47 "Traitors"

A letter sent by 47 senators is a purely partisan, extreme, and unprecedented act, meant to embarrass the president and drive a hard-right foreign policy agenda.

Dear MoveOn member,

What's the word for American citizens who undermine the diplomatic efforts of the American president by communicating directly with a foreign government?

"Traitors," according to the New York Daily News—referring to the 47 Republican senators who signed a letter to the Iranian government with the goal of derailing sensitive and potentially historic nuclear negotiations.¹

Our team is working around the clock organizing a response to this purely partisan, extreme, and unprecedented act. We're in the final stages of producing a hard-hitting television ad that calls Republicans out. Now, we need to decide how big we can go. 

Please click here—right now—and make the most generous contribution you can to help us hold these 47 Republicans accountable, and make sure no Democrat joins them in undermining the president and risking a war.

The Republicans have tried every desperate measure to foil these talks. 

They invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an avowed opponent of diplomacy with Iran, to address Congress—breaking American diplomatic protocol by not informing the White House or State Department of the invitation until it was already arranged.² 

After Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech, they attempted to rush through legislation that would have taken diplomacy out of the hands of the president and sabotaged diplomatic talks.³

And now this: a letter signed by 47 Republican senators, including several presidential hopefuls. It's a disrespectful, dangerous, and reckless display meant to embarrass the president in front of the whole world and drive a hard-right foreign policy agenda.

Since Republicans invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to come to Washington and undermine President Obama, we've raised over $250,000 to fight back, hold Republicans accountable, and make sure not a single Democrat joins them in blowing up the president's diplomatic efforts and putting us on a path to war.

Will you help us reach $350,000 so we can send the strongest possible message that President Obama—not Speaker John Boehner, Senator Mitch McConnell, Prime Minister Netanyahu, or anyone else—is in charge of U.S. diplomacy?

Yes, I'll make an emergency contribution to help get the president's back, hold Republicans accountable, and prevent another catastrophic war in the Middle East.

If you're on Twitter, you've probably seen the hashtag #47Traitors used to describe this outrageous situation. We hear the anger many Americans are voicing. This makes us want to shout in disgust as well. We have to make sure these 47 Republicans don't win. If they do, the cost could be war.

But it's just as important to channel our energy at this moment into something productive: preserving the historic negotiations and creating the opportunity for peace with Iran.

The Republicans have overstepped, and the American people know it. Our ad will push back against this extreme behavior, remind conservative Democrats that they have a responsibility to back the president, and create the room for diplomacy to have a shot.

Will you help us push back—in the strongest possible terms—against these shameless efforts to blow up American diplomacy?

Yes, I'll make an emergency contribution to help get the president's back, hold Republicans accountable, and prevent another catastrophic war in the Middle East.

Thanks for all you do.

–Jo, Robert, Erica, Ilya and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "NY Daily News Blasts GOP Senators Over Iran Letter, Calling Them 'Traitors,'" The Huffington Post, March 10, 2015 
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303422&id=109704-10220574-yrGtJgx&t=1

2. "White House: Boehner Invite to Netanyahu Breach of Protocol," The New York Times, January 21, 2015 
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303423&id=109704-10220574-yrGtJgx&t=2

3. "Democrats upset McConnell wants to fast-track Iran bill," CNN, March 4, 2015 

http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303300&id=109704-10220574-yrGtJgx&t=3

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

Tell Big Banks to be transparent about Executive payouts

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Heather Slavkin Corzo from the AFL-CIO, and I started a petition to Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, Citigroup CEO Michael Corbat, and Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman. The petition to each of the banks says:

The AFL-CIO recently filed a shareholder proposal at your institution asking for more transparency regarding compensation package practices for executives who leave for high-level government jobs. You in turn asked the SEC for permission to omit the proposal so you can continue to keep the details of this practice secret.

You should be willing to let shareholders and the public see all the facts and judge for themselves. Please drop your opposition to this proposal and give shareholders the opportunity to vote for greater transparency in your executive compensation practices.

The AFL-CIO recently filed proposals to let big-bank shareholders demand greater transparency around golden-parachute practices that make huge payouts available to executives who leave big banks for top posts in government. The banks reacted in panic and are working to persuade the Securities and Exchange Commission to step in, allowing them to keep their policies a secret and their shareholders in the dark.

