(no subject)
If you are not registered to vote, GET REGISTERED
Everything You (and Your Friends) Need to V ote
Only half the people who agree with us on the issues voted the last time around. We have to make sure we do better this time. That’s why, with these simple online tools, TrueMajority is making it easy for you and your friends to vo te. Just click this link to get to our online toolkit:
http://www.truemajority.org/actionregister/toolkit_html.cfm
Here’s what you’ll find:
Register to Vote-You can fill out all the paperwork online. It's fast, free and easy.
Vote by Mail-Most states now also let you vote by mail (also called absentee ballot). This is definitely the best way to go. If your state allows it, y ou can fill out all the paperwork online. Again-it’s fast, free and easy.
Help Register Others-If you would like to get more involved registering people to vote in this crucial election year, we can help you find the groups doing the best wo rk. We link to our friends at National Voice who have set up Election Match. Just type in your zip code and they’ll tell you who is hitting the streets to register folks.
Start your own online voter registration drive. Just forward this e-mail to everyone in your company, and al l your friends and family.
Something this good should be shared, so please send this link to everyone in your company, and all your friends and family. They’ll be glad you did. And you can think of it as your own, personal voter registration drive.
http://www.truemajority.org/actionreg ister/toolkit_html.cfm
Sincerely,
Andrew Greenblatt,
Online Organizer
It's mid-August and the living is ... BUSY. As you probably know, there have been several significant GLBT and equality-related news stories recently. This message is to keep you up-to-date, and to let you know how you can continue to stay involved. Thanks again for all you do!
Last week, we were as disappointed as you at the delay of marriage equality in California. "This is not the end of the fight to make same-sex couples safer and more secure," said Human Rights Campaign President Cheryl Jacques regarding the decision by the California Supreme Court that the city of San Francisco lacked the authority to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. More:
http://tinyurl.com/6r8q5
HRC released the following statement last week regarding New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey’s press conference: "Coming out is a deeply personal journey and Governor McGreevey today showed enormous courage. We are hopeful that, like millions of other American families, Governor McGreevey and his family will come to a place of understanding."
HRC will be out in force at the Republican National Convention in New York at the end of August. Not only will our message be out on the streets - and elsewhere - during the Convention, but we're also participating in two important events. If you're in New York during the RNC...
... Be sure to catch HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg at the New York Times Speaker Series event "Voices of the Gay & Lesbian Vote" on Friday, August 27 at 6:30pm. Tickets & information:
http://tinyurl.com/65ccl
... Join the Human Rights Campaign, Log Cabin Republicans and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund for a celebration of GLBT equality and bipartisanship on Monday, August 30th, 10 PM - 2 AM at Bottino (246 Tenth Avenue in New York). This event honors Republicans who have stood up against discrimination in the US Constitution and work to ensure equality for GLBT families and individuals. Members of Congress along with openly gay Republican elected officials will be in attendance. Interested? Please RSVP via email to Sara Shoener at sara.shoener@hrc.org.
Speaking of Conventions...did you see Cheryl Jacques' speech at the Democratic National Convention? If not, take a look. It's great to see our efforts take center stage at this national event.
See the video
http://tinyurl.com/6emeo
Read the transcript:
http://tinyurl.com/5ttmr
DID YOU KNOW that you can send e-quality e-cards from HRC's web site? Birthdays, romance, celebrations and more...Check 'em out: http://tinyurl.com/5r6pp
Dear Amy,
Today marks the end of the dishonest and disgusting smear campaign against John Kerry and his crewmates from Vietnam. This morning on the front page of the Washington Post, one of the central figures in the effort to distort John Kerry's military service was completely discredited.
The group behind this smear campaign calls itself "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth." But the truth is the last thing they are interested in.
President Bush refuses to condemn this group. He wants them to do his dirty work. But this effort to distract attention from the issues that matter most has failed.
This morning, John Kerry said he learned an important lesson in Vietnam: "When you're under attack, the best thing to do is turn your boat into the attacker." Today he took these lessons to heart, knocked down these charges, and made a firm commitment to the American people that the lies about his military service will not stop him from fighting for affordable health care, good-paying jobs, and keeping America secure.
This doesn't mean that these blatantly false attacks won't continue -- the Bush-Cheney campaign is desperate and has no record to run on. But it does mean that we are not going to let them distract us from letting people know about John Kerry's plan to make America stronger at home and respected in the world.
Read the Washington Post article:
http://www.johnkerry.com/article
Read John Kerry's statement from his speech at the International Association of Firefighters Convention in Boston this morning:
Over the last week or so, a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has been attacking me. Of course, this group isn't interested in the truth -- and they're not telling the truth. They didn't even exist until I won the nomination for president.
But here's what you really need to know about them. They're funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Republican contributor out of Texas. They're a front for the Bush campaign. And the fact that the president won't denounce what they're up to tells you everything you need to know -- he wants them to do his dirty work.
Thirty years ago, official Navy reports documented my service in Vietnam and awarded me the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Thirty years ago, this was the plain truth. It still is. And I still carry the shrapnel in my leg from a wound in Vietnam.
As firefighters you risk your lives every day. You know what it's like to see the truth in the moment. You're proud of what you've done -- and so am I.
Of course, the president keeps telling people he would never question my service to our country. Instead, he watches as a Republican-funded attack group does just that. Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is my answer: 'Bring it on.'
I'm not going to let anyone question my commitment to defending America -- then, now, or ever. And I'm not going to let anyone attack the sacrifice and courage of the men who saw battle with me.
And let me make this commitment today: their lies about my record will not stop me from fighting for jobs, health care, and our security -- the issues that really matter to the American people.
Thank you,
Mary Beth Cahill
Dear MoveOn member,
Yesterday, thanks to the support of thousands of MoveOn members, we started running "Swift Response" on battleground-state TV. The ad highlights Bush's hypocrisy in allowing an attack on a decorated war veteran when he himself was unaccounted for during portions of the Vietnam war.
John Kerry is taking the high road, urging a focus on the current issues of the campaign. But we believe that given Bush's refusal to reject the "Swift Boat" ad and take Kerry's military service off the table, the nation deserves a full accounting of where Bush was during Vietnam. After all, although President Bush promised on national TV to release records on whether he showed up for duty in the National Guard, he's now refusing to do so.[1]
The media are at a turning point -- they've realized that there's little truth to the "Swift Boat" allegations. But, thanks in part to our work together, the episode has reignited questions about George Bush's service during Vietnam. Together we can make sure that this time journalists get to the bottom of the story. So, starting today, we're upping the ante by airing an additional spot which contrasts Bush's war record with Kerry's heroic service. (We've attached the press release below.)
