Tell Congress: Support the president's Clean Power Plan

President Obama is implementing tough carbon pollution standards to tackle climate change. But Republicans in Congress are threatening to stop this plan. We need to fight back: tell your member of Congress to support the Clean Power Plan.

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. President Obama is implementing tough new rules to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants. But Republicans in Congress are threatening the Environmental Protection Agency to try and stop this plan.¹

Can you join me in standing up for the president's Clean Power Plan? Click here to tell Congress:

Climate change is a fact. And America must lead the way in addressing it. We call on Congress to support the president's Clean Power Plan.

President Obama's proposed new rule to reduce carbon pollution is exactly what we need.

It's about clean air. Our children's health depends on it.

It's about climate change. The planet is heating up, and we have to reverse it.

It's about time. We must act before it's too late.

Republicans in Congress are peddling junk science, pretending climate change isn't happening, and acting on behalf of the Koch brothers and the coal industry.

Please join me in standing with President Obama—and tell Republicans in Congress to back off.

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

Thanks!

–Senator Jeff Merkley

Source:

1. "Move to Fight Obama's Climate Plan Started Early," The New York Times, August 3, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305981&id=130160-10220574-4ikpbtx&t=2

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Senator Jeff Merkley didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift 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 August 23, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Re: Four votes short (Iran)

We're asking you to join us and sign a petition that sends a strong message to all Democrats: If you undermine the Obama Administration's historic diplomatic agreement with Iran, we'll withhold all campaign donations from your campaigns and party committees in the next election.

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

This is Ben and Jerry—the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. We wrote you earlier this week and we're writing one more time today to ask for your help to stop another disastrous, unnecessary Middle East war.

Right now we have an amazing opportunity to defend the Obama administration's historic diplomatic deal to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. And yet, some of the same warmongers who led us into Iraq want to sabotage this deal and put us on a path to war with Iran—and some Democrats are thinking about going along with them!

That's not the leadership we need. We need more voices like Senator Bernie Sanders, who has declared, "The test of a great nation is not how many wars it can engage in, it is how it can resolve international conflicts in a peaceful manner."¹ 

That's why we're asking you to join us and sign a petition that sends a strong message to all Democrats: If you undermine the Obama administration's historic diplomatic agreement with Iran, we'll withhold all campaign donations from your campaigns and party committees in the next election.

If the Senate blocks President's Obama's Iran deal, it risks putting us on a path toward war. But despite that—and despite thousands of phone calls, petitions, and meetings—we're still FOUR VOTES SHORT of what we need to stop the Senate from doing just that, according to media reports.²

So it's time to start talking in terms that politicians understand: money.

It's that simple. Be the party of peace and diplomacy—or don't expect any support when you're running on your record of saber-rattling and fearmongering.

Will you click here to sign the petition with us—and join MoveOn's donor strike?

We're businesspeople—and we know that if we sold an inferior product, people would stop buying it.

Well, Democrats who side with war hawks instead of diplomacy and peace are selling an inferior product. And we're not buying it.

These Democrats just need to learn from recent history. They were bulldozed into giving President George W. Bush the power to invade Iraq. Look how that turned out!

Now, wimps like Senator Chuck Schumer—who expects to be the next Senate Democratic Leader—are coming out against the deal.³ He was wrong on Iraq. Now, he's wrong on Iran.

And this past week, Senator Robert Menendez came out against the deal—in spite of the fact that he was elected in 2006 based on his vote against the Iraq War.⁴ He was right on Iraq, but now he's on the wrong side of history. That's not the leadership we need.

So far, more than 115,000 of us have signed the petition, pledging to withhold more than $30 million in contributions. Now, just imagine if 150,000 or 200,000 of us sign ... Together, we could pledge to withhold $40 million—the amount that's being spent by the opposition on negative TV ads!

Click here to sign the petition. Join MoveOn's donor strike now and let's stop a war before it begins.

