campaign appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

“Before the Packers’ season even opened, Ron Johnson had already sacked his own constituents by voting against the Inflation Reduction Act,” said MoveOn Political Action Executive Director Rahna Epting. “People in Wisconsin deserve cheaper prescription drugs and clean-energy jobs. They don’t need a MAGA millionaire who only looks out for his own net worth and the interests of his ultra-wealthy donors.” 

The :30 ad highlights Johnson’s propensity to protect the interests of the ultra-wealthy and large corporations by voting against making them pay their fair share of taxes to fund lowering drug prices and capping insulin costs and jobs in the clean energy field by “no” on the Inflation Reduction Act.  

Johnson’s opposition to the Inflation Reduction Act runs counter to the support of his constituents. New polling finds the Inflation Reduction Act enjoys a +36-point margin of support among Badger State voters. This includes nearly all Democrats (91%), over two-thirds of Independents (68%), and 41% of Republicans in Wisconsin who back the bill.

The 30-second ad will air Sunday during FOX’s broadcast of the game. 

TV AD

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MoveOn is a people-powered force for progress. MoveOn mobilizes the left to elect Democrats and enact progressive change. We are the homebase for millions of members who refuse to accept the status quo and are moved to take action. For more than a generation, MoveOn has been a bulwark against the radical right, channeling our voices to end wars, protect democracy, and advance justice for all.

The post MoveOn Launches New Anti-Johnson Ad Campaign During Packers’ Season Opener appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

You can see the ads that will run statewide in each state here:

AZ: https://youtu.be/5d0foMl5hSw

GA: https://youtu.be/0dBxiJ2tnSw

NV: https://youtu.be/PXXojOmpQi0

“This bill will dramatically lower costs for Americans and signifies a huge political win,” said MoveOn Political Action Executive Director Rahna Epting. “We will remind voters every day between now and Election Day that it was Democrats who stood up to Big Pharma, the oil & gas lobby, and the tax-dodging corporations and delivered a historic investment in the fight against climate change and inflation while every Republican voted against it. And we’re going to run on Democrats’ delivering progress for working people in these challenging economic times.” 

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MoveOn is a people-powered force for progress. MoveOn mobilizes the left to elect Democrats and enact progressive change. We are the homebase for millions of members who refuse to accept the status quo and are moved to take action. For more than a generation, MoveOn has been a bulwark against the radical right, channeling our voices to end wars, protect democracy, and advance justice for all.

The post In Wake of Historic Vote, MoveOn Political Action Launches New Ad Campaign In Battleground States appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

Washington, D.C. – Today, MoveOn Political Action released new polling from battleground states showing that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is very unpopular and gives Democrats an opportunity with key voters.

The survey was fielded before the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, making it more likely the data has shifted in the aftermath to further increase the urgency with which voters view abortion rights and their willingness to engage on the issue.

“If we want to restore abortion rights and prevent Republicans from passing a national abortion ban, we need to fight to hold the House and add two Democratic senators who will prioritize abortion rights over the filibuster,” said MoveOn Political Action Executive Director Rahna Epting. “Democrats speaking out for abortion rights doesn’t motivate only base voters—it’s an extremely important issue for swing voters, as well.”

“The electorate in several battlegrounds—like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—are far more supportive of abortion than conventional political wisdom thinks they are,” said Lake Research Partners President Celinda Lake. “More voters in these states identify as pro-abortion rights than as Democrats, making abortion a key issue for picking up support from swing voters.” 

Other findings include: 

• The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade runs counter to public sentiment in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
• Democrats and pro-abortion rights voters are very motivated to turn out in November in support of candidates who will protect people’s right to an abortion. Additionally, Democrats and pro-abortion rights voters are much more energized to vote in response to the decision to overturn Roe and a possible abortion ban in their state than are Republicans or voters who oppose abortion in all or most circumstances. 
• While it is true that there are many issues competing for voters’ attention at this time, not the least of which are gas prices and inflation, polling shows that voters are ready to hold lawmakers accountable in November for ensuring or restricting access to abortion.

MoveOn commissioned Lake Research Partners to design and administer an online survey of 300 likely 2022 voters in each of four battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—as well as 200 Democratic surge voters across the four states. The survey fielded June 6-14, 2022. The margin of error for each state is +/-5.7%.

Full polling memo can be found here.

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MoveOn is a people-powered force for progress. MoveOn mobilizes the left to elect Democrats and enact progressive change. We are the home base for millions of members who refuse to accept the status quo and are moved to take action. For more than a generation, MoveOn has been a bulwark against the radical right, channeling our voices to end wars, protect democracy, and advance justice for all. 

The post NEW POLL: Overturning Roe Very Unpopular in Battleground States, Giving Democrats Opportunity With Key Voters appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

As hearings reveal past – and continuing – efforts by MAGA extremists to overturn elections, MoveOn is mobilizing millions of voters to protect our freedom to vote.

Washington, D.C. – As the historic and damning January 6 hearings continue to reveal disturbing new details about past and ongoing efforts by MAGA extremists to overturn elections, MoveOn Political Action is announcing its Democracy Slate endorsements to protect our election system from MAGA extremists seeking to overthrow it. 

MoveOn members are endorsing six governors and five secretary of state candidates and will bundle $1 million in small-dollar contributions for them as part of its largest-ever midterm political program: America for All: Us v. MAGA.