We also need your help to turn the media's focus onto Bush's record. Can you write a letter to the editor pointing out the holes in Bush's war record today? We've attached some talking points below.
For our easy-to-use letter to the editor tool, click here:
http://www.moveonpac.org/lte/lte.html?lte_campaign_id=8&zip=&id=3321-642605-XwoKDWXZdviF3npwGq1t0Q
And if you're not up for writing a letter to the editor, you can donate to help continue this ad campaign at:
https://www.moveonpac.org/donate/warrecord.html?id=3321-642605-XwoKDWXZdviF3npwGq1t0Q
According to the Washington Post, "A review of Bush's military records shows that Bush enjoyed preferential treatment as the son of a then congressman, when he walked into a Texas Guard unit in Houston two weeks before his 1968 graduation from Yale and was moved to the top of a long waiting list."[2]
Then, between May 1972 and May 1973, he simply seemed to disappear. According to an in-depth study by the Boston Globe, there are no records available which indicate that he showed up for duty during that time.[3] His commanding officer doesn't recall seeing him.[4]
When George Bush appeared on "Meet the Press" in February, Tim Russert asked him if he would release "pay stubs, tax records, anything to show that you were serving during that period." Bush unequivocally replied, "Yeah."[5]
But he hasn't. In fact, the Associated Press -- representing most of the newspapers in the country -- has filed a lawsuit to obtain records which Bush refuses to release. In the lawsuit, the AP argues that a "significant, ongoing controversy exists over the president's military service during the Vietnam War." The AP also noted that a full release of Bush's war records would clarify "allegations that potentially embarrassing material was removed in 1997 from Bush's military file, when he was running for re-election as Texas governor."[6]
The Bush campaign says that this issue has been put to bed. But it clearly hasn't, and in the context of new attacks on John Kerry's service, we can focus journalists on figuring out what really went on. Please write a letter to the editor of your local paper today.
To easily find a paper in your area, go to:
http://www.moveonpac.org/lte/lte.html?lte_campaign_id=8&zip=&id=3321-642605-XwoKDWXZdviF3npwGq1t0Q
Here are some points you might want to make in your letter:
It's outrageous for Bush to sanction an attack on John Kerry's military service when he refuses to clarify whether he failed to show up for service for an entire year. CBS News concluded, "the available files do not clear up the ‘missing' section of the president's National Guard service."[7]
Bush promised on "Meet the Press" to release all of his military records. Yet the AP is suing the Pentagon for unreleased records which Bush could easily make public. Why is Bush breaking his promise?
The Bush campaign claims that the matter is resolved. But according to the Associated Press lawsuit, "A significant, ongoing controversy exists over the president's military service during the Vietnam War, specifically whether he performed his required service between May and October 1972." Since the AP is a cooperative made up of most of the newspapers in the country, you might even want to thank your local newspaper for supporting this suit.
As John Kerry said several months ago, "I think a lot of veterans are going to be very angry at a president who can't account for his own service in the National Guard."[8]
Some Bush supporters have attacked our ad, arguing that it's the same kind of attack that the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush made. But there's an essential difference: we have an unyielding allegiance to the truth. When Bush's surrogates run ads which distort the truth, we'll set the record straight. And when the President misleads the country about his own record, we'll make sure together that the truth comes out.
Sincerely,
--Eli Pariser
MoveOn PAC
August 18th, 2004
Footnotes:
Meet the Press Transcript, 2/8/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4179618/
Bush's Guard Service In Question, 2/3/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A7372-2004Feb2?language=printer
1-year gap in Bush's guard duty, 5/23/00
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/bush/articles/2000/05/23/1_year_gap_in_bushs_guard_duty/
White House say he fulfilled military duties, 2/10/04
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-02-10-bush-records_x.htm
Meet the Press Transcript, 2/8/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4179618/
AP demands Bush service records in court, 7/16/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5452977/
Gaps Remain In Bush Guard Service, 5/4/04
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/03/politics/main615317.shtml
Kerry broadens attacks on Bush's military service, 4/28/04
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/04/28/kerry_broadens_attacks_on_bushs_military_service?mode=PF
Here's the press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 17, 2004
MOVEON PAC TO RE-AIR TV SPOT CONTRASTING
BUSH-KERRY MILITARY SERVICE
Says Bush Needs to Keep Promise:
Release His National Guard Records
Intensifies Response to Unfair Swift Boat Attack on Kerry
MoveOn PAC announced today it will resume airing a television ad that contrasts John Kerry's heroic Vietnam war record with the President's military service history.
The move aims to refocus attention on two related issues:
the President's continued refusal to keep his promise, made on Meet the Press, to release all documents concerning his stateside military service during the Vietnam War; and
the President's continued refusal to ask his political allies to cease their smear campaign against John Kerry's Vietnam combat record.
The Associated Press on June 22, 2004 sued the Pentagon and Air Force seeking access to all unreleased military records of George Bush's service during the Vietnam War. Bush could release his military records with the stroke of a pen, but refuses to do so.
The PAC ad also responds to the Bush Campaign's refusal to disavow an unfair ad that attempts to undermine the validity of combat medals Kerry received for service in Vietnam including three purple hearts, bronze and silver stars. Over 6,000 veterans, current soldiers, and their families have signed a petition on MoveOn PAC's website condemning the "Swift Boat Veterans for Bush" ad and calling on Bush to reject these smear tactics.
"As General Wesley Clark pointed out yesterday, Kerry served and fought while Bush ‘scrambled and used his family's influence to get out of hearing a shot being fired,'" said Eli Pariser, executive director of MoveOn PAC. "Given Bush's refusal to call off his attack dogs, we think it's important that the American people be reminded of this fact."
"Our ad in no way impugns the service of those men and women now bravely serving their country in Iraq. They are in harm's way and deserve our respect and support. As one of our members, the wife of a veteran, said yesterday, ‘To make such claims against Senator Kerry's record also smears the record of the other soldiers who served honorably in Vietnam and are serving today,'" said Pariser.
The MoveOn PAC ad, which aired widely in the spring, contrasts Kerry's volunteer service as a young lieutenant in Vietnam, captaining a boat under fire in the Mekong Delta and rescuing an injured crew member, with Bush's limited tenure in a country club unit of the Texas National Guard, where the sons of prominent Texans went to avoid overseas service.
