MoveOn Puts Out Closing Ad, Casting Corporate Donors Against Average Citizens

In the last round of ads it will run before the election, the progressive advocacy group MoveOn.org is going back to the well, raising the specter of well-resourced corporations overwhelming the vote of regular citizens.

Airing in 28 different races, the spot took obvious, painstaking effort to produce, featuring actual voters in that specific district reading portions of the script. But by getting authentic narrators to deliver the message there is some additional resonance.

"This ad is not paid for by the corporate front group and oil billionaires who are trying to buy this election," the ad, airing the Illinois Senate race goes. "This is our ad made by hard working Americans who live right here in Illinois and we have one simple message: Mark Kirk is backed by one of those front groups and if he is on their side than he is sure not on ours. Vote Alexi Giannoulias."

The ad echoes a closing election pitch the entire Democratic Party is making from the White House on down. But what's worth noting is that the thrust of the message is one MoveOn was making well before the run-up to the election. While other aspects of the party were hesitant to offend those corporate entities that were and could be their own donors, the progressive group had long argued that doing so could be smart politics.

Back in August, MoveOn did polling showing that campaign finance reform would be a winner for Democrats in battleground races. And over the course of the summer, MoveOn members held more than 500 events pushing the issue.

The ad will start airing on Friday, a MoveOn official tells the Huffington Post. And it will stay on air through Election Day, with different density in different markets, some of which will depend on how the organization fundraises during the closing week and a half.

The ad will be airing on behalf of the following candidates and members.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.)
Rep. John Salazar (D-Colo)
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)
Rep. Suzanna Kosmas (D-FL)
Rep. Baron Hill (D-Ind.)
Rep. Mark Schauer (D-Mich.)
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
Congressional candidate Ann Kuster (D-N.H.)
Rep. Martin Heinrigh (D-N.M.)
Rep. Harry Teague (D-N.M.)
Rep. Dina Titus (D-N.V.)
Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Scott Murphy (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Penn.)
Rep. Chris Carney (D-Penn.)
Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.)
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wa)
Congressional candidate Denny Heck (D-Wa)
Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Wisc.)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)
Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias (D-Ill.)
Senate candidate Robin Carnahan (D-MO)
Senate candidate Lee Fisher (D-Ohio)
Senate candidate Joe Sestak (D-Penn.)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.)

Comments

[Ross Schuman]

11:40 PM on 10/21/2010

When the GOP dose not do as well as they think, Republicans and baggers are still going to blame ACORN.

[meko]

11:18 PM on 10/21/2010

I preferred this parody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rga2-vQqcN0

Giannoulias is a corporate tool as much as Kirk is.

[joeMet]

10:24 PM on 10/21/2010

"...well-resourced corporations overwhelming the vote of regular citizens."

That statement alone is misleading. Overwhelming the vote? Only people can vote, not corporations, a fact that seems to get lost in the rhetoric. I'm not sure MoveOn.org can claim any moral high ground regarding "ads." After all, wasn't it MoveOn.org that gained notoriety for its "General Betray Us" ads when the general was testifying about the surge in Iraq?
Classy.
If MoveOn.org'ers ("Democracy in Action") really had their thinking caps on, they'd realize that what's really missing from elections is a voter savvy enough to read through the rhetoric of those dreaded (but oh so effective) 30-second political ads. That's the primary basis for the opposition to the Supreme Court's ruling on the Citizens United case. It's not like Corporations have been absent from politics all this time thanks to restrictive Campaign laws suppressing their speech rights - the lobby industry is quite well thank you. Talk of Corporations "taking the vote away" from ordinary citizens is ludicrous. If people generally gave a rip about the issues at any time other than a few hours before they entered the voting booth, nobody would be worrying about a deluge of Corporate ads.
The Courts' ruling is not the problem here. Voter apathy is the problem, and no amount of campaign ad disclosure or restrictions in going to make a bit a difference so long as voters refuse to partake and learn the issues.

[James Fore]

11:04 PM on 10/21/2010

Totally wrong! The court gave coporations the same rights as citizens.....but nice try

[joeMet]

10:48 AM on 10/22/2010

Until Corporations are literally give the vote, they don't have "the same rights as citizens." The citizen still has the power, if they'd use it. Too bad they keep hearing day in and day out that they don't count anymore. That's an unfortunate message.

[Gidster]

11:28 PM on 10/21/2010

HAhahaha!

Only people can cast votes sure, but a well funded disinformation campaign can and will influence HOW those people vote!

There are identical ads running in 23 states, cookie cutter ads claiming that Obamacare was rammed down our throats (As if the Democratic process was ramming anything), and dropping buzz words like "Ried and Pelosi, blah blah blah buzzword blah blah blah...

The court's ruling undermines our democracy, allowing corporate entities to influence elections by promoting their hand picked candidates, helping to make the companies agenda US law.

Why not buy BOTH candidates in several races, that way you can write your own legislation favorable to your company first.

Learn the issues. research the history of Oligarchy in America; or go back to robber barons, child labor, work houses, company stores, generational debts and wage serfdom!

