MoveOn.org plans to send members the e-mail below calling the Clinton donors who wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi bullying billionaires. The liberal group, which is backing Sen. Barack Obama, said the letter was "outrageous."
Here's the MoveOn letter:
This is pretty outrageous: a group of Clinton-supporting big Democratic donors are threatening to stop supporting Democrats in Congress because Nancy Pelosi said that the people, not the superdelegates, should decide the Presidential nomination.
It's the worst kind of insider politics—billionaires bullying our elected leaders into ignoring the will of the voters.
But when we all pool our resources, together we're stronger than the fat cats. So let's tell Nancy Pelosi that if she keeps standing up for regular Americans, thousands of us will have her back. And we can more than match whatever the CEOs and billionaires refuse to contribute. Clicking here will add your name to our statement:
http://pol.moveon.org/democracy/
The statement reads: "The Democratic nomination should be decided by the voters -- not by superdelegates or party high-rollers. We've given money -- and time -- to progressive candidates and causes, and we'll support Speaker Pelosi and others who stand up for Democracy in the Democratic Party."
We're launching it today with our friends at the blog OpenLeft.com. Our goal is to deliver tens of thousands of signatures to Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders later this week.
A few weeks ago, Speaker Pelosi told ABC News, "If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic Party."
She's right, but Clinton's top fundraisers want her to back off. According to the New York Times, their letter "carries an ominous tone, which stops just short of delivering a threat. The donors remind Ms. Pelosi that they are 'strong supporters' of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee." Their language was careful, but their implied threat was universally understood. (Roll Call carried this headline: "Clinton donors threaten Pelosi and DCCC.")
They're the old guard, and this is how the Democratic Party used to function -- the big donors called the shots. But the small donor revolution has changed that. The 20 people who signed this letter have given Democrats an average of $2.4 million per year over the last 10 years. Small donations now dwarf that: In February alone, Obama and Clinton raised $47 million in small donations.
Still, old habits die hard. We need to send a strong signal that we, the small donors, will back Democratic leaders who have the courage to stand up and do the right thing. Please sign our statement today.
http://pol.moveon.org/democracy/
Thanks for all you do,
-- Noah, Justin, Ilyse, Wes, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Thursday, March 27th, 2008
— Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (6)
Good for Moveon.org! Its about time that some organization stands up against billionaires trying to improperly influence elections.
I don't suppose they see the irony contained in their letter.
Posted by Chris | March 27, 2008 6:13 PM
I'm a small donor to Obama who happens to be an independent. Move On should not assume they speak for me or others like me, and I'd like to send them a strong signal to that effect as well. Of course, that's giving them credit for reading the Washington Times, or even being able to read in the first place for that matter.
Posted by George Robertson | March 27, 2008 9:50 PM
The division that now confronts the Democratic Party does present an opportunity to once and for all purge the party of big-time lobbyists, special interests, and insider bullying by the entitled & elite. Barack Obama's ability to raise millions from "everyday people" is liberating.
Posted by Chuck Lauria | March 28, 2008 7:14 AM
This just one more case for term limits to remove the embedded bureaucracy (the system that protects itself), make them do something to earn their votes and keep the Congress from constantly seeking reelection.
Posted by Larry Stone | March 28, 2008 3:01 PM
Great work by Moveon.org. By supporting Speaker Pelosi,the grassroots mambers of the Democratic Party and indeed,all maiddle and poor Americans will be demonstrating - the power of the people.The rich have too long determined politics and economics through their money. The Obama Campaign has demonstrated that millions of small donors of $5,10 and 20 to $100 can amount to the same as 20 big money donors.The small money donors need to have their voices heard.All Praise and Thanks to Moveon.org.
Posted by cecil paul | March 29, 2008 10:06 PM
I do not support Obama and who is bullying who in this election. Obama thinks he is already the president standing with all those flags behind him and refuses to distance himself from the racist remarks of the great Rev Wright. They must be his ideas also or he would not stand by him. Hillary should go all the way. Good luck Hillary, it is not over until the fat lady sings
Peace Joni
Posted by Joni Phillips | March 31, 2008 2:57 PM