"This election is about character," the MoveOn PAC ad concludes. "It's between John Kerry, who left no man behind…and George W. Bush, who simply left," a reference to Bush's disappearance while he was assigned to active duty as a National Guard pilot.
The ad will run next week on CNN nationally, on FOX News and CNN in Washington, D.C., and in four Ohio markets, a $110,000 buy. Additional markets may be added.
Documentation for Kerry/Bush military service comparison TV Ad can be found at:
http://www.moveonpac.org/content/pdfs/Kerry-BushAdbackup.pdf
///
PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC www.moveonpac.org
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
75 days 'til the election
Here's what you can do to stay involved in the campaign to elect a pro-choice president...
NARAL Pro-Choice America t-shirt gets family booted from Bush Rally!
What got Barbara Miller and her family kicked out of a Bush rally in Michigan? Carrying a NARAL Pro-Choice America
t-shirt!
"I thought I might be cold... I just wanted to see my president," Barbara Miller told The Saginaw News of her decision to bring the shirt. Faced with the Bush campaign's zero-tolerance policy on "any pro-choice, non-Republican paraphernalia," her explanation to Bush campaign staff was futile.
Now Barbara is helping NARAL Pro-Choice America elect John Kerry by telling her story and taking a stand. Stand with her today! Get the shirt that will get you booted from a Bush rally. Click here to get your BANNED-BY-BUSH t-shirt today!
Read Barbara's story in The Saginaw News.
Can reality TV save choice?
Having a hard time convincing your friends to be interested in the elections? Have you told them to start watching more TV? We're serious! American Candidate, a new reality show airing on Showtime on Sundays at 9:00 pm, is devoted to getting more people involved in the elections by putting on parallel elections of their own. Starting Monday, August 16, the show's weekly online debate will focus on a woman's right to choose -- and NARAL Pro-Choice America has been asked to participate!
Here's what you can do...
1) Join the debate about choice online.
Make sure the pro-choice majority is represented. Don't let National Right to Life, the other organization invited to participate, frame the debate. Click here to join the debate.
2) Tell your friends.
We know it's hard to get friends as excited about politics as we are (trust us), so use this as an opportunity to get them hooked! If you have Showtime invite your friends over for a viewing party, and make sure they voice their opinion by voting for John Kerry in November.
We're going to have to do whatever it takes to get those hard-to-reach voters engaged and to the polls this November. If you're still looking for the perfect way to convince your friends that the elections really matter, get them watching American Candidate and committed to voting pro-choice on November 2!
Featured Action
Military women deserve access to the morning-after pill! Each year, between three and six percent of women in the military report being sexually assaulted. Despite this disturbing trend, servicewomen don't have adequate access to emergency contraception (EC), and abortion care remains unavailable at military facilities except in limited circumstances. EC can prevent unintended pregnancy if taken soon after sex. Women who serve their country should be given the tools they need to prevent unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion. Click here to support a bill that would change military policy and provide access to EC for these courageous women.
THE GOOD: Hotline with questionable motives shut down... A federal judge ordered an anti-choice phone service in Louisiana shut down. Causeway Center for Women, which purportedly scheduled doctor appointments for women seeking abortions, delayed several women, increasing the health risks or preventing them from getting an abortion. We applaud U.S. District Judge Duval for seeing through this anti-choice tactic and supporting a woman's right to safe and trustworthy health care. Read the full story.
THE BAD: Abstinence may soon be the only choice in Texas textbooks... The Texas Board of Education will likely approve four new sex-ed textbooks that endorse abstinence; only one briefly mentions condoms. Texas high school students deserve complete, medically accurate information to prevent unintended pregnancy. Without it, Texas will most likely remain one of the five states with the highest teen pregnancy rates. Worse yet, if Texas approves the textbooks, the books will likely be marketed nationwide. Watch out Texas Board of Education, we'd hate to see you show up on our Ugly list! Get the scoop.
THE UGLY: Bush administration pushes for enforcement of abortion ban... Just months after a federal judge blocked an unconstitutional anti-choice law from taking effect, the Bush administration appealed the ruling. It appears that the Justice Department will do whatever it takes to get this abortion ban, which the federal judge deemed an "undue burden" on a woman's right to choose, into effect. As if we needed another reason to take a stand against W and Attorney General John Ashcroft! Get more details.
More news headlines here...>>
HERO/ZERO OF THE MONTH
HERO: RON REAGAN has become a central figure in the fight for stem cell research. President Bush's policy based on anti-choice ideology has severely curtailed scientific research in the promising field of stem cells. Bush stubbornly refuses to change his policy despite requests from lawmakers in his own party. In a passionate speech at the Democratic National Convention, Reagan talked about his own experiences caring for his father, the late President Reagan, who suffered from Alzheimer's -- one of the diseases that could benefit from stem cell research. For promoting human health and wellbeing, Ron Reagan wins hero of the month!
ZEROES -- WE HAVE A TIE!
ZERO #1: TOM COBURN, U.S. Senate candidate from Oklahoma, recently stated that abortion providers should receive the death penalty. For his dedication to denying women the right to choose an advocating against doctors, we crown Dr. Coburn one of our zeroes of the month. But wait, there's more!
ZERO #2: U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE ALLAN KEYES... Fervently anti-choice Illinois Senate candidate Alan Keyes is claiming that abortion and terrorism are comparable because "the evil is the same." Keyes also maintains that the attacks on 9/11 were a "wake up" call from God to doctors who offer abortion care. Is it any wonder, Keyes is sharing this zero distinction with Mr. Coburn? Get the whole (offensive) story here.
These are just a few of the extreme anti-choice candidates running for U.S. Senate -- find out who else is running and cast your vote for the most anti-choice candidate on BushvChoice.com.
NARAL Pro-Choice America's mission is to develop and sustain a citizenry that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.
Matching Gift Challenge
You Can Double Our Power to Stop Torture
To: Amy Truax
From: William F. Schulz
Subject: Double our Power to Silence Torture
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Amy,
Only when the eyes of the world were riveted on this nation's prisoner abuse scandal, did the CIA announce it would suspend the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" on detainees in its custody - techniques you and I call torture.
But what happens now that global attention on torture is waning and the world has stopped watching?
You and I and all who care about the future of human rights in our world must seize this opportunity to keep the spotlight of truth shining brightly on the practice of torture and lead the fight to abolish it everywhere it occurs.
