"Imagine if MoveOn disappeared?" That's the warning in a shocking new E-mail from the left-leaning organizing group that has done so much since 1998 to elect Democratic candidates like President Obama.
Executive Director Justin Ruben suggests that the activist group could go belly-up if supporters don't raise $400,000, and fast.
"Imagine if MoveOn disappeared and the work so many people do through MoveOn stopped happening altogether. Not to get technical, but it would be bad. To avoid that—to keep MoveOn going and growing—costs money, even though we keep our staff small and work from home to keep overhead low. Right now, to make ends meet, we need to raise $400,000 by the end of the year," writes Ruben.
"That's not a lot—in fact if every MoveOn member gave just 5 cents, we'd be all set. If every MoveOn member gave a few dollars, it would cover our budget for years," he adds.
Even a shrunken MoveOn would be a blow to Democrats in the upcoming 2012 elections. The group has a strong record of conducting voter education campaigns and running provocative ads.
Here is Ruben's E-mail:
Dear MoveOn member,
Between work or school, and paying the bills, and taking out the trash, and checking out that new XBox/trashy novel/cookbook/finger painting set, you probably don't think about MoveOn too much.
When you do, you probably think we send you too much email. Almost everyone thinks we do (except my mother-in-law, God bless her).
But you're probably also glad for the work that gets done thanks to all those emails. Glad that whenever the Republicans come after working Americans, MoveOn members are there fighting back. That whenever a proud progressive like Elizabeth Warren comes under attack, we stick up for them. That every day, MoveOn is a channel for millions of people to speak truth to the powerful—Republican OR Democrat.
Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, we're a rapid response progressive political alarm system. Sure, sometimes you just click delete. But imagine if MoveOn disappeared and the work so many people do through MoveOn stopped happening altogether.
Not to get technical, but it would be bad.
To avoid that—to keep MoveOn going and growing—costs money, even though we keep our staff small and work from home to keep overhead low. Right now, to make ends meet, we need to raise $400,000 by the end of the year.
That's not a lot—in fact if every MoveOn member gave just 5 cents, we'd be all set. If every MoveOn member gave a few dollars, it would cover our budget for years.
Sadly though, not everyone can. Too many MoveOn members are unemployed, or have seen their hours or benefits cut, or are having health problems—and really truly can't afford anything.
So if you're blessed enough this holiday season to have a few bucks in your pocket, please chip in to keep MoveOn fighting hard for the issues we all care about. And if you can afford it, kick in a couple extra to cover some folks who are hurting.
At the end of the day, MoveOn is its members—we're a platform for millions of people from all walks of life who take time out of busy lives to fight for what's right. Please donate $5 so we can keep being there for every important fight in 2012.
Thanks for all you do,
–Justin and the rest of the team
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