“The choice we face in 2022 was already a dire one between the majority who support democracy and helping all Americans thrive and MAGA Republicans who are so extreme they attempted to overthrow our government,” said MoveOn Political Action Executive Director Rahna Epting. “The danger is even greater now as Trump’s radical justices on the Supreme Court get ready to overturn Roe and hand over more power to states where MAGA Republican candidates are lining up to criminalize abortion and take us backward to a time of forced births, even in the case of rape or incest.”  

Epting continued, “With basic freedoms, our health care, and democracy under attack, MoveOn members will also be keenly focused on state elections, including gubernatorial and secretary of state races.”

To achieve these goals, MoveOn will be raising millions of dollars for candidates, running the largest-at-scale relational voter outreach program of the midterms, mobilizing a robust army of volunteers, and launching a multimillion-dollar paid media program to microtarget voters to boost turnout.

Here are the Democracy Slate endorsements:

Governor
Stacey Abrams – GA
Beto O’Rourke – TX
Tony Evers – WI
Katie Hobbs – AZ
Josh Shapiro – PA
Gretchen Whitmer – MI

Secretary of State
Cisco Aguilar – NV
Jocelyn Benson – MI
Reginald Bolding – AZ
Jena Griswold – CO
Bee Nguyen – GA

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MoveOn is a people-powered force for progress. MoveOn mobilizes the left to elect Democrats and enact progressive change. We are the home base for millions of members who refuse to accept the status quo and are moved to take action. For more than a generation, MoveOn has been a bulwark against the radical right, channeling our voices to end wars, protect democracy, and advance justice for all. 

The post Amid Historic and Damning January 6 Hearings, MoveOn Political Action Announces Democracy Slate Endorsements appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

Republicans in the Senate did everything in their power to derail and undermine Justice Jackson’s nomination, treating her confirmation hearings as an opportunity to spew racist, sexist bile and spread ridiculous conspiracy theories. But through it all, Justice Jackson refused to stoop to their level, maintaining her composure during even the most outlandish attacks from Republicans hoping for a bit of air time.

And through it all, MoveOn members like you were there to support Justice Jackson and stand against the efforts of Republicans to stop her confirmation.

Since the start of her confirmation hearings:

• MoveOn members made almost 10,000 calls to Congress in support of her confirmation,
• more than 80,000 members signed on to a petition calling for her to be confirmed,
• young MoveOn members took to the streets in front of the Supreme Court to immediately demonstrate public support on the day of her nomination, and
• 150,000 people ordered these beautiful stickers, designed by artist Amanda Mustard, to show their support for her historic nomination.

You can join with hundreds of thousands of fellow MoveOn members to celebrate Justice Jackson’s confirmation today by ordering your free KBJ sticker, placing it somewhere visible, and sharing this message with your family and friends! Click here to order now.

Justice Jackson will be a voice for the people on the court, having served as a public defender and on a sentencing commission. The work must continue to rebalance the court after Mitch McConnell and Republicans packed it with ultra right-wing conservatives. We need at least three more Justice Jacksons on the court, because our human and civil rights are on the line. So grab your sticker now to proudly display your support for this historic confirmation and as a reminder of what’s at stake in our work to build an America where everyone can thrive.

Thanks for all you do.

Source:

1. “The Senate confirms Jackson, elevating the first Black woman to the Supreme Court.” The New York Times, April 7, 2022
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/07/us/ketanji-brown-jackson-vote-scotus#the-senate-votes-to-move-forward-with-jacksons-confirmation

The post Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed! appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

Washington, D.C. – In response to multiple news outlets reporting on Ginni Thomas’ text messages to the Trump White House, MoveOn Executive Director Rahna Epting issued the following statement:

“Disturbingly, we learned last night that Ginni Thomas was texting Trump White House officials to double down on their effort to overthrow the democratically elected government of the United States, including sending Joe Biden and election officials to Guantanamo Bay. 

“Ginni Thomas’ texts weren’t just an attack on our nation; they revealed a direct conflict of interest for Justice Thomas when a lawsuit came before the Supreme Court on whether the Trump White House needed to disclose communications we now know included texts from his wife. Justice Thomas was the only vote against White House officials having to disclose the documents.

“This is a severe conflict of interest. Justice Thomas has disgraced himself and American democracy. He must immediately resign or be impeached.” 

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MoveOn, one of the largest independent progressive advocacy groups in the United States, mobilizes millions for a better society—one in which everyone can thrive. Whether through supporting candidates, passing legislation, or changing our national culture, MoveOn members are committed to mobilizing together for an inclusive and progressive future marked by equality, sustainability, and justice. 

The post Justice Thomas Must Resign or Be Impeached appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

“Enough. We can’t wait on Republicans any longer. They had a chance to come to the table, negotiate in good faith and deliver for the American people. They failed to do so.

“President Biden has spent months bending over backwards to compromise with Republican lawmakers, but today’s vote shows that not a single Republican is genuinely interested in making a deal. The Republican party is more interested in spouting conspiracy theories and lies about the last election than actually governing. They have shown they are not a serious governing party and they should no longer be treated as one. It is time to move on without them. 

“Democrats should immediately move to reconciliation and pass a bill that meets the size and scope of the multiple crises this nation faces. We can not afford to wait one more minute for more political games from Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans. Their goal is only obstruction. The time for action is now.”