As businesspeople, we understand the "bottom line." And here's what it is: Democratic wimps and chicken-hawks need to come to their senses—or have their funding cut off. It's that simple.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ben & Jerry 

 

Sources:

1. "Bernie Sanders announces support for Iran nuclear deal,'" The Washington Post, August 7, 2015  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=306267&id=129971-10220574-VUoAuRx&t=4

2. "Whip count: Where the Senate stands on the Iran deal," The Washington Post, August 19, 2015  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=306202&id=129971-10220574-VUoAuRx&t=5  

3. "Sen. Schumer's illogical case against the Iran deal," The Washington Post, August 13, 2015   
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=306207&id=129971-10220574-VUoAuRx&t=6

4. "Bob Menendez becomes second Senate Democrat to oppose Iran deal," CNN, August 18, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=306431&id=129971-10220574-VUoAuRx&t=7

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift 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 August 22, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Let's Put Some Brakes on the Revolving Door

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Lisa Donner, Americans for Financial Reform of Americans for Financial Reform, and I started a petition to The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama , which says:

Support the Financial Services Conflict of Interest Act -- new legislation, introduced by Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Rep. Elijah Cummings, that would slow down the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington.

The revolving door is out of control, and we've paid the price dearly – both in the years leading up to the financial crisis, when regulators too often ignored or abetted the reckless and irresponsible practices that ultimately brought down the economy, and in the years since, when too many regulators have succumbed to pressure to water down critical reforms designed to protect consumers and taxpayers.

We need rules to make sure our officials in Washington are tough, independent, and dedicated to the public interest. The Financial Services Conflict of Interest Act can be an important step in that direction. We ask you to do all you can to get this crucial legislation enacted.

The Financial Services Conflict of Interest Act would ban the "golden parachutes" that Wall Street uses to reward executives for taking jobs in government (a subtle form of bribery), limit the lobbying that can be done by financial regulators after they leave government, and expand the range of situations in which officials must recuse themselves from decisions affecting their former employers.

Personnel decisions are policy decisions - we've learned that again and again. This bill could make an important difference in slowing the revolving door.

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

Thanks!

–Lisa Donner, Americans for Financial Reform

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Americans for Financial Reform didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on August 19, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Four votes short (Iran)

It's Ben and Jerry, the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Will you sign this petition?

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

It's Ben and Jerry, the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. We're writing today about keeping America out of another war in the Middle East. 

Lobbyists and billionaires plan to spend over $40 million to stop the diplomatic deal with Iran—the one the Obama Administration negotiated to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.¹ That's dangerous, because if too many Democrats listen to the flood of hawkish, misinformation-ridden TV ads—and if they vote with Republicans—they could override the president's agreement in just about a month. 

This agreement is the only peaceful way to keep Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. And it's a critical test for what sort of nation we're going to be. As Senator Bernie Sanders says, "the test of a great nation is not how many wars it can engage in, it is how it can resolve international conflicts in a peaceful manner."² 

It may seem hard to fight back against $40 million in spending and win. But MoveOn has found a way. It's called a "donor strike"—a pledge to not give money to Democrats who risk taking us to war, and to the party committees (like the DSCC) that support them.

We just joined MoveOn's "donor strike", and we hope you will too. Signing the petition takes just 30 seconds, and it sends an incredibly powerful message. 

Click here to sign the petition. Join us in pledging to withhold contributions from Democrats who sabotage diplomacy with Iran.

MoveOn members collectively contribute boatloads of money to Democrats each year—mostly in modest chunks like $5, $25, or $50. But it adds up to millions.

That's why a petition pledging not to contribute a dime to any Democrats who put us on a path to war—or party committees that support them (like the DSCC)—will send a powerful message.

Click here to add your name. Pledge to withhold contributions from Democrats if they undermine diplomacy with Iran and put us on a path to war.

More than 25,000 of us have signed this pledge already, pledging to withhold $11 million in contributions. Now, just imagine if 100,000 or 200,000 of us sign ... Together, we could pledge to withhold $40 million—the amount that's being spent on negative TV ads!

Collectively, we're just as powerful as the billionaires running these ads, if we flex our muscles and make our voices heard. 

Signing the petition will take you about 30 seconds. Are you in?

Click here to add your name. Tell Democrats you won't give them your money if they vote to put us on a path to war.

This deal is a victory for our national security, the American people, and folks around the world. It resolves a big-time global security concern without resorting to dropping bombs for ten years. (Think Iraq.) 

If the Senate overrides President's Obama's Iran deal, it risks putting us on a path toward war. But despite that—and despite thousands of phone calls, petitions, and meetings—we're still FOUR VOTES SHORT of what we need to stop the Senate from doing just that, according to media reports.³

Click here to sign the petition. Join us in pledging to withhold contributions from Democrats who sabotage diplomacy with Iran.

