MoveOn

MoveOn.org is a left-wing political group based in the United States that organizes and informs an online community estimated at more than three million people. The group aims to promote grassroots advocacy by its members through various political activities including running a PAC, voter registration drives, and political advertising (especially in swing states).

Criticism

• MoveOn was criticized (by several Jewish advocacy groups, among others) when a member-submitted TV ad which compared President George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler appeared briefly on its web site. However, the TV ad was not selected the top 25 ads, and the ad was removed from MoveOn.org following harsh public criticism. MoveOn had run a contest during the 2004 Presidential election in which people were invited to create and submit political TV ads critical of the Bush Administration. http://www.thememoryhole.org/pol/bush-hitler-ads.htmhttp://www.washtimes.com/national/20040105-114507-1007r.htmhttp://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=24749
• In a June 22, 2004 speech, Karl Rove argued that "in the wake of 9/11 liberals believed it was time to submit a petition," going on to say "Submitting a petition is precisely what MoveOn.org did. It was a petition imploring the powers that be to 'use moderation and restraint in responding to the terrorist attacks against the United States.'" MoveOn leaders objected to Rove's comments, noting that the petition in question was a project of 9-11peace.org, an effort founded by Eli Pariser before he went to work for them; MoveOn's own petition regarding September 11 called for "justice, not escalating violence". Nevertheless, conservative writer Byron York, who has studied the group extensively, points out it was Pariser's anti-war stance that brought Pariser and MoveOn together, and that while Rove's use of the term "liberals" was over-broad, York considered Rove's commentary on MoveOn to be "accurate and fair." http://www.nationalreview.com/york/york200506241146.asp