The post MoveOn Executive Director Responds to Republicans Filibustering the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

“Simply recovering from the pandemic is not enough. 81 million people, the most votes that any candidate has ever received, voted for Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress to urgently address the mounting crises that have gone long ignored in this country. 

“President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda will deliver on this promise. To build back better, we need to invest in good paying union jobs, clean energy jobs, the care infrastructure that so many people depend on, and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers like farmworkers. MoveOn members are working tirelessly to ensure this becomes a reality because America can not afford to wait any longer.”

The post MoveOn Executive Director: “Americans cannot afford to wait for a bold recovery package” appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

Historic Legislation: We Helped Push Congress to Pass a Strong COVID Relief Bill

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan brings immediate relief to Americans. In the video above, MoveOn Executive Director Rahna Epting talks about what Democrats should do to overcome Republican obstructionism and pass more bold legislation like this.

And it wasn’t easy getting the American Rescue Plan over the line. Your support helped mobilize masses of people to pressure Congress to pass a robust bill. A glimpse of our actions:

 

We ran a full-page ad in the Arizona Daily Star pressing Senator Kyrsten Sinema to fight for everyone in need of support.

 

Members made thousands of calls to senators and representatives, and showed up outside senators’ offices to urge them to support robust relief, amplified by billboards member donations helped fund.

 

Thousands joined our Twitter rally #OurSurvivalAtStake, sharing their stories of pandemic hardship. #OurSurvivalAtStake was the #3 trend nationally on the day of the rally.

 

Mohammad Khan
MoveOn Campaign Director

Mohammad has been a MoveOn member since 2003, worked at MoveOn since 2019, and played a vital role in organizing our MoveOn member community to fight for robust COVID relief.

Fighting for Accountability for GOP Seditionists

We are determined to hold traitorous officials in Congress accountable for helping to incite the deadly January 6 insurrection. Supporters like you helped launch a Treason Caucus Accountability campaign (read more about it here). Together, we took actions such as these:

Homepage ads on the sites of the home-district newspapers of Josh Hawley (R-MO), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Ron Johnson (R-WI) to remind constituents how their senators failed them.

 

We helped remove extremist Marjorie Taylor Greene from her House committee assignments by intensifying public pressure with eye-catching billboards and in-person member events.

 

Emergency Humanitarian Aid for Texans

When millions of Texans suffered massive power outages and clean water shortages, we swung into action:

Together, we raised more than $500,000 for the Workers Defense Fund and the Texas Organizing Project, who worked frantically to deliver water and food to hard-hit communities.

 

MoveOn volunteers also used text messaging to check in on hundreds of thousands of Texans and to share helpful resources.

 

While our fundraising for aid for Texans has wrapped up, we’re pushing for accountability and changes. Check out and sign petitions such as “Ted Cruz: Resign,” “Investigate ERCOT Now,” and “Greg Abbott: Reinstate Texas Mask Mandate.“

 

The post A New Supporter Briefing—See Our Impact appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

“The people of our multiracial democracy have spoken, loudly and clearly. They have deposed a would-be dictator and voted for government action in the face of crisis.

“We congratulate President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their decisive victory. Even as officials continue to count the final outstanding votes, the outcome of the presidential election is clear. People showed up in unprecedented and awe-inspiring numbers, continuing the vast reawakening of American democracy that began following the 2016 election, and they voted overwhelmingly for change.

“I am immensely proud of and deeply grateful for the millions of MoveOn members who worked so hard over the past four years and who powered our largest-ever voter mobilization campaign over the past few months. Together, we overcame a flood of voter suppression, misinformation, intimidation, and the unlawful use of government resources for political campaigning. Together, we turned the tide of American politics and created a significant opportunity for progress. But this is no time for complacency or to rest on laurels. There is much work to be done. MoveOn members in Georgia will be all-in to use our grassroots power in that state’s Senate runoffs. And then, with new leadership being sworn in in January, we must dedicate ourselves to making good on the mandate that a broad, multi-racial, multi-generational coalition of voters provided.

“Our country faces multiple crises on a scale we have not faced since the Great Depression and World War II: health and economic crises resulting from mismanagement of the pandemic; a climate crisis fueled by accommodation to fossil fuel lobbyists and denial of science; a crisis of racial injustice that has been part of the story of this this country for far too long and can no longer be tolerated; a crisis of democracy, with Americans divided, the right to vote under attack, and trust in institutions faltering. The election’s results and the record participation of the American people in the democratic process show a clear demand for change.

“Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Democrats in Congress have set forth plans on each of these fronts. We will have their backs as they advance their agenda and will hold them accountable and demand better when they fall short. Now is not the time for timidity or half-measures. Now is the time for those we elected to deliver on behalf of the people, with bold action commensurate with the scale of the challenges we face. That is how we will restore trust in government, and how we will ensure continued widespread participation. We know the stakes are high, and we are ready to meet the moment. We will continue to fight, together, for an America that works for all of its people and country in which everyone can thrive.”

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The post Biden and Harris Win! The People Have Spoken Decisively and Demand Action appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

Through billboards, stickers, GIFS, memes, innovative voter engagement tactics, and more, the Your Vote Is Power campaign will seek to provoke young people to imagine what is possible when we join together to change the direction of our country and our politics with our votes.