That's why we are IMMEDIATELY EXPANDING our work to shine the spotlight of truth on the heinous practice of torture occurring in 132 countries worldwide.
Please visit us online and view a short but compelling flash video on silencing torture. Here's a direct link for your convenience: www.amnestyusa.org/silencetorture
And since an expansion of this scope and unprecedented magnitude will also require increased resources, I urge you to take advantage of a longtime friend of Amnesty's generous offer to match your gift dollar for dollar.
Click here to help DOUBLE OUR POWER TO SILENCE TORTURE.
Amnesty is the only international human rights organization that has the capacity to take on the world's governments who employ techniques of torture.
And with the world's attention moving away from the prisoner abuse scandal, Amnesty needs your help to continue putting pressure on government officials to ensure acts such as holding detainees naked, making them assume painful positions for protracted periods, subjecting them to extended sleep deprivation and exposing them to snarling dogs will never become a "military necessity" again.
Recent revelations in the media suggest that torture is becoming acceptable in some quarters of the U.S. government, with terrorism replacing communism as the official rationale. And as during the cold war when U.S. trainers taught torture techniques, Washington's tolerance of such practices could have a ripple effect around the world.
From more than 43 years of fighting torture worldwide, Amnesty knows this: Once torture has been legitimized, even on a small or limited scale, the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading practices will continue to increase until it engulfs countless victims, and ultimately erodes the moral and legal principles on which society is based.
This is what is at stake then, not just for our country, but for the entire community of nations upon which the United States has immense influence.
That's why I'm asking for your support to help shine the spotlight of truth on the heinous practice of torture carried out worldwide.
Remember, your generous gift will be matched and help DOUBLE OUR POWER TO SILENCE TORTURE. Your generosity at this defining moment can truly make a powerful difference. Thank you.
Sincerely,
William F. Schulz
Executive Director
P.S. In addition to supporting our expanded work to fight torture with a generous online gift that will be matched and help double our power to silence torture, please also forward this email to everyone you know who supports human rights and opposes the barbarous tactics of torture so they too can be part of this historic effort.
Dear Amy,
It seems that every election year, “Medicare and Social Security” are a politician’s favorite words. But this year, the debate isn’t just about the rhetoric - it's about your pocketbook.
Simply put, under the new Medicare law, not only will grandparents have to pay more to drug companies for prescriptions than they do today, the new law also forces younger taxpayers to pay more too. Together, the new law forces American taxpayers to hand over almost $50 billion to HMOs and $139 billion in new profits for the big drug companies.
Lobbyist and politician greed has made a mess of Medicare. And many of the same forces now have their eyes on Social Security. It is time to clean up this mess!
I’d like to ask you to join us in demanding that lawmakers take the People First -Corporations Second Challenge. We can challenge them to take three concrete steps to undo and avoid more damage, and show that they stand with the American people first, and not drug companies, HMOs, and Wall Street traders.
http://www.ourfuture.org/action_center/peoplefirst.cfm
(America's Future will hand-deliver all challenges to your lawmakers on September 3rd, 2004 and demand answers!)
Just today, Public Campaign (a non-partisan watchdog group) released a new report showing that HMOs and drug companies got exactly what they wanted from their campaign contributions - a new law that will deliver billions in new profits from taxpayers. Here is what the HMOs and drug companies got:
Medicare is now prohibited from negotiating for lower drug prices.
Medicare is now required to pay HMOs to compete with Medicare.
People on Medicare will pay more for prescriptions out of their own pockets than they do today.
Is that how you would have written the new Medicare law? And on Social Security, some lobbyists and politicians want to cut guaranteed retirement benefits and pay Wall Street firms to play with our guaranteed Social Security benefits.
Please challenge your lawmakers today to stand with the American people first?
http://www.ourfuture.org/action_center/peoplefirst.cfm
The Challenge will cut through the rhetoric and let you know where your lawmakers stand on cleaning up the Medicare mess and stopping a similar crisis for Social Security. It willl force politicians to choose whether they stand with everyday Americans or with the big corporations. They can’t have it both ways.
I hope you will join us. Please make your voice heard.
http://www.ourfuture.org/action_center/peoplefirst.cfm
Best,
Adam Luna, Policy Director
Campaign for America's Future
Dear Amy,
It's no secret that in the last four years, the Bush administration has eliminated major protections designed to keep Americans safe at home and work.
George Bush is taking away the right to overtime pay from up to 6 million Americans, including nurses, cooks, clerical workers, and nursery school teachers.
George Bush allowed dirty power plants to expand without controlling their emissions.
George Bush endangered pregnant workers when he stopped regulating exposure to the chemicals used in the manufacturing of semiconductors.
George Bush rolled back mercury regulations and proposed to defer controls on toxic mercury emissions by power plants for at least a decade.
George Bush reduced protections for mine workers and eliminated rules to protect workers from tuberculosis.
George Bush gutted health and safety protections in response to pressure from top donors and corporate lobbyists. For example, David Lauriski, head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, removed protections for coal workers, that he originally sought when he was serving as an executive of a mining company. Chemical industry executives donated more than $1.5 million to Bush's 2000 campaign and were rewarded with looser regulations that boosted corporate profits but put pregnant workers at greater risk.
We need you to get the word out in your community that George Bush sacrifices public safety in favor of corporate profit.
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper today by visiting:
http://volunteer.johnkerry.com
A new tool that we launched on Johnkerry.com makes it easy for you to contact your local media. You can write and send a letter to your local media outlets in just one click. We'll give you all the talking points and information you need. This is a brand new tool, and there is a small chance that you could encounter an error while using it. Please send an email to tellus@johnkerry.com if you do encounter an error. Write a letter to the editor by clicking below:
http://volunteer.johnkerry.com
The Kerry-Edwards Media Corps is our grassroots rapid-response network and is responsible for pushing countless issues to the forefront. If you aren't able to write a letter to the editor today, but would like to join our team, sign up by visiting:
http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/mediacorps.php
Last week, members of Media Corps wrote close to a thousand letters to the editor about the GOP funded Swift Boat Veterans for Truth smear campaign, stem cell research and the rising costs of prescription drugs; and when it was announced that Bush wouldn't take questions during a rare, hour long interview with Larry King, members of Media Corps responded with half an hour's notice and delivered a thousand emails in protest to CNN.
Please become a part of our grassroots rapid response network today.
