Tom Matzzie is a strategist on U.S. elections, campaigns and the media. He is former Washington Director of MoveOn.org Political Action.

Blog Entries by Tom Matzzie

Obama's Visit to Section 60 Reminds America of War Dead -- Again

1 Comments | Posted November 11, 2009 | 05:32 PM (EST)


Two weeks ago on October 29 President Obama made a middle-of-the-night visit to Dover Air Force base to greet the caskets of America’s most recent war dead returning from Afghanistan. The president’s visit, recorded on news video and by press photographers, thrust the sadness of the war onto the...

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Obama's Dover Salute Is an Iconic Image of His Presidency

962 Comments | Posted October 29, 2009 | 09:14 AM (EST)


We woke up this morning with images on cable news and the Internet of President Obama solemnly saluting as the casket of a fallen soldier was carried in honor from a C-17 in Dover back home into the United States. The president, through his visit, brought a national spotlight...

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Meet Wall Street's Man in the Adirondacks

5 Comments | Posted October 28, 2009 | 12:16 PM (EST)


A funny thing is happening in upstate New York right now. The collusion between the grassroots populist anger of the “teabaggers” and the more elitist pro-Wall Street agenda of the Club for Growth is being unmasked all at once--just in time for Halloween.

Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman is either...

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Take the "Opt Out" Public Option--Good Policy, Politics

75 Comments | Posted October 9, 2009 | 11:15 AM (EST)


In recent days a proposal has emerged in Senate discussions over health care reform legislation. The idea is an adaptation of the much-debated Public Option proposal that would create a government-backed insurance choice for consumers trying to buy coverage.

In this new proposal, called the “Opt Out,” individual...

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Notre Dame is Right to Welcome Obama

Posted March 25, 2009 | 10:17 AM (EST)


In the last few days a handful of "agents of intolerance" have piped up to criticize the University of Notre Dame for inviting President Obama to address commencement this Spring.

FOX contributor Newt Gingrich even twittered it writing, "It is sad to see Notre Dame invite president...

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Two Lessons From An Anti-War'rior

Posted March 19, 2009 | 04:12 PM (EST)


For three years I led big efforts to end the war in Iraq with MoveOn.org and also freestanding campaigns on the war known as Iraq Summer and Americans Against Escalation in Iraq.

In the end, with collaborators like Nita Chaudhary, Tara McGuinness, Eli Pariser and others, we probably...

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What Obama's Win Means

Posted November 4, 2008 | 10:39 PM (EST)


Lincoln's reelection meant the union was worth fighting for. Franklin Roosevelt's was a rejection of Hoover's conservatism. Kennedy marked a new era in politics. Reagan marked the ascendancy of the conservative movement.

But what does the election of Barack Obama mean?

Books and doctoral thesis will be written on the...

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How McCain Will Steal the Election from Obama (Sort Of)

Posted October 12, 2008 | 01:53 PM (EST)


Imagine an election where one of the participants calls foul. Investigations are launched or at least called for. Prosecutors raise the specter of charges, the U.S. attorney and FBI get involved. No voter fraud is ever actually found. But by the time that conclusion is reached, the myth has been...

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Memo to Right-Wing Donors -- This is Who You're Getting in Bed With

Posted August 15, 2008 | 04:38 PM (EST)


M E M O R A N D U M

To: Conservative and Republican Donors

From: Tom Matzzie, Accountable America

Date: August 15, 2008

Re: Mixed Nuts -- who you're getting in bed with

I thought I'd write you in this format that you might be more familiar with to...

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Alarming Gains for Big Oil Need a Response

Posted July 14, 2008 | 05:12 PM (EST)


News that President Bush is teaming up with the oil companies to push for a big fight over offshore drilling shouldn't surprise anybody. This is a fight that the oil companies and Republicans have been preparing for. Bush needs to win a fight both to boost himself and John McCain....

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John McCain's Lobbyists (the list)

Posted May 19, 2008 | 04:39 PM (EST)


Listening to the McCain campaign talk about lobbyists over the last few days I was reminded of that scene from Casablanca between Rick and Captain Renault. Renault expresses faux outrage over gambling.

Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault...
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How John McCain Can Rescue the Republican Party

Posted May 12, 2008 | 12:55 PM (EST)


The winds of change have brought Democrats a big advantage in the races for the White House, U.S. House and Senate in 2008. The opportunity for the emergence of a governing Democratic majority is unprecedented.

Democrats have the Republicans to thank for this historic opening in 2008. The...

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