VIEW MORE IMAGES FROM THE CAMPAIGN HERE: https://yourvoteispower.moveon.org/

“If our votes held no power, no one would try to silence us. Our aim is to connect people to this message through the power of art,” said Michael Crawford, Cultural Director at MoveOn. “Art and visual symbols from the ‘Obama Hope’ poster to Trump’s MAGA hat have played vitally important roles in past elections and have the ability to shape the way people see candidates, electoral politics and their personal ability to make change. We started ‘Your Vote Is Power’ because we want to connect voters with unique and artistic images that inspire them to vote and continue fighting for their right to do so.”

“We, the people, hold immense power, yet so much of our society tells us otherwise,” said Cleo Barnett, Executive Director at Amplifier. “Our goal is to reclaim our visual landscape with messages of empowerment, with images reminding us that we are stronger when we act together and that our democracy depends on us all taking to the polls this November.”

New artwork will be promoted weekly including on digital billboards in states like Georgia, Kentucky and Wisconsin, where people had to wait in hours-long lines to vote in primaries this spring. In addition to the attached artwork, which will be distributed as stickers, postcards, and posters, as part of the Your Vote Is Power effort, MoveOn will also work with GIF and meme creators to boost voter turnout by countering disinformation narratives that tell young people that their participation does not matter.

“American identities span across a variety of age groups, locations, occupations and political affiliations, and a powerful image that resonates with people exemplifies art’s ability to unify others. We hope these images will do just that in the weeks and months ahead leading up to November,” added Crawford.

The Your Vote Is Power initiative follows MoveOn’s #MyAmericanFlag project, produced in collabortion with celebrity writers, actors, musicians and performers including Billy Porter, Roxanne Gay, Alfre Woodward and Ashley Judd, who shared images of uniquely designed American flags that reflected their own multinational heritages and encouraged people to register to vote.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MOVEON’S #MYAMERICANFLAG PROJECT HERE: https://bit.ly/myamericanflagjuly4

Both #MyAmericanFlag and Your Vote Is Power are part of a larger effort from MoveOn dedicated to engaging people of all ages, races and ethnicities who share progressive values with help from celebrities, artists, writers, and influencers.

The post Leading Artists Partner with MoveOn, Amplifier Launch ‘Your Vote Is Power’ Initiative to Drive Young Voter Registration and Turnout appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

In reaction to this news, Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn.org, released the following statement:

Our jaws are on the floor. This bill is worse than even our darkest fears. It will take a wrecking ball to health care in this country, leaving millions without care, making health care unaffordable for many, eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood, and giving massive tax cuts to the wealthy. Shockingly, this bill’s cuts to Medicaid are even deeper than those passed by the House—at a moment when Medicaid and Medicare should be dramatically expanded.

If the House bill was ‘mean,’ this bill is cruel.

Nothing remotely like this bill should be considered by any member of Congress, and amendments won’t get it into the ballpark of the compassionate and practical policy-making we need from our elected officials. As-is or with fig-leaf amendments, this bill would go down in history as the most cruel, destructive act of wealth transfer to the richest Americans at the expense of kids, low-income Americans, the elderly, those with disabilities, and the vast majority of Americans. It’s a moral disaster and political malpractice by any senators who dare to support it.

MoveOn members will work around the clock to defeat this bill and protect and improve coverage for all Americans.

Now that the bill is public, Senate Republicans have a choice. Do the right thing and protect our care. Or, if you boot millions of Americans off of health insurance, destroying Medicaid as we know it, slashing Planned Parenthood, and raising health care costs, know that your constituents will boot you out of office.

# # #

The post If House Bill Was ‘Mean,’ Senate Bill Is Cruel   appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

In the United States, no one is above the law. The testimony that former FBI Director James Comey is expected to deliver today makes clear that Congress must begin impeachment proceedings immediately.

MoveOn does not make this call lightly.

We have opposed Donald Trump’s bigoted, dangerous, and reckless actions and policies at every turn, helping to mobilize a powerful Resistance movement that is engaging millions of Americans in political activism, many for the first time in their lives. But today’s testimony puts us in fundamentally new territory. This is no longer about our opposition to Trump’s policies and rhetoric.

Donald Trump, and those around him, have sought to undermine our democracy and the rule of the law like no administration in our history. It is now clear that Trump’s effort to use the powers of the presidency to interfere with an ongoing investigation of whether, how, and why a foreign power tried unlawfully to undermine our electoral process is exactly the kind of fundamental abuse of power that the founders believed is an impeachable offense—a ‘High Crime or Misdemeanor’ under our Constitution.

Eighteen years ago, MoveOn was founded around a call for Congress to avoid  impeachment proceedings: censure then-President Bill Clinton, and ‘move on to the business of the country.’

Today, we are in a very different moment.

“We can not ‘move on’ from this. We will not treat this as normal. And politicians in Washington must not continue to conduct business as usual. Everyone in Congress must look in the mirror and decide how they will fulfill their oath to defend our Constitution—and which side of history they want to be on.

If they fail to do so, millions of MoveOn members across the country will hold them accountable at the ballot box.

The post MoveOn calls for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

MoveOn Also Released New Video Featuring Leading Racial Justice, LGBTQ, and Immigrants’ Rights Advocates Opposing Sessions

After a MoveOn.org petition by Alabama NAACP President Benard Simelton opposing the Jeff Sessions attorney general nomination because of Sessions’ track record of racism gathered more than 180,000 signatures overnight, a Sessions spokesperson lashed out in response this morning but failed to address the substance of the concerns.