Thank you,
Mary Beth Cahill
Campaign Manager
Everything You (and Your Friends) Need to V ote
Only half the people who agree with us on the issues voted the last time around. We have to make sure we do better this time. That’s why, with these simple online tools, TrueMajority is making it easy for you and your friends to vo te. Just click this link to get to our online toolkit:
http://www.truemajority.org/actionregister/toolkit_html.cfm
Here’s what you’ll find:
Register to Vote-You can fill out all the paperwork online. It's fast, free and easy.
Vote by Mail-Most states now also let you vote by mail (also called absentee ballot). This is definitely the best way to go. If your state allows it, y ou can fill out all the paperwork online. Again-it’s fast, free and easy.
Help Register Others-If you would like to get more involved registering people to vote in this crucial election year, we can help you find the groups doing the best wo rk. We link to our friends at National Voice who have set up Election Match. Just type in your zip code and they’ll tell you who is hitting the streets to register folks.
Start your own online voter registration drive. Just forward this e-mail to everyone in your company, and al l your friends and family.
Something this good should be shared, so please send this link to everyone in your company, and all your friends and family. They’ll be glad you did. And you can think of it as your own, personal voter registration drive.
http://www.truemajority.org/actionreg ister/toolkit_html.cfm
Sincerely,
Andrew Greenblatt,
Online Organizer
It's mid-August and the living is ... BUSY. As you probably know, there have been several significant GLBT and equality-related news stories recently. This message is to keep you up-to-date, and to let you know how you can continue to stay involved. Thanks again for all you do!
Last week, we were as disappointed as you at the delay of marriage equality in California. "This is not the end of the fight to make same-sex couples safer and more secure," said Human Rights Campaign President Cheryl Jacques regarding the decision by the California Supreme Court that the city of San Francisco lacked the authority to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. More:
http://tinyurl.com/6r8q5
HRC released the following statement last week regarding New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey’s press conference: "Coming out is a deeply personal journey and Governor McGreevey today showed enormous courage. We are hopeful that, like millions of other American families, Governor McGreevey and his family will come to a place of understanding."
HRC will be out in force at the Republican National Convention in New York at the end of August. Not only will our message be out on the streets - and elsewhere - during the Convention, but we're also participating in two important events. If you're in New York during the RNC...
... Be sure to catch HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg at the New York Times Speaker Series event "Voices of the Gay & Lesbian Vote" on Friday, August 27 at 6:30pm. Tickets & information:
http://tinyurl.com/65ccl
... Join the Human Rights Campaign, Log Cabin Republicans and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund for a celebration of GLBT equality and bipartisanship on Monday, August 30th, 10 PM - 2 AM at Bottino (246 Tenth Avenue in New York). This event honors Republicans who have stood up against discrimination in the US Constitution and work to ensure equality for GLBT families and individuals. Members of Congress along with openly gay Republican elected officials will be in attendance. Interested? Please RSVP via email to Sara Shoener at sara.shoener@hrc.org.
Speaking of Conventions...did you see Cheryl Jacques' speech at the Democratic National Convention? If not, take a look. It's great to see our efforts take center stage at this national event.
See the video
http://tinyurl.com/6emeo
Read the transcript:
http://tinyurl.com/5ttmr
DID YOU KNOW that you can send e-quality e-cards from HRC's web site? Birthdays, romance, celebrations and more...Check 'em out: http://tinyurl.com/5r6pp
Dear Amy,
Today marks the end of the dishonest and disgusting smear campaign against John Kerry and his crewmates from Vietnam. This morning on the front page of the Washington Post, one of the central figures in the effort to distort John Kerry's military service was completely discredited.
The group behind this smear campaign calls itself "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth." But the truth is the last thing they are interested in.
President Bush refuses to condemn this group. He wants them to do his dirty work. But this effort to distract attention from the issues that matter most has failed.
This morning, John Kerry said he learned an important lesson in Vietnam: "When you're under attack, the best thing to do is turn your boat into the attacker." Today he took these lessons to heart, knocked down these charges, and made a firm commitment to the American people that the lies about his military service will not stop him from fighting for affordable health care, good-paying jobs, and keeping America secure.
This doesn't mean that these blatantly false attacks won't continue -- the Bush-Cheney campaign is desperate and has no record to run on. But it does mean that we are not going to let them distract us from letting people know about John Kerry's plan to make America stronger at home and respected in the world.
Read the Washington Post article:
http://www.johnkerry.com/article
Read John Kerry's statement from his speech at the International Association of Firefighters Convention in Boston this morning:
Over the last week or so, a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has been attacking me. Of course, this group isn't interested in the truth -- and they're not telling the truth. They didn't even exist until I won the nomination for president.
But here's what you really need to know about them. They're funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Republican contributor out of Texas. They're a front for the Bush campaign. And the fact that the president won't denounce what they're up to tells you everything you need to know -- he wants them to do his dirty work.
Thirty years ago, official Navy reports documented my service in Vietnam and awarded me the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Thirty years ago, this was the plain truth. It still is. And I still carry the shrapnel in my leg from a wound in Vietnam.
As firefighters you risk your lives every day. You know what it's like to see the truth in the moment. You're proud of what you've done -- and so am I.
Of course, the president keeps telling people he would never question my service to our country. Instead, he watches as a Republican-funded attack group does just that. Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is my answer: 'Bring it on.'
I'm not going to let anyone question my commitment to defending America -- then, now, or ever. And I'm not going to let anyone attack the sacrifice and courage of the men who saw battle with me.
And let me make this commitment today: their lies about my record will not stop me from fighting for jobs, health care, and our security -- the issues that really matter to the American people.
Thank you,
Mary Beth Cahill
Dear MoveOn member,
Yesterday, thanks to the support of thousands of MoveOn members, we started running "Swift Response" on battleground-state TV. The ad highlights Bush's hypocrisy in allowing an attack on a decorated war veteran when he himself was unaccounted for during portions of the Vietnam war.
John Kerry is taking the high road, urging a focus on the current issues of the campaign. But we believe that given Bush's refusal to reject the "Swift Boat" ad and take Kerry's military service off the table, the nation deserves a full accounting of where Bush was during Vietnam. After all, although President Bush promised on national TV to release records on whether he showed up for duty in the National Guard, he's now refusing to do so.[1]
The media are at a turning point -- they've realized that there's little truth to the "Swift Boat" allegations. But, thanks in part to our work together, the episode has reignited questions about George Bush's service during Vietnam. Together we can make sure that this time journalists get to the bottom of the story. So, starting today, we're upping the ante by airing an additional spot which contrasts Bush's war record with Kerry's heroic service. (We've attached the press release below.)