Wall Street executive Antonio Weiss was recently in line to receive a $20 million bonus from his investment bank employer for agreeing to take a Treasury Department undersecretary position.¹ Weiss, who eventually took an advisory job that did not require Senate confirmation, is only the latest in a series of would-be and actual public officials who have stood to benefit from these "golden parachute" deals.

When bankers get large bonuses for taking government jobs, it sends a dangerous message about who is really calling the shots. If the big banks think these practices are defensible, they should let their shareholders know the facts and judge for themselves.

Join us in calling for Wall Street to allow shareholders to vote on these practices.

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

Thanks!

–Heather

Source:

1. "Want $20 million to work for the government? Just quit a Wall Street job first," CNN, December 4, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303462&id=109689-10220574-Nrx4Dmx&t=1

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. AFL-CIO 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.

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

"Traitors"

Republicans are being disrespectful, dangerous, and reckless. We have to hold them accountable.

Dear MoveOn member,

In an unprecedented move, 47 Republican senators have sent a warning letter directly to Iranian leaders, threatening to blow up any diplomatic deal negotiated by President Obama.¹

This is disrespectful, dangerous, and reckless. We have to hold them accountable. And make sure not a single Democrat joins them in blowing up the president's diplomatic efforts and putting us on a path to war.

We're producing a TV ad immediately to call out this outrageous act. Please click here—right now—and make the most generous contribution you can to help us hold these 47 Republicans accountable, and make sure no Democrat joins them in undermining the president and risking a war.

"Traitors" is how the front page of yesterday's New York Daily News described the 47 Republican senators who wrote to Iran's leaders in an effort to undermine President Obama and sabotage his diplomatic efforts to prevent yet another unnecessary war.²

And it isn't just the Daily News. Media outlets across the country are—for good reason—slamming Republican war hawks for this shocking and dangerous attempt to sabotage diplomacy and disrespect the president.

As Vox.com puts it, "The mere act of senators contacting the leaders of a foreign nation to undermine and contradict their own president is an enormous breach of protocol. But this went much further: Republicans are telling Iran, and, by extension the world, that the American president no longer has the power to conduct foreign policy, and that foreign leaders should assume Congress could revoke American pledges at any moment."³

Our small staff has already been mobilizing public support for diplomacy via petitions, member phone calls, op-eds, and more. This shocking move by Senate Republicans means we have to do even more. We're putting together a TV ad now to call out this disloyal behavior—but we need to know that we'll have the resources to go big. 

Can you make an emergency contribution to ensure Republicans pay a steep political price? This is a moment to dig deep—because the more we raise, the bigger we can go.

Yes, I'll make an emergency contribution to help get the president's back, hold Republicans accountable, and prevent another catastrophic war in the Middle East.

As you probably remember, Republicans invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to come to Washington and undermine the president last week. But this letter is arguably even worse: they are degrading our president in front of the whole world. And sending a message that the President of the United States—whoever she or he is—has no credibility.

In the days following Netanyahu's speech, we've raised over $100,000 for our work on Iran. But we didn't plan on having to respond to this. 

The radical right has gone too far too fast. Now, we've reached a make-it-or-break-it moment for the future of diplomacy and for peace in the Middle East.

So I hate to ask so strongly, but this is too important not to be direct: We need your emergency donation to get the president's back and keep America off a path to war. 

Will you chip in as much as you can afford and help turbocharge our efforts?

Yes, I'll make an emergency donation to help get the president's back, hold Republicans accountable, and prevent another catastrophic war in the Middle East.

Thanks for all you do.

–Jo, Alejandro, Victoria, Manny, and the rest of the team

 Sources:

1. "Irate Democrats Denounce G.O.P on Iran Letter," The New York Times, March 10, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303420&id=109636-10220574-d5sgWmx&t=1

2. "Letter by Republican Senators to Iran is 'unusual' and 'dangerous,' Obama, Biden and other Democrats say," New York Daily News, March 9, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303425&id=109636-10220574-d5sgWmx&t=2

3. "Republicans are crossing a dangerous new line: sabotaging US foreign policy," Vox.com, March 9, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303421&id=109636-10220574-d5sgWmx&t=3

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

Drop by Rep. Meeks's office in Inwood?