The petition notes that Sessions is a “known racist with a long record of opposing civil rights and equality,” arguing “it is unimaginable that he could be entrusted to serve as the nation’s top law enforcement official.”

Sessions spokesperson Sarah Isgur Flores responded by claiming to the Washington Examiner that the petition was a “false smear,” but failed to rebut the substance of concerns about Sessions’ long track record of opposing civil rights protections. Then, in a bizarre series of tweets, Flores asserted that opposition to Sessions is a “fundraising gimmick,” rather than acknowledging the truth that Sessions has a long history of opposing civil rights.

“As much as his team might try to distract the American public, Jeff Sessions can’t run or hide from his racist comments and votes. There is a reason more than 180,000 Americans have signed this petition calling for Sessions’ rejection in less than 24 hours, and it is the same reason the Senate rejected his nomination to the federal judiciary decades ago—Sessions’ track record of racism and the fact that he has been an avid opponent of civil rights and human rights mean he is an unqualified nominee,” said MoveOn.org Campaign Director Jamiah Adams. “It’s no surprise that Sessions’ team is desperate to draw attention from his indefensible record by making baseless attacks on the civil rights groups that universally oppose his nomination. If Sessions is actually forced to address his long and disturbing history of opposition to civil rights, it will become clear that he should not be confirmed.”

To underscore the substance of concerns across the civil rights community about the Sessions nomination, MoveOn today released a new video featuring leading racial justice, LGBTQ, and immigrants’ rights advocates addressing his record.

Watch the new MoveOn video

• on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moveon/videos/vl.1512329548851478/10154040793805493/?type=1

• on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoveOn/status/817079206689599488

• on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jv-vfhHrCgs

“Instead of lashing out at and trying to smear the committed Americans with legitimate and profound concerns about his nomination, Sessions should acknowledge that his track record of opposition to civil rights makes him unfit to be attorney general and withdraw his nomination,” Adams said. “And if Sessions is concerned about ‘gimmicks,’ perhaps he should start with his false attempt to claim credit for civil rights work he barely had anything to do with in an attempt to obfuscate his dismal record on civil rights.”

View the petition here: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/stop-jeff-sessions

The post Sessions Lashes Out at MoveOn and NAACP After More Than 180,000 People Sign Petition Overnight Opposing His Nomination Due to His Long Racist Record appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

“President Obama has fulfilled his constitutional duty by nominating Judge Merrick Garland, but instead of fulfilling their constitutional duty, Senate Republicans are hell bent on running out the clock for the next nine plus months in hopes of allowing President Donald Trump to make a pick in line with his racist and bigoted view of our country.

“It is time for Republicans in the Senate to put country before party and give Judge Garland fair consideration, including a hearing and a vote. Republicans must abandon their unprecedented obstruction. Even for a majority that has taken obstruction to historic levels, this crass political play is a shameless new low. By refusing to even consider this nomination, Republicans are not just disrespecting Judge Garland and President Obama, they are disrespecting the Constitution. Republicans like to say voters should have a say in this process. We agree, and they did. They elected President Obama not once but twice knowing full well he would have the power to make this pick. President Obama has done his job. Now Senate Republicans need to do theirs.”

The post MoveOn Statement on President Obama’s Nomination of Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

“Tonight, the voters of New Hampshire gave an incredible boost to the political revolution spreading across the country. Granite State voters have proven that Bernie Sanders’ message of demanding real change to a system rigged in favor of giant corporations and the wealthiest few is resonating powerfully. We are taking our democracy back.

“Last month, MoveOn members voted overwhelmingly to endorse Bernie Sanders because we know he will stand up against an economic system rigged to favor the wealthy, demand justice for communities facing oppression, and say no to endless war. In the past few weeks, we have mobilized the 30,000 MoveOn members in New Hampshire to volunteer and vote for Bernie. Tonight, they made their voices heard.

“Tonight’s impressive win is a wake-up call to cynics who have had difficulty envisioning a departure from the status quo. The American people are fed up with a corrupt and broken political system, believe change is possible, and are ready to make it happen.

“The political revolution Senator Bernie Sanders is leading now has the momentum headed into Nevada, South Carolina, Super Tuesday, and beyond.”

The post Huge Win for Sanders in New Hampshire appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

MoveOn.org only endorses candidates based on votes by our members. Our only previous presidential endorsement during a Democratic primary was for Barack Obama, in early 2008. In 2004, no Democratic candidate reached the threshold for an endorsement.

Here are 5 of the top reasons MoveOn members support Bernie and will mobilize on his behalf to get out the vote in Iowa, New Hampshire, and other crucial early states.

1. Bernie’s lifelong commitment to standing up to corporate and 1% interests to fight for an economy where everyone has a fair shot.

“His refusal to accept the status quo of the wealthiest Americans using their power to influence politicians matters to me. If we’re going to push back against the rising oligarchy in our country, we need people like Bernie Sanders representing us in government.”
– MoveOn member Matt R., Reston, VA

At the core of Bernie’s campaign is a commitment to fixing an economic system that has been rigged in favor of giant corporations and the wealthiest few and that is making economic inequality worse.