[joeMet]

10:53 AM on 10/22/2010

The lobbyists have been influencing sitting representatives a long time. I wouldn't mind eliminating lobbyists who use financial power to gain the ear of a congressman.

What I'm saying is, the only way out of this "oligarchical hell" is for the citizen to step up. Until that happens, it won't matter whether Citizens United went one way or another. Corporations have been an undue force in politics for a long time. Citizens United didn't change anything.

[jaws51]

11:01 AM on 10/22/2010

For the people, by the people. Only people can vote. Our SCOTUS ruling considered corporations to fall under the definition of 'people', yet corporations do not have a vote, only money.

They have ALL the money. Since this nation is based on money more than morals or true democracy, money wins, people loose.

A big round of applause for our Supreme Court!

[Takebackourmoney]

09:07 PM on 10/21/2010

Will have to make a contribution to moveon.org

[Dan1902]

08:13 PM on 10/21/2010

Mark Kirk and his Corpofascist donors will not win in my home state! ALEXI 2010 QUINN/SIMON 2010

[Chicagofan1]

08:57 PM on 10/21/2010

NO to lying rookie and NO to higher taxes.

[Dan1902]

09:52 PM on 10/21/2010

Too bad your gonna vote for The Town Liar Kirknocchio and the Republican Hatchet Man Brady!! Kirknocchio had a fundraiser via the internet with China---Totally treasonous and Brady would cut your pubes if it would make the top 2% such as himself richer,but go ahead waste your vote on the real liars who will make your life harder!!! They aren't going to win anyway!!

[Gidster]

11:33 PM on 10/21/2010

Your taxes are lower than they have been in decades. Corporate taxes are only high if you ignore the huge loopholes and doges many corporations use.

Bank America, Citi Group and 1.3 million other American companies pay ZERO dollars in corporate taxes.
http://www.mytwodollars.com/2008/08/13/66-of-american-corporations-pay-zero-federal-income-tax/
http://www.mytwodollars.com/2008/08/13/66-of-american-corporations-pay-zero-federal-income-tax/
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0419/p16s03-cogn.html

Yet Republicans and tea partiers suggest they pay even less!

They utterly fail to realize that the corporate tax rate in other countries is lower, because those companies pay their share!

[Gilliam G]

07:24 PM on 10/21/2010

Doesn't anyone question how, in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, these big Corporate donors are able to afford pouring millions upon millions of dollars into these campaigns?

Average Americans are losing jobs, losing homes, running out of benefits, living off of dwindling savings (I am) and wondering how the hell they are going to make ends meet next month.

Something is seriously wrong here.
I have an idea. Require all these big cash rich corporate donors who can afford to pour millions in donate to a taxpayer relief fund. For every dollar donated the government will match it by reducing your taxes by that amount.
That would be responsible.

It is disgustingly obscene to see the huge amounts of money out there.
This is wrong.
Publicly financed political campaigns is the only option to end this madness.

The current system just gives corporate donors much more power over the individual voter.
Been that way for a long time but now it is highlighted because of our poor economy and the record amount being spent.

PS: Last Thursday night I was able to meet Michael Moore in person and give him a 10 song compilation of songs partly inspired by the topics he covers in his films. He was happy to receive the gift and told me he would listen to the songs.
To hear what I gave him (also available for free download) listen here:

http://gilsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/modern-folk-songs-2008-2010

[Marconiusrex24]

08:33 PM on 10/21/2010

Fanned! You are SO right!

[James Fore]

11:05 PM on 10/21/2010

Yes, it's BS!

[seeksthetruth]

04:13 PM on 10/21/2010

That says it all. Do you want a representative who will work for you or Big Business?

[Chicagofan1]

03:14 PM on 10/21/2010

MoveOn wants us to vote for corrupted baby Alexi?
No way.
This election, I will check every box next to R without even reading names.

[Johnathan Plate]

03:56 PM on 10/21/2010

If you don't know the names of the people who you are voting for how does that help America, the R doens't stand for Responcible goverment, The R stands for Repression.
Both parties sell us to corporate intrest, but the only way to stop that is to know who you are voting for and educate yourself. I have never voted down party lines, and I would only do that if I knew that those canidates I was voting for had my intrest first.

[JustaSlob]

04:15 PM on 10/21/2010

"Anyone that votes for a candidate just because he's with one party or the other is a FOOL" Cris Rock

[bytheC]

03:10 PM on 10/21/2010

On Keith O last night from a recent NBC/Wallstreet Journal Poll:

Are American's concerned with lack of disclosure:
Not concerned 26%
Concerned 74%

Do backers have agenda?
Not Concerned 26%
Concerned 74%

Who does GOP cares about:
Corporations 68%
Average Americans 22%

The secret foreign money the Gopers are raking in is going to backfire on them. Wonder why they won't disclose who their donors are.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#39769557

[cave mann35]

02:15 PM on 10/21/2010

What a wonderful message to consituents and to voters around the country. If you really want to take your country back, take it back from corporate interests? Take it back from the oil lobby and the insurance lobbyists. Take it back from those that would give tax breaks to robber barons bent on making another billion at the expense of our air, land and waterways. I would love to see every political ad have its' president or chief executive at the end, saying I approved this, so that we can see who is trying to deceive us and understand why. When a sitting Supreme Court justice's wife can receive unchecked, and undocumented amounts of cash from corporate donors, without no one caring that these same donors come before her husband's court routinely, should we be surprised when we eventually learn of a quid pro quo?