Can you drop by Representative Gregory Meeks's district office tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11, while the House is on recess this week and urge him to stand with Elizabeth Warren against Fast Track and the TPP (and thank him if he does)?  Yes, I can drop by!

Dear MoveOn member,

What if I were to tell you that a secretive international panel of three corporate lawyers could have the power to override a government's laws and demand that nations pay corporations massive amounts of money?

You would probably think I was setting the plot for season four of "House of Cards." But I assure you, I am not.

Congress is currently wrestling with the decision to fast-track the dangerous Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)—a trade agreement that's been called "NAFTA on steroids." Fast Track legislation would give authority to the president to sign on to the trade agreement. Then Congress would get just 90 days to approve it, with limited debate and no changes allowed. We need to stop Congress from fast tracking the TPP.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, along with several colleagues, is leading the fight to stop Fast Track for the TPP. Fast Track would deprive Congress of the chance to discuss "Investor-State Dispute Settlement" (ISDS), the clause of the TPP which would create the secret panels. In a recent op-ed in the The Washington Post, Sen. Warren said, "ISDS would allow foreign companies to challenge U.S. laws—and potentially to pick up huge payouts from taxpayers—without ever stepping foot in a U.S. court."1  

This week, members of Congress are on recess and back in their home districts. We have an opportunity to tell Representative Gregory Meeks directly to stop Fast Track and the TPP (and thank him if he has already voiced opposition). Your personal story and voice can be the difference in how he votes if this dangerous proposal makes it to the floor.

Will you drop by Rep. Meeks's district office in Arverne on Wednesday, March 11, to deliver a message against the TPP? We'll send you an email with everything you need to make a powerful impact. 

I'm signing up to drop by! 

Rep. Meeks has an office at: 

67-12 Rockaway Beach Boulevard 
Arverne, NY

MoveOn members are joining Democracy for America, Working Families Party, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, Communications Workers of America, and other allies to visit every member of the House of Representatives in their home district this week. We'll be thanking members who are standing with us, and letting our opponents and those on the fence know that their constituents expect them to support jobs and oppose Fast Track.

Policies adopted under Fast Track have cost more than a million jobs and contributed to the shuttering of more than 60,000 factories.² Fast-tracking the TPP will most certainly lead to more job loss in the United States. We have the chance now to organize and let Rep. Meeks know we want him to stand with Elizabeth Warren and oppose the TPP.

Drop-bys are simple and easy ways for constituents to share their story and message with their member of Congress. On Wednesday, March 11, print out a simple sign that we will email you, then drop by Rep. Meeks's office and deliver your message. If you can capture a picture or video of your drop-by, please share it on social media using the hashtag #NoFastTrack. It sounds simple, but if we show up in person AND online, we can really impact this conversation—and our elected officials' decisions.

Can we count on you to visit Rep. Meeks's office on Wednesday, March 11?

You can count on me to drop by!

And you don't have to travel that far. Rep. Meeks has an office at: 

67-12 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Arverne, NY

(Or you can look up other locations here.)

Time is tight. The sooner you commit, the sooner we can get you the resources you'll need.

Thanks for all you do.

–Alejandro, Bobby, Corinne, Justin R., and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "The Trans-Pacific Partnership clause everyone should oppose," The Washington Post, February 25, 2015 
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303260&id=109589-10220574-Mcekn8x&t=4

2. "10 Facts About Fast Track," No Fast Track, accessed on March 9, 2015 
http://www.nofasttrack.com/#!/facts

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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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 March 10, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sign the People's Brief to help protect Obamacare

Health care is a human right.

For years, MoveOn members have organized to push for comprehensive health care reform. We've organized thousands of house parties, vigils and rallies, signed millions of petitions, and made over 100,000 phone calls from our homes and offices. But now, the health care reform we fought so hard to achieve is under attack again from over-zealous activists intent on dismantling this law that has already helped so many Americans. That's why we're standing with our allies at MomsRising to defend Obamacare one more time. Will you join us?

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Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Nina Perez from MomsRising.org, and I started a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, which says:

Health care is a human right. That's why I'm signing this People's Brief to call on the opponents of the health care law to put the health of millions of Americans ahead of selfish political attacks on the Affordable Care Act.

The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing King v. Burwell, a case that threatens to eliminate financial assistance for health coverage in about 36 states as part of the Affordable Care Act.