Bernie’s campaign is funded by more than a million ordinary Americans chipping in whatever they can afford—not by billionaires or corporate SuperPACs. In our endorsement vote exit poll, one of the words MoveOn members most frequently used to describe him was “integrity.” He isn’t beholden to lobbyists and corporate interests, and it shows in the positions he’s taken, from fighting to break up too-big-to-fail Wall Street banks, to tuition-free public higher education, to expanding Social Security, to fighting for bold solutions on climate change and a $15-hour minimum wage.

In short, MoveOn members support Bernie Sanders because they believe they can trust him to stand up to powerful interests and fight for what’s right.

2. He’s standing up for justice for communities facing oppression.

“In a nutshell, he exemplifies the ‘We the People’ style of democracy I believe in. He has stood by and with the people, supporting women, people of color, LGBTQ, seniors, and the poor against those who look to subjugate these historically oppressed groups for profit.”
– MoveOn member Natalie R., Claremont, CA

Bernie is fighting for racial justice by calling to demilitarize police, invest in community policing, end the drug war and tackle the epidemic of mass incarceration, and restore voting rights gutted by federal courts. On immigration, Sanders proposes allowing undocumented immigrants to purchase health care through the Affordable Care Act, dismantling inhumane deportation programs and private detention centers, and a path to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans. He’s fighting for equal pay for women and to expand and protect reproductive rights, and has pledged to only nominate Supreme Court justices who support Roe v. Wade.

3. He’ll say no to permanent war.

“He represents integrity. He was also right about Iraq and I prefer his stance on foreign policy. I feel that he is concerned with getting our country on track and not getting us in more wars.”
– MoveOn member Janekee C., Davenport, FL

Bernie Sanders has been a strong, consistent voice for the principle that war should always be a last resort. He had the foresight to vote against authorizing the war in Iraq in 2002, was a strong supporter of the nuclear deal to prevent war with Iran, and has been a voice of reason against escalation in Syria and other conflicts around the world.

A diplomacy-first foreign policy has long been one of MoveOn members’ top priorities, and Bernie has consistently stood with us against costly, needless, and unwise military escalation that puts our nation’s security and values at risk.

4. Electability: This election will hinge on turnout, and Bernie is inspiring and mobilizing the communities it’ll take to win.

“I have never been as excited about a candidate as I am about Bernie Sanders. His liberal values match my own values more closely than any other candidate. I respect Bernie Sander’s independence from corporate influence. His focus on social justice and addressing the economic inequality in this country make him the candidate for me.”
– MoveOn member Megan W., Poulsbo, WA

Bernie’s campaign is inspiring millions of people to enter the political process for the first time, including young people and other members of the “rising American electorate” who the eventual Democratic nominee will need to mobilize in order to win in November. He’s raised money from more contributors than any candidate in history at this stage in the primary process, and massive crowds have turned out to see him across the country. Part of why MoveOn members are supporting Bernie is that his agenda excites and inspires them, and they see it doing the same for others.

Experts agree that the general election will hinge on voter turnout. If the Obama coalition can be inspired to vote, Democrats will retain the White House. But if the electorate looks like it did in 2014, when Republicans gained ground across the country and seized control of the Senate, Democrats will be in trouble.

Not only do some new polls this week show Bernie leading the Democratic field in Iowa and New Hampshire, they also show him to be the Democratic candidate who performs best against various hypothetical Republican nominees.

MoveOn members support Bernie because they know his message has broad support and that he is well positioned to win the White House in a general election.

5. Putting members in the driver’s seat is what MoveOn does, and a whopping 79 percent voted to endorse Bernie.

“I voted for MoveOn.org to endorse Bernie Sanders for president because he represents the progressive movement like this organization. His views align perfectly with my own—wealth inequality, a living wage, job creation, Wall Street reform, racial justice, women’s and LBGT rights, college without debt, climate change, and peaceful solutions to prevent war, such as his support for the Iran deal.”
– MoveOn member Terri D., Brookfield, WI

Finally, MoveOn is endorsing Bernie for president because MoveOn is our members. MoveOn only endorses candidates for office after formal membership votes, and in this case, the outcome of our internal democratic process was overwhelming: the vast majority of voting MoveOn members want the organization to support Bernie, so that’s what we’re going to do. We’ve pledged to run a 100% positive campaign. And then regardless of who wins the nomination, MoveOn will support the eventual Democratic nominee in the general election to keep a Republican out of the White House, because the vast majority of members have made clear that it’s what they want MoveOn to do.

More than 340,000 MoveOn members participated in our endorsement process. Sanders won with 267,750 votes, or 78.6 percent. “Fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton garnered 49,811 votes (14.6 percent). Martin O’Malley earned 2,949 votes (0.9 percent). There were also 20,155 MoveOn members, or 5.9 percent, who voted against MoveOn making an endorsement now.

Bernie’s vote total and percentage are MoveOn records—the best any presidential candidate has performed in our 17-year history.

In short, MoveOn members #FeelTheBern and are going to mobilize in a big way to turn out the voters Bernie needs to win in Iowa, New Hampshire, and other early primary states. Let’s demonstrate the impact of progressive people power. Click here to join our MoveOn for Bernie campaign.

The post The Top 5 Reasons MoveOn Members Voted to Endorse Bernie (with the Most Votes and Widest Margin in Our History) appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

THE TOP 10 THINGS MOVEON MEMBERS GOT DONE IN 2015

1. WE SECURED DIPLOMACY WITH IRAN, PREVENTING AN UNNECESSARY WAR

MoveOn members continued our long history of advocating for a progressive and peaceful foreign policy by mobilizing during the August recess to tell Congress: “No War With Iran!”