We also need your help to turn the media's focus onto Bush's record. Can you write a letter to the editor pointing out the holes in Bush's war record today? We've attached some talking points below.
For our easy-to-use letter to the editor tool, click here:
http://www.moveonpac.org/lte/lte.html?lte_campaign_id=8&zip=&id=3321-642605-XwoKDWXZdviF3npwGq1t0Q
And if you're not up for writing a letter to the editor, you can donate to help continue this ad campaign at:
https://www.moveonpac.org/donate/warrecord.html?id=3321-642605-XwoKDWXZdviF3npwGq1t0Q
According to the Washington Post, "A review of Bush's military records shows that Bush enjoyed preferential treatment as the son of a then congressman, when he walked into a Texas Guard unit in Houston two weeks before his 1968 graduation from Yale and was moved to the top of a long waiting list."[2]
Then, between May 1972 and May 1973, he simply seemed to disappear. According to an in-depth study by the Boston Globe, there are no records available which indicate that he showed up for duty during that time.[3] His commanding officer doesn't recall seeing him.[4]
When George Bush appeared on "Meet the Press" in February, Tim Russert asked him if he would release "pay stubs, tax records, anything to show that you were serving during that period." Bush unequivocally replied, "Yeah."[5]
But he hasn't. In fact, the Associated Press -- representing most of the newspapers in the country -- has filed a lawsuit to obtain records which Bush refuses to release. In the lawsuit, the AP argues that a "significant, ongoing controversy exists over the president's military service during the Vietnam War." The AP also noted that a full release of Bush's war records would clarify "allegations that potentially embarrassing material was removed in 1997 from Bush's military file, when he was running for re-election as Texas governor."[6]
The Bush campaign says that this issue has been put to bed. But it clearly hasn't, and in the context of new attacks on John Kerry's service, we can focus journalists on figuring out what really went on. Please write a letter to the editor of your local paper today.
To easily find a paper in your area, go to:
http://www.moveonpac.org/lte/lte.html?lte_campaign_id=8&zip=&id=3321-642605-XwoKDWXZdviF3npwGq1t0Q
Here are some points you might want to make in your letter:
It's outrageous for Bush to sanction an attack on John Kerry's military service when he refuses to clarify whether he failed to show up for service for an entire year. CBS News concluded, "the available files do not clear up the ‘missing' section of the president's National Guard service."[7]
Bush promised on "Meet the Press" to release all of his military records. Yet the AP is suing the Pentagon for unreleased records which Bush could easily make public. Why is Bush breaking his promise?
The Bush campaign claims that the matter is resolved. But according to the Associated Press lawsuit, "A significant, ongoing controversy exists over the president's military service during the Vietnam War, specifically whether he performed his required service between May and October 1972." Since the AP is a cooperative made up of most of the newspapers in the country, you might even want to thank your local newspaper for supporting this suit.
As John Kerry said several months ago, "I think a lot of veterans are going to be very angry at a president who can't account for his own service in the National Guard."[8]
Some Bush supporters have attacked our ad, arguing that it's the same kind of attack that the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush made. But there's an essential difference: we have an unyielding allegiance to the truth. When Bush's surrogates run ads which distort the truth, we'll set the record straight. And when the President misleads the country about his own record, we'll make sure together that the truth comes out.
Sincerely,
--Eli Pariser
MoveOn PAC
August 18th, 2004
Footnotes:
Meet the Press Transcript, 2/8/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4179618/
Bush's Guard Service In Question, 2/3/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A7372-2004Feb2?language=printer
1-year gap in Bush's guard duty, 5/23/00
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/bush/articles/2000/05/23/1_year_gap_in_bushs_guard_duty/
White House say he fulfilled military duties, 2/10/04
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-02-10-bush-records_x.htm
Meet the Press Transcript, 2/8/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4179618/
AP demands Bush service records in court, 7/16/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5452977/
Gaps Remain In Bush Guard Service, 5/4/04
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/03/politics/main615317.shtml
Kerry broadens attacks on Bush's military service, 4/28/04
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/04/28/kerry_broadens_attacks_on_bushs_military_service?mode=PF
Here's the press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 17, 2004
MOVEON PAC TO RE-AIR TV SPOT CONTRASTING
BUSH-KERRY MILITARY SERVICE
Says Bush Needs to Keep Promise:
Release His National Guard Records
Intensifies Response to Unfair Swift Boat Attack on Kerry
MoveOn PAC announced today it will resume airing a television ad that contrasts John Kerry's heroic Vietnam war record with the President's military service history.
The move aims to refocus attention on two related issues:
the President's continued refusal to keep his promise, made on Meet the Press, to release all documents concerning his stateside military service during the Vietnam War; and
the President's continued refusal to ask his political allies to cease their smear campaign against John Kerry's Vietnam combat record.
The Associated Press on June 22, 2004 sued the Pentagon and Air Force seeking access to all unreleased military records of George Bush's service during the Vietnam War. Bush could release his military records with the stroke of a pen, but refuses to do so.
The PAC ad also responds to the Bush Campaign's refusal to disavow an unfair ad that attempts to undermine the validity of combat medals Kerry received for service in Vietnam including three purple hearts, bronze and silver stars. Over 6,000 veterans, current soldiers, and their families have signed a petition on MoveOn PAC's website condemning the "Swift Boat Veterans for Bush" ad and calling on Bush to reject these smear tactics.
"As General Wesley Clark pointed out yesterday, Kerry served and fought while Bush ‘scrambled and used his family's influence to get out of hearing a shot being fired,'" said Eli Pariser, executive director of MoveOn PAC. "Given Bush's refusal to call off his attack dogs, we think it's important that the American people be reminded of this fact."
"Our ad in no way impugns the service of those men and women now bravely serving their country in Iraq. They are in harm's way and deserve our respect and support. As one of our members, the wife of a veteran, said yesterday, ‘To make such claims against Senator Kerry's record also smears the record of the other soldiers who served honorably in Vietnam and are serving today,'" said Pariser.
The MoveOn PAC ad, which aired widely in the spring, contrasts Kerry's volunteer service as a young lieutenant in Vietnam, captaining a boat under fire in the Mekong Delta and rescuing an injured crew member, with Bush's limited tenure in a country club unit of the Texas National Guard, where the sons of prominent Texans went to avoid overseas service.
