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).

History

Main article: History of MoveOn.org

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Originally started in 1998 as a bipartisan email group that petitioned Congress to "move on" past the impeachment proceedings of President Clinton, MoveOn grew to national prominence for its strong disapproval of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Since then, it devoted its efforts toward supporting the Democratic nominee for the 2004 U.S. presidential election and defeating George W. Bush's re-election effort, raising millions of dollars for Democratic candidates. It was one of several 527 groups supporting John Kerry, the Democratic nominee in the 2004 U.S. presidential election; others include America Coming Together and the Media Fund.

Related Topics:
1998 - Congress - President Clinton - 2003 invasion of Iraq - Democratic - 2004 U.S. presidential election - George W. Bush - 527 group - John Kerry - America Coming Together - Media Fund

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MoveOn has created pressure within the Democratic Party for what the Washington Post calls "a vigorously liberal agenda" that goes "beyond simple opposition to the Bush administration." MoveOn founder Wes Boyd rejects the advice of "centrists" such as the Democratic Leadership Council who argue that "Democrats must moderate their positions on war, taxes, universal health care and other key issues." Speaking in June 2003 at a "Take Back America" conference, Boyd declared, "The primary way to build trust is to consistently fight for things that people care about." Grassroots America is ready to support a liberal agenda, he said, if only "someone will get out and lead. ... Every time we did something, every time we showed leadership, our membership went up." http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A14925-2003Jun4

Related Topics:
Democratic Party - Washington Post - Liberal - Wes Boyd - Democratic Leadership Council - Universal health care

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MoveOn.org was created by computer entrepreneurs Joan Blades and Wes Boyd, the married cofounders of Berkeley Systems. They started by passing around a petition asking Congress to "censure President Clinton and move on" as opposed to impeaching him. To the couple's surprise, the petition, passed around by word of mouth, was extremely successful. By the end, they had half a million signatures. Buoyed by their success, the couple went on to start similar campaigns, calling for more inspections rather than an invasion of Iraq (see Popular opposition to war on Iraq), the reinstatement of lower limits on arsenic and mercury pollution, and campaign finance reform.

Related Topics:
Joan Blades - Wes Boyd - Berkeley Systems - Censure - Iraq - Popular opposition to war on Iraq - Arsenic - Mercury - Pollution - Campaign finance reform

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