Preventing war with Iran and allowing diplomacy to work marked MoveOn members’ biggest accomplishment of the year. Had we not mobilized in support of the nuclear deal that President Obama reached with five world powers and Iran, the world could have seen a very different outcome.

After the deal was announced in July, many in Congress, including Democrats, threatened to overturn it, risking war. But if enough Democrats stood with President Obama, we would ensure the deal remained in place. We made this fight our top priority.

Throughout the August recess, with members of Congress at home in their districts, we showed up at hundreds of town hall meetings and other public appearances, organized hundreds of events and demonstrations, made tens of thousands of phone calls, and placed substantial ad buys in states whose senators were on the fence, making clear to Democrats that their base wanted them to stand with the president and support the deal. When Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced he opposed the deal, we mobilized quickly to launch a donor strike and get the “SchumerMobile” onto the streets of New York City, showing other senators that we’d hold them accountable too if they chose war over diplomacy. It worked. Few other Democrats made the wrong choice.

President Obama recently sent MoveOn.org Political Action Executive Director Ilya Sheyman a note thanking MoveOn members for their work on the Iran deal, which the president said “made a huge difference,” adding, “the world will be safer for it”:

2. WE KEPT REPUBLICANS FROM SLAMMING THE DOOR ON SYRIAN REFUGEES

We rallied in support of Syrian refugees, carrying the message “America Welcomes” and turning back an effort in Congress to block refugees from entering the United States.

Just weeks ago, an anti-refugee backlash had enormous momentum, with Donald Trump and other Republican presidential candidates shamelessly stoking fears and dozens of governors declaring Syrian refugees weren’t welcome in their states.

But something happened that Washington wasn’t expecting: our community stood up. MoveOn members signed and delivered hundreds of thousands of petition signatures. We joined allies in flooding Congress with phone calls, including at least 25,000 from MoveOn members alone. We marched in the streets at dozens of vigils and rallies with “Refugees Welcome” signs. We conducted polling showing Democrats that the public would support them if they stood with refugees. We used social media to share more than 150 digital posters. And we welcomed refugee families into our homes for Thanksgiving-themed dinners.

It worked. When Republicans tried to tuck an anti-refugee measure into the big, must-pass end-of-year spending bill, we stopped them. In the new year, we’ll continue to fight for a country that lives up to the promise on the Statue of Liberty: “Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

3. WE ELEVATED ELIZABETH WARREN’S LEADERSHIP WITH THE RUN WARREN RUN CAMPAIGN, SETTING THE TERMS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

MoveOn members organized across the country to encourage Sen. Elizabeth Warren to run for president and to force the issue of economic inequality into the presidential race as part of our Run Warren Run campaign.

From December through May, MoveOn members organized to show our support for Senator Elizabeth Warren and encourage her to enter the presidential race. We launched the Run Warren Run campaign after more than 86 percent of MoveOn members voted to go forward, and we were quickly joined by our allies at Democracy for America, the Working Families Party, and others. We didn’t ultimately persuade Senator Warren to run, but our campaign and the substantial, sustained media coverage it generated elevated Senator Warren’s voice, focused national attention on the issue of economic inequality, and laid the groundwork for the Democratic primary race.

The Huffington Post’s Sam Stein noted Run Warren Run “affected several debates along the way, helping Warren submarine President Barack Obama’s nomination of Antonio Weiss, a Wall Street banker, to be a top ranking Treasury Department official, and encouraging lawmakers to support the expansion of Social Security. … Side-victories … large enough to hang a few hats.” And Slate’s Josh Voorhees credited Run Warren Run with helping to persuade Hillary Clinton to take “more progressive stands … than anyone had expected.”

4. WE MOBILIZED PUBLIC PRESSURE TO HELP FORCE DOWN THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES

MoveOn members and allies from Color of Change march to the South Carolina state house, calling on Governor Nikki Haley and legislators to take down the Confederate flag.

After the June massacre of nine Black members of Charleston, S.C.’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church, MoveOn member Karen Hunter launched a petition campaign demanding the removal of the Confederate flag. Her petition became the second-fastest-growing one in MoveOn’s history and helped generate the public attention and pressure that led the state of South Carolina to take down the flag from state house grounds. This was just one of many times this year that MoveOn members rallied for justice for Black Americans, inspired by the moral force of the growing movement for Black lives. We also called for justice for Sandra Bland and Tamir Rice, stood in solidarity with #SayHerName activists who challenged presidential candidates at the progressive Netroots Nation conference, and supported organizers in Chicago calling for Rahm Emanuel’s resignation in the wake of the Laquan McDonald video cover-up.

5. MORE THAN 32,000 GUN-OWNING MOVEON MEMBERS ADDED TO THE PUSH FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION ON GUN VIOLENCE

Fifteen gun-owning MoveOn members traveled to Washington, D.C., in November and met with Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett and elected officials (including Senator Chuck Schumer [D-NY], above) to convey that they will support President Obama if he takes executive action to strengthen background checks.

After the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, MoveOn members made gun violence prevention a top priority this fall—with the goal of persuading President Obama to close a gaping gun-sale loophole that allows people to buy guns without background checks. More than 650,000 MoveOn members have now signed a petition calling for tighter gun laws. And more than 32,000 gun-owning MoveOn members worked together to elevate their voices this fall. Fifteen of those gun owners traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers and presidential advisor Valerie Jarrett. We also conducted a poll finding overwhelming support for background checks among gun owners and released the results to the media. We anticipate that President Obama will take executive action in January to strengthen background checks and save lives.