If the court rules against the health care law, millions will be at risk of losing their health plans and costs would go up for all health insurance consumers. Yes, you read that right. Millions of people could lose their health coverage.

The Affordable Care Act is working, and it's already made a difference in millions of people's lives. More than 10 million people have health coverage now who didn't have it before.

Fight back by adding your name to the "People's Brief" and stand with the millions of Americans whose health care is in the hands of the Supreme Court justices!

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

Thanks!

–Nina

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Nina Perez 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.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on March 10, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

The end of Obamacare?

Sign the petition. Tell the Supreme Court: Obamacare helped me or someone I know.

Dear MoveOn member,

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of King vs. Burwell—arguably the biggest threat to Obamacare since the Court upheld the law's "individual mandate" provision in 2012.¹

If the Court sides with the plaintiffs, experts say insurance premiums would skyrocket. As many as 8.2 million people would lose subsidies and, most likely, their insurance coverage. And dozens of state exchanges would likely collapse.² This case could gut Obamacare.

Chief Justice John Roberts is reportedly sensitive to public opinion and the Court's legacy. As he and the other Justices deliberate, they need to hear from the millions of Americans whose lives have been improved by increased access to quality and affordable care.³ Will you add your name to our public petition to the Supreme Court, which says:

I am one of millions of Americans who has either benefited directly from Obamacare, or I have a friend or loved one who has.

As you consider the arguments in King vs. Burwell, please recognize the massive positive impact Obamacare is having, including over 20 million people who now have access to affordable healthcare.

King vs. Burwell was brought by a cadre of right-leaning and libertarian critics of the law who've been methodically searching for ways to undermine it. After the Supreme Court rejected arguments that the "individual mandate" was unconstitutional, they're now arguing that subsidies to help individuals afford insurance are illegal in many states.

MoveOn members have organized for years to push for comprehensive health reform. We've organized tens of thousands of house parties, vigils, and rallies. Millions of us have signed petitions. We've poured in over 100,000 phone calls from our homes and offices. We've gotten creative—from flying plane banners over events to setting up symbolic road blocks outside of congressional offices. We've primaried corporate Democrats and we've hit the doors to defeat obstructionist Republicans. We've fended off lawsuits from Republican politicians who wanted to shut us up.

After all that, the decision on whether to uphold Obamacare is once again back in the Supreme Court's hands. Let's do what we can—including making sure that the justices hear exactly how much Obamacare has done to help people all over the country. 

Click here to add your name to our petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks for all you do

–Anna, Maria, Bobby, Corinne, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "The accidental case against Obamacare," Vox, March 2, 2015
http://www.vox.com/2015/3/2/8129539/king-burwell-history

2. "The Implications of a Supreme Court Finding for the Plaintiff in King vs. Burwell: 8.2 Million More Uninsured and 35% Higher Premiums," Urban Institute, January 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303345&id=109547-10220574-foCAK5x&t=1

3. "20 Million Americans Get Insurance Under Obamacare, Report Says," Time, July 2, 2014
http://time.com/2950961/obamacare-health-care-obama/

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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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on March 9, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Keep families together: Stop Max's deportation

Max Villatoro is a beloved father, pastor, and community member in Iowa City, Iowa, who could be deported this weekend—unless we fight back. Can you add your name and tell ICE to keep Max with his family?

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Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Alyssa M. Rodriguez, a MoveOn member in Iowa City, Iowa, and I started a petition to the St. Paul ICE Field Office Director, the National Director of ICE Sarah R. Saldana, the United States Congress, and President Barack Obama, which says:

Don't deport beloved pastor and community member Max Villatoro. Keep him with his family.

Max Villatoro is a pastor at First Mennonite Church in Iowa City. He was detained Tuesday, March 3 by ICE without being given a chance to say goodbye to his wife and four U.S.-citizen kids.

He is not a priority for removal and he is definitely not a threat to national security, border security, or public safety.

Max’s U.S.-citizen children belong together with their father, and Max belongs here in Iowa City with his congregation. He is the type of person who should get a second chance, not deported.

We need your support to help keep him here with his family. Please sign this petition urging ICE to grant Max Villatoro a stay of removal.

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

Thanks!

–Alyssa

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.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on March 7, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.