Democratic Leader-in-waiting Chuck Schumer has come out against the Iran nuclear deal. And a group headed by pro-war former senator Joe Lieberman launched a billboard thanking Sen. Schumer, right in Times Square.
We can't let this go unanswered. Not with other Democrats across America watching what happens to Sen. Schumer, and trying to figure out whether there's more political risk in supporting the deal or opposing it.
We've already raised over $120,000 this week. We're getting ready to kick off next week with a competing billboard, to ramp up our campaign to hold Sen. Schumer accountable—and to send a clear message to other Democrats: If you push us towards war, we'll hold you accountable too. Will you chip in $3 and help us get to $200,000 by Monday?
Click here to chip in and help hold Senator Schumer accountable.
Dear MoveOn member,
Our pressure is working. In a backlash that has sent shock waves through Washington, D.C., more than 20,000 of us have pledged to withhold more than $11 million from Democrats who would lead us towards war with Iran.
Senator Chuck Schumer—would-be Democratic Leader in the Senate, and the only Democratic senator to publicly oppose the Iran deal so far—is feeling the heat. Politico reports that "with liberal groups furious over his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, Sen. Chuck Schumer has been quietly reaching out to dozens of his colleagues to explain his decision" and assure them he won't lobby them to join his side.1
And in recognition that Schumer is against the ropes politically, a group backed by hawkish billionaires—and headed by none other than the pro-war former senator Joe Lieberman—has bought a video billboard in Times Square to support him.
Every undecided Democrat, from Senator Cory Booker to Representative Jerry Nadler, is watching what happens to Schumer. They're trying to figure out whether there's more political risk in supporting the deal—or opposing it. So this is the moment for us to double down.
Can you chip in $3 to help buy an opposing billboard in Times Square calling out Schumer—and pointing out that the war hawks who took us to Iraq now want war with Iran?
There's an amazing story about the group that bought the pro-Schumer billboard, a story that tells you everything you need to know about this fight.
The organization, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), used to be chaired by Gary Samore, a nuclear expert who runs a security program at Harvard. During negotiations with Iran, he was skeptical. But according to an article in today's New York Times, after the Iran deal was finalized, Samore took a hard look at the text—and wound up supporting it.2 If you want to keep Iran nuclear-free, supporting the deal is the best path to do it.
But that put him on the wrong side of the group he chaired, which was funded in no small part by ultra-right-wing pro-war billionaire Sheldon Adelson. So Samore stepped down. And into his chair slid Joe Lieberman, the Iraq War's #1 Democratic cheerleader—and the target of a MoveOn-supported primary campaign in 2006 that cost him the Democratic nomination for his Senate seat.
Lieberman, predictably, opposes the Iran deal. And under Lieberman's leadership, UANI wasted no time in coming to the aid of Sen. Schumer, who was facing a wall of criticism from progressives, just as Lieberman had a decade ago.
The fallout from Schumer's decision will shape the future of the Democratic Party, the country, and the Middle East. Everyone's watching. That's why we have to lean in to this fight—and respond to the pro-war billboard in a way that can't be missed.
If we can raise the funds this week, we can buy an anti-war billboard in Times Square and buy online ads to make sure that swing voters across America see our message. Can you chip in $3?
Click here to chip in, and help us hold Senator Schumer accountable.
We didn't stop the last war. We'll all have to live with that—those of us who didn't lose our lives to it. But we can stop this one.
Thanks for all you do.
–Jo, Bobby, Erica, Stephen, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Chuck Schumer working the phones on Iran," Politico, August 11, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305987&id=128963-10220574-CcejjFx&t=1
2. "Head of Group Opposing Iran Accord Quits Post, Saying He Backs Deal," The New York Times, August 12, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305988&id=128963-10220574-CcejjFx&t=2
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PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on August 15, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.
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