The bottom line is this: This agreement is the only way to keep us off a path to war.Major national security experts, our nation's top military brass, President Obama, John Kerry, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and a whole host of others all agree: the alternative to this diplomatic agreement with Iran would be war.

War means American women and men in uniform will die. It means tens of thousands of civilians will perish. And it means billions—maybe trillions—of taxpayer dollars (which should go to things like green energy development, health care, or schools) will be drained from the federal budget.

You know who would love that? Big military contractors and their armies of lobbyists. But the rest of us would be in deep, deep trouble. 

Hell no. Will you join us in sending a not-to-be-missed message to Democrats in Congress by committing to withhold contributions from any Democrat who succeeds in sabotaging President Obama's diplomatic agreement with Iran?

Click here to sign the petition. Tell Democrats you won't give them your money if they vote to put us on a path to war.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ben & Jerry


Sources:

1. "Big money and ads clash over Iran nuclear deal," USA Today, July 22, 2015 
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305727&id=129556-10220574-iJm88ux&t=6

2. "Bernie Sanders, After Call From Obama, Announces Support for Iran Deal," The New York Times, August 7, 2015 

http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=306254&id=129556-10220574-iJm88ux&t=7

3. "Whip count: Where the Senate stands on the Iran deal," The Washington Post, August 13, 2015  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=306202&id=129556-10220574-iJm88ux&t=8

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.

---

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 19, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Arverne: An urgent request

Dear New York MoveOn member, 

Urgent: We're looking for someone to lead an event in front of the office of Representative Gregory Meeks on Wednesday, August 26. That's when MoveOn members and our allies will gather outside the offices of key senators and representatives to call on them to support the diplomatic agreement that will prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

We have heard from MoveOn members who want to help deliver this message to Rep. Meeks—but we need someone to step up as a host for this action. 

Click here if you can you help coordinate this petition delivery on Wednesday, August 26. (If you step up, we'll be there to help!) 

The event should be held at one of Rep. Meeks's local offices. Here's one near you:

67-12 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Arverne, NY

(Or you can look up other nearby office locations here.)

Coordinating an event like this is incredibly important, and we make it simple—MoveOn will recruit for the event and provide petitions and signs. We just need to make sure a passionate member is on the ground to welcome others, to print out and bring the petition signatures, and to oversee the agenda for the event (which we'll provide and walk you through!). 

Please step up and help lead this movement for peace in New York.

Rep. Meeks is still publicly undecided on whether he will support the deal, so it's critical that he not be left out of our day of action. We know that members of Congress are being bombarded daily by expensive ads funded by some of the same war hawks who led us into Iraq. 

 

We can't outspend them—but we will out-mobilize them. 

Thanks for all you do.

–Matt, Jo, Erica, Justin K., and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on August 18, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tell Rep. Meeks: No War With Iran

☆Stop a War With Iran☆ Join the national day of action by leading a protest in your community

We couldn't stop the Iraq War, but we can prevent one with Iran. In just weeks, members of Congress will return to Washington and take one of the most important votes of their career—they will either support a breakthrough diplomatic deal with Iran, or put us on the path to another war.     The vote in September is likely to be incredibly close. Representative Gregory Meeks hasn't announced his support for the agreement yet, and he could be the deciding vote.  We're gathering outside Senate and House offices from coast to coast on Wednesday, August 26 calling for Congress to support diplomacy, not war. But we still need someone to help lead an event at Rep. Meeks's office at:  67-12 Rockaway Beach Boulevard Arverne, NY Or you can also look up other offices here. Can you help lead a protest outside his office and deliver a petition signed by fellow MoveOn members as part of our national day of action to stop a war with Iran?  Just click here to sign up, and our organizing team will help you connect with other local MoveOn members and organize a great event.  Yes, I'll help organize an event on August 26! Sorry, I can't lead it, but I'm interested in attending.

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on August 16, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Schumer. War. Accountability.

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.

Hi MoveOn member,

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.

For more details, see Jo's message from earlier this week:

---

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?

Yes, I'll chip in to help hold Senator Schumer accountable.

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

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.

---

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.