6. WE HELPED STOP THE EXECUTION OF AN INNOCENT MAN

MoveOn members demonstrated outside of the United States Supreme Court to stop the scheduled execution of Richard Glossip after a MoveOn Petition campaign led by actor and activist Susan Sarandon and Sister Helen Prejean garnered more than 250,000 signatures and generated nationwide media attention.

Actor and activist Susan Sarandon and Sister Helen Prejean (whom Sarandon played in the film Dead Man Walking) started a MoveOn petition calling on Oklahoma’s governor to stop the execution of Richard Glossip. Glossip came within days or minutes of his death three times this year for a crime the record in the case makes clear he did not commit. More than 250,000 MoveOn members signed Sarandon and Prejean’s petition and thousands called the governor, shared information on social media, participated in on-the-ground demonstrations, and chipped in to run ads that helped to thrust the issue into the national spotlight and to support Glossip’s legal defense. In September, Gov. Fallin stayed his execution at the very last minute, and all executions in Oklahoma are now on hold until at least next spring. This was just one of many campaigns MoveOn members organized this year to call attention to structural flaws in and the need for reform of our nation’s broken criminal justice system.

7. WE CONTRIBUTED FUNDS TO RESPOND TO INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC TRAGEDIES

MoveOn members joined together to contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to organizations doing direct relief work after tragedy struck.

More than 100,000 MoveOn members chipped in to fund our campaigning this year—but we didn’t stop there. When tragedy struck, we passed the virtual hat to raise funds for organizations doing relief work, including contributing more than $500,000 to organizations on the ground after a devastating earthquake in Nepal in April, groups helping rebuild Black churches in the South after arson attacks this summer, and relief efforts supporting Syrian refugee families in meeting basic, everyday needs.

8. WE RAN THOUSANDS OF CAMPAIGNS ON THE MOVEON PETITIONS PLATFORM

MoveOn member and petition creator Lois Wilkins delivers her MoveOn petition calling for an investigation into the death of Sandra Bland to the federal Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

MoveOn members started and led thousands of petition campaigns this year using MoveOn Petitions, collecting more than 9 million signatures, organizing nearly 500 in-person petition delivery events, generating thousands of news stories, and using our progressive people power to put pressure on decision makers to do the right thing. MoveOn members averaged one victory every other day this year, fueling wins such as expanding Medicaid coverage in Montana, stopping cuts in disability services in Connecticut, blocking Gov. Scott Walker from undermining teacher licensing standards in Wisconsin, and defeating anti-gay religious freedom legislation in Arkansas.

9. WE PARTNERED WITH ROBERT REICH TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR ECONOMY

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich partnered with MoveOn on The Big Picture — a video series debunking right-wing myths and setting the record straight about how we can strengthen our economy and make it work for everyone.

This year, we did an end run around corporate media with a video series featuring Robert Reich that debunks right-wing economic myths and focuses on commonsense solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems. Our Big Picture series addresses issues including money in politics, too-big-to-fail Wall Street banks, mass incarceration, the fight for a $15-per-hour minimum wage, threats to Social Security, and the skyrocketing cost of education. Millions watched and shared these big ideas which would vastly improve the lives of regular Americans—and the project was so successful that we’re planning more videos in the year to come.

10. WE STOOD IN SOLIDARITY WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND SAID NO TO CUTS

MoveOn.org Civic Action Executive Director Anna Galland joined allies from DailyKos, CREDO, and Democracy for America to deliver more than 1 million petition signatures to senators, including Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

When anti-abortion extremists released deceptively edited videos to undermine Planned Parenthood, MoveOn members mobilized. More than 288,000 MoveOn members signed petitions demanding that Congress not cut funding for Planned Parenthood’s health centers. We ran ads and shared powerful graphics setting the record straight. We generated more than 10,000 calls to Congress. And we partnered with Planned Parenthood to organize 138 events—about half of which were led by MoveOn members—to #PinkOut the country. Thanks to our work and the work of allies at dozens of other feminist and progressive organizations, Democrats in Congress stood strong and prevented cuts.

And that’s hardly all we accomplished. MoveOn members also did powerful work this year to prevent Congress from signing off on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, to support the Federal Communications Commission in adopting new rules to protect Net Neutrality, to secure President Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, to build support for expanding Social Security benefits, to build the movement to overturn Citizens United and get big money out of politics, and so much more.

In these fights, as in many others, we made our voices heard and made real progress, showing what people power can accomplish. And this work was fueled by more than 100,000 MoveOn members chipping in—with an average contribution of $23—and by millions of MoveOn members taking action. Thank you for all you’ve done to make this happen.

We have much to be proud of, but much remains to be done. Will you chip in to power MoveOn members’ organizing in 2016? Click here if you can.

MoveOn.org Political Action is a federally registered political committee and is subject to the Federal Election Campaign Act. MoveOn.org Civic Action is organized as a nonprofit organization of under section 501(c)4 of the Internal Revenue Code. Although each organization undertook its own programs, for the sake of simplicity this top 10 list describes the work of both organizations as having been carried out by “MoveOn.”

The post Reflecting on our work in 2015 appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.