[IndieObama]

07:24 PM on 10/21/2010

I just wish the Democratic choices guaranteed clear cut way to say no to the insurance, corporate, banking & oil lobbyists. Still, the Dems are the lesser of two evils.

[James Fore]

11:07 PM on 10/21/2010

Hell yea!

[MidwestHeart]

02:10 PM on 10/21/2010

I am all for an ad like this, good message. HOWEVER, it does need more DIVERSITY imo.

[Exemplar Gnosis]

02:24 PM on 10/21/2010

each ad features photos of voters in that area. the voters volunteered their time to make and send a photo... if that group isn't diverse, then you get what you get. Do you think MoveOn should have bought stock photos of "diverse" people, and used them for the ads, the way the conservative "People for Saving America" groups do?

The point is, these people are legit -- diversity isn't naturally occurring in all samples.

[MidwestHeart]

07:59 AM on 10/26/2010

Sorry to be so long in replying. I understand what you are saying, I know these people are real, not taken from online stock photo collections. Nevertheless, I have noticed a lack of sensitivity to racial diversity in other dem ads and given that Obama really needs African-Americans and Hispanics to vote in this election, it would, I think, be helpful to make a special effort to be very inclusive. It just makes everyone feel good to be noticed and included. I think the ad is great and I even like their most recent 'voices from the future' ad that is a bit more controversial because it raises fears. I don't mind raising fears in that ad since the fears are real, not fabricated.

[Sons]

02:02 PM on 10/21/2010

Where has MoveOn been in this election?

We hardly every hear from them anymore.

What's going on?

[Exemplar Gnosis]

02:30 PM on 10/21/2010

MoveOn has been active in fighting corruption in washington, and only recently endorsed candidates, most of whom signed a pledge (http://fightwashingtoncorruption.org/) over the summer to 1)overturn citizen's united 2) pass fair elections law 3) reform lobbying.

Lately, MoveOn has been cranking out the campaign volunteers, and bird dogging candidates backed by these shadowy corporate groups (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YcQwfMF8mI). Now, they've bought advertising.

It's easy to sign up for MoveOn updates in your area. (http://pol.moveon.org/keepmeposted/) Why don't you, and you won't be in the dark.

[seeksthetruth]

03:22 PM on 10/21/2010

Exactly! You got your first fan!

[Gidster]

11:44 PM on 10/21/2010

Second!

[rebelriser]

03:07 PM on 10/21/2010

Moveon has been busy behind the scene, having members sign petitions, making phone calls and walking the pavements house to house. Their members who do lots of activism ARE the group and do lots of good for the Democratic party that isn't always heard about.

[DennisTrainorJr]

01:56 PM on 10/21/2010

To bad MoveOn.org ignores the Democrats complicity in the clusterf**k of our current 2 party duopoly.

No Cure For That has responded with the following ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rga2-vQqcN0

[hopeisalive]

02:13 PM on 10/21/2010

There are always some who will do things for many reasons, but reviewing your "AD", I'd say you've tried to pose as neutral while being anything but neutral.

[JohnLorenzo]

02:56 PM on 10/21/2010

Dennis – nice try. I just can't buy this approach. Protest votes have proven to do very little to make things better and usually cost the better of two candidates the election. Notice I said 'the better of two.'

Politics is messy, ugly at times, and far from perfect. Hmmm, sounds like life in general to me. I believe it is largely the disaster it is today because citizens have sat on their thumbs for too long. They don't vote at all, they cast 'protest' votes, or don't bother to research propositions, candidates, or issues. Apathy kills everything.

I disagree as well that the Obama admin. and Dems have disappointed everyone completely. Nothing happens to improve things quickly. Life, again. Unless you are pedaling anarchy it might do more good to change the Dem party from within.

[Gidster]

11:45 PM on 10/21/2010

Nicely stated!

[Suzie12]

01:35 PM on 10/21/2010

Yay! I'm in this! It feels good to stand up for Democratic candidates in Arizona. Gabrielle Giffords impresses me each time I hear her speak. She is knowledgeable, passionate, forceful, but never rude like her Tea Party challenger.

Go Giffords! We need to clean up Arizona and get rid of the ignorant and destructive Republicans in our state.

[Exemplar Gnosis]

01:55 PM on 10/21/2010

Suzie12! You grass-roots-real-person-voter-activist, you! Excellent! America needs more people like you, who will put it on the line. Thank you.

[seeksthetruth]

03:26 PM on 10/21/2010

Yep! You have my sympathies for living in McCain/Kyl country.

Fan #3.

[Suzie12]

04:39 PM on 10/21/2010

Thank you! We are doing all we can, as often as we can, to fight against the Tea Party, their corporate sponsors and the Rethugs.

Wishing you a progressive win on November 2nd, wherever you are!

[Harvee Wallbanger]

01:03 PM on 10/21/2010

Great message.