"This election is about character," the MoveOn PAC ad concludes. "It's between John Kerry, who left no man behind…and George W. Bush, who simply left," a reference to Bush's disappearance while he was assigned to active duty as a National Guard pilot.
The ad will run next week on CNN nationally, on FOX News and CNN in Washington, D.C., and in four Ohio markets, a $110,000 buy. Additional markets may be added.
Documentation for Kerry/Bush military service comparison TV Ad can be found at:
http://www.moveonpac.org/content/pdfs/Kerry-BushAdbackup.pdf
///
PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC www.moveonpac.org
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
75 days 'til the election
Here's what you can do to stay involved in the campaign to elect a pro-choice president...
NARAL Pro-Choice America t-shirt gets family booted from Bush Rally!
What got Barbara Miller and her family kicked out of a Bush rally in Michigan? Carrying a NARAL Pro-Choice America
t-shirt!
"I thought I might be cold... I just wanted to see my president," Barbara Miller told The Saginaw News of her decision to bring the shirt. Faced with the Bush campaign's zero-tolerance policy on "any pro-choice, non-Republican paraphernalia," her explanation to Bush campaign staff was futile.
Now Barbara is helping NARAL Pro-Choice America elect John Kerry by telling her story and taking a stand. Stand with her today! Get the shirt that will get you booted from a Bush rally. Click here to get your BANNED-BY-BUSH t-shirt today!
Read Barbara's story in The Saginaw News.
Can reality TV save choice?
Having a hard time convincing your friends to be interested in the elections? Have you told them to start watching more TV? We're serious! American Candidate, a new reality show airing on Showtime on Sundays at 9:00 pm, is devoted to getting more people involved in the elections by putting on parallel elections of their own. Starting Monday, August 16, the show's weekly online debate will focus on a woman's right to choose -- and NARAL Pro-Choice America has been asked to participate!
Here's what you can do...
1) Join the debate about choice online.
Make sure the pro-choice majority is represented. Don't let National Right to Life, the other organization invited to participate, frame the debate. Click here to join the debate.
2) Tell your friends.
We know it's hard to get friends as excited about politics as we are (trust us), so use this as an opportunity to get them hooked! If you have Showtime invite your friends over for a viewing party, and make sure they voice their opinion by voting for John Kerry in November.
We're going to have to do whatever it takes to get those hard-to-reach voters engaged and to the polls this November. If you're still looking for the perfect way to convince your friends that the elections really matter, get them watching American Candidate and committed to voting pro-choice on November 2!
Featured Action
Military women deserve access to the morning-after pill! Each year, between three and six percent of women in the military report being sexually assaulted. Despite this disturbing trend, servicewomen don't have adequate access to emergency contraception (EC), and abortion care remains unavailable at military facilities except in limited circumstances. EC can prevent unintended pregnancy if taken soon after sex. Women who serve their country should be given the tools they need to prevent unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion. Click here to support a bill that would change military policy and provide access to EC for these courageous women.
THE GOOD: Hotline with questionable motives shut down... A federal judge ordered an anti-choice phone service in Louisiana shut down. Causeway Center for Women, which purportedly scheduled doctor appointments for women seeking abortions, delayed several women, increasing the health risks or preventing them from getting an abortion. We applaud U.S. District Judge Duval for seeing through this anti-choice tactic and supporting a woman's right to safe and trustworthy health care. Read the full story.
THE BAD: Abstinence may soon be the only choice in Texas textbooks... The Texas Board of Education will likely approve four new sex-ed textbooks that endorse abstinence; only one briefly mentions condoms. Texas high school students deserve complete, medically accurate information to prevent unintended pregnancy. Without it, Texas will most likely remain one of the five states with the highest teen pregnancy rates. Worse yet, if Texas approves the textbooks, the books will likely be marketed nationwide. Watch out Texas Board of Education, we'd hate to see you show up on our Ugly list! Get the scoop.
THE UGLY: Bush administration pushes for enforcement of abortion ban... Just months after a federal judge blocked an unconstitutional anti-choice law from taking effect, the Bush administration appealed the ruling. It appears that the Justice Department will do whatever it takes to get this abortion ban, which the federal judge deemed an "undue burden" on a woman's right to choose, into effect. As if we needed another reason to take a stand against W and Attorney General John Ashcroft! Get more details.
More news headlines here...>>
HERO/ZERO OF THE MONTH
HERO: RON REAGAN has become a central figure in the fight for stem cell research. President Bush's policy based on anti-choice ideology has severely curtailed scientific research in the promising field of stem cells. Bush stubbornly refuses to change his policy despite requests from lawmakers in his own party. In a passionate speech at the Democratic National Convention, Reagan talked about his own experiences caring for his father, the late President Reagan, who suffered from Alzheimer's -- one of the diseases that could benefit from stem cell research. For promoting human health and wellbeing, Ron Reagan wins hero of the month!
ZEROES -- WE HAVE A TIE!
ZERO #1: TOM COBURN, U.S. Senate candidate from Oklahoma, recently stated that abortion providers should receive the death penalty. For his dedication to denying women the right to choose an advocating against doctors, we crown Dr. Coburn one of our zeroes of the month. But wait, there's more!
ZERO #2: U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE ALLAN KEYES... Fervently anti-choice Illinois Senate candidate Alan Keyes is claiming that abortion and terrorism are comparable because "the evil is the same." Keyes also maintains that the attacks on 9/11 were a "wake up" call from God to doctors who offer abortion care. Is it any wonder, Keyes is sharing this zero distinction with Mr. Coburn? Get the whole (offensive) story here.
These are just a few of the extreme anti-choice candidates running for U.S. Senate -- find out who else is running and cast your vote for the most anti-choice candidate on BushvChoice.com.
NARAL Pro-Choice America's mission is to develop and sustain a citizenry that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.
Matching Gift Challenge
You Can Double Our Power to Stop Torture
To: Amy Truax
From: William F. Schulz
Subject: Double our Power to Silence Torture
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Amy,
Only when the eyes of the world were riveted on this nation's prisoner abuse scandal, did the CIA announce it would suspend the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" on detainees in its custody - techniques you and I call torture.
But what happens now that global attention on torture is waning and the world has stopped watching?
You and I and all who care about the future of human rights in our world must seize this opportunity to keep the spotlight of truth shining brightly on the practice of torture and lead the fight to abolish it everywhere it occurs.
