Hi, MoveOn member!
This is Karine Jean-Pierre, MoveOn's chief public affairs officer.
I don't write emails to MoveOn members very often, but you might have seen me representing MoveOn members on TV—particularly on MSNBC.
I'm writing to you today because I believe that big ideas can—and must—guide the way in the 2020 presidential election. And, frankly, I'm scared that the timid campaigning currently being undertaken by Democrats, in a media cycle dominated by "gotcha" moments and manufactured controversies, will leave the electorate wondering what Democrats even stand for.
We have just 18 months to ensure that whoever wins the Democratic nomination runs on an agenda of bold, progressive ideas, listens to the grassroots movements around the country, and energizes voters.
That's why MoveOn, for the first time in our 20-year history, will host a live forum of presidential candidates. We're calling it the "Big Ideas Forum," and, harnessing the power of our millions of members, we will force big, energizing ideas into the heart of the Democratic primary.
Already, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Secretary Julián Castro are in.
The costs of pulling off this event—including renting a large theater, planning the logistics, handling security, and broadcasting the event—are substantial. That's why we need your help, Eddie. And to thank you and others who donate for making this event possible, one lucky winner will get a trip for two to see our event in person on June 1 in San Francisco, CA!
Think back to 2008. A highly contested primary forced the candidates to go bold on health care—including, at the time, the underdog candidate Senator Barack Obama. Transforming our health care system then became a centerpiece of his general election campaign—and, when he was elected, passing the Affordable Care Act became his signature legislative achievement, giving tens of millions of Americans health care and security they desperately needed and creating a program so powerful that even Republican majorities in both houses of Congress could not repeal it.
That was the result of a Democratic primary that challenged candidates to go big on ideas that tackled our biggest crises and offered bold, transformative solutions.
Now, lest you think Democrats are the sole owners of big ideas, think back to 2016. Donald Trump ran on big ideas—but odious, hateful, destructive ones: Build a wall. Pass a Muslim Ban. Tear up international agreements, from the Paris Agreement to the Iran nuclear deal.
And his big ideas energized voters. He relied on fear, bigotry, and outright lies, but every time he chanted "Build a wall," he was voicing a big idea that dominated the media landscape.
Big ideas matter. And they motivate voters. Especially if the ideas are powerful and transformative, but simple and clear enough to fit into a few-minute pitch—the kind of ideas that could energize voters everywhere. That's exactly the kind of ideas that we've asked these candidates to bring to our event.
We need your help to push big ideas to the center of the Democratic primary—and then keep them there. But it will take a lot to pull off this event: renting a venue, providing security, producing a national livestream, promoting the big ideas in the weeks following the forum, and so much more.
This is one of the most expensive events in MoveOn's 20-year history—and it's the first time we've flexed the power of MoveOn members and asserted our agenda within a Democratic primary in this particular way—which is why we really need your help.
Thanks for all you do, and I hope to see you in San Francisco!
–Karine
Want to support MoveOn's work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it MoveOn needs your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn?
Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.
No purchase, payment, or contribution necessary to enter to win. Void where prohibited. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on May 22, 2019. You may enter by making a donation here. Alternatively, you can enter without making a donation. One winner will receive the following prize package: two round-trip airline tickets to San Francisco, at a total value, including taxes, of no more than $1,500; two nights in a San Francisco hotel, at a total value, including taxes, of no more than $500; two tickets to the forum; in-town transportation costs up to $200, to be reimbursed by MoveOn, provided receipts are submitted to mopainvoice@bill.com by June 30, 2019. Total prize value not to exceed $2200.00. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Promotion open to all U.S. citizens, or lawful permanent U.S. residents who are legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia and 18 or older (or of majority under applicable law). Promotion subject to Official Rules and additional restrictions on eligibility. Sponsor: MoveOn.org Political Action, 1442 Walnut Street #358, Berkeley, CA 94709.
Contributions to MoveOn.org Political Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/?t=11.&akid=233897%2E10220574%2EV_vaO- Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to Eddie Alfaro on May 11th, 2019. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.
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