That's why we are IMMEDIATELY EXPANDING our work to shine the spotlight of truth on the heinous practice of torture occurring in 132 countries worldwide.
Please visit us online and view a short but compelling flash video on silencing torture. Here's a direct link for your convenience: www.amnestyusa.org/silencetorture
And since an expansion of this scope and unprecedented magnitude will also require increased resources, I urge you to take advantage of a longtime friend of Amnesty's generous offer to match your gift dollar for dollar.
Click here to help DOUBLE OUR POWER TO SILENCE TORTURE.
Amnesty is the only international human rights organization that has the capacity to take on the world's governments who employ techniques of torture.
And with the world's attention moving away from the prisoner abuse scandal, Amnesty needs your help to continue putting pressure on government officials to ensure acts such as holding detainees naked, making them assume painful positions for protracted periods, subjecting them to extended sleep deprivation and exposing them to snarling dogs will never become a "military necessity" again.
Recent revelations in the media suggest that torture is becoming acceptable in some quarters of the U.S. government, with terrorism replacing communism as the official rationale. And as during the cold war when U.S. trainers taught torture techniques, Washington's tolerance of such practices could have a ripple effect around the world.
From more than 43 years of fighting torture worldwide, Amnesty knows this: Once torture has been legitimized, even on a small or limited scale, the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading practices will continue to increase until it engulfs countless victims, and ultimately erodes the moral and legal principles on which society is based.
This is what is at stake then, not just for our country, but for the entire community of nations upon which the United States has immense influence.
That's why I'm asking for your support to help shine the spotlight of truth on the heinous practice of torture carried out worldwide.
Remember, your generous gift will be matched and help DOUBLE OUR POWER TO SILENCE TORTURE. Your generosity at this defining moment can truly make a powerful difference. Thank you.
Sincerely,
William F. Schulz
Executive Director
P.S. In addition to supporting our expanded work to fight torture with a generous online gift that will be matched and help double our power to silence torture, please also forward this email to everyone you know who supports human rights and opposes the barbarous tactics of torture so they too can be part of this historic effort.
Dear Amy,
It seems that every election year, “Medicare and Social Security” are a politician’s favorite words. But this year, the debate isn’t just about the rhetoric - it's about your pocketbook.
Simply put, under the new Medicare law, not only will grandparents have to pay more to drug companies for prescriptions than they do today, the new law also forces younger taxpayers to pay more too. Together, the new law forces American taxpayers to hand over almost $50 billion to HMOs and $139 billion in new profits for the big drug companies.
Lobbyist and politician greed has made a mess of Medicare. And many of the same forces now have their eyes on Social Security. It is time to clean up this mess!
I’d like to ask you to join us in demanding that lawmakers take the People First -Corporations Second Challenge. We can challenge them to take three concrete steps to undo and avoid more damage, and show that they stand with the American people first, and not drug companies, HMOs, and Wall Street traders.
http://www.ourfuture.org/action_center/peoplefirst.cfm
(America's Future will hand-deliver all challenges to your lawmakers on September 3rd, 2004 and demand answers!)
Just today, Public Campaign (a non-partisan watchdog group) released a new report showing that HMOs and drug companies got exactly what they wanted from their campaign contributions - a new law that will deliver billions in new profits from taxpayers. Here is what the HMOs and drug companies got:
Medicare is now prohibited from negotiating for lower drug prices.
Medicare is now required to pay HMOs to compete with Medicare.
People on Medicare will pay more for prescriptions out of their own pockets than they do today.
Is that how you would have written the new Medicare law? And on Social Security, some lobbyists and politicians want to cut guaranteed retirement benefits and pay Wall Street firms to play with our guaranteed Social Security benefits.
Please challenge your lawmakers today to stand with the American people first?
http://www.ourfuture.org/action_center/peoplefirst.cfm
The Challenge will cut through the rhetoric and let you know where your lawmakers stand on cleaning up the Medicare mess and stopping a similar crisis for Social Security. It willl force politicians to choose whether they stand with everyday Americans or with the big corporations. They can’t have it both ways.
I hope you will join us. Please make your voice heard.
http://www.ourfuture.org/action_center/peoplefirst.cfm
Best,
Adam Luna, Policy Director
Campaign for America's Future
Dear Amy,
It's no secret that in the last four years, the Bush administration has eliminated major protections designed to keep Americans safe at home and work.
George Bush is taking away the right to overtime pay from up to 6 million Americans, including nurses, cooks, clerical workers, and nursery school teachers.
George Bush allowed dirty power plants to expand without controlling their emissions.
George Bush endangered pregnant workers when he stopped regulating exposure to the chemicals used in the manufacturing of semiconductors.
George Bush rolled back mercury regulations and proposed to defer controls on toxic mercury emissions by power plants for at least a decade.
George Bush reduced protections for mine workers and eliminated rules to protect workers from tuberculosis.
George Bush gutted health and safety protections in response to pressure from top donors and corporate lobbyists. For example, David Lauriski, head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, removed protections for coal workers, that he originally sought when he was serving as an executive of a mining company. Chemical industry executives donated more than $1.5 million to Bush's 2000 campaign and were rewarded with looser regulations that boosted corporate profits but put pregnant workers at greater risk.
We need you to get the word out in your community that George Bush sacrifices public safety in favor of corporate profit.
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper today by visiting:
http://volunteer.johnkerry.com
A new tool that we launched on Johnkerry.com makes it easy for you to contact your local media. You can write and send a letter to your local media outlets in just one click. We'll give you all the talking points and information you need. This is a brand new tool, and there is a small chance that you could encounter an error while using it. Please send an email to tellus@johnkerry.com if you do encounter an error. Write a letter to the editor by clicking below:
http://volunteer.johnkerry.com
The Kerry-Edwards Media Corps is our grassroots rapid-response network and is responsible for pushing countless issues to the forefront. If you aren't able to write a letter to the editor today, but would like to join our team, sign up by visiting:
http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/mediacorps.php
Last week, members of Media Corps wrote close to a thousand letters to the editor about the GOP funded Swift Boat Veterans for Truth smear campaign, stem cell research and the rising costs of prescription drugs; and when it was announced that Bush wouldn't take questions during a rare, hour long interview with Larry King, members of Media Corps responded with half an hour's notice and delivered a thousand emails in protest to CNN.
Please become a part of our grassroots rapid response network today.
Thank you,
Mary Beth Cahill
Campaign Manager