[Lnc-business] Coordination between Bernie Sanders and MoveOn PAC

Sun Jan 17 14:24:14 EST 2016

I'm very curious about an email I received yesterday, and I'm wondering if
anyone has any opinions about it.  It was from MoveOn.org (I'm on their
mailing list to keep track of what they're doing).  It is a fundraising
pitch *directly from Bernie Sanders*, but at the bottom it says that
it's *"PAID
FOR BY MOVEON.ORG <http://MOVEON.ORG> POLITICAL ACTION,
http://pol.moveon.org/ <http://pol.moveon.org/>. Not authorized by any
candidate or candidate's committee."*

On the surface that would seem to be a pretty blatant violation of the
current law against coordination between candidates and independent
expenditure committees.  Is there some loophole that I'm not aware of, and
if so is it something that could be useful to the LP and our candidates in
the future?  Alternately, is Bernie Sanders and/or MoveOn.org in big
trouble with the FEC?

Dan Wiener

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bernie Sanders <moveon-help at list.moveon.org>
Date: Sat, Jan 16, 2016 at 11:03 AM
Subject: 15 days until Iowa
To: Daniel Wiener <wiener at alum.mit.edu>

here are just 15 days until Iowa, and a new poll from the Des Moines
Register has us within two points.

Hi Daniel—There are just 15 days until Iowa, and a new poll from* The Des
Moines Register* has us within two points.

*Chip in $3 now to support the work of MoveOn and our campaign as we work
to win Iowa, win the Democratic nomination, win the White House, and take
back our country from the billionaire class.
<https://act.moveon.org/donate/lets-go-bernie?suggested_ask=3&t=1&akid=161070.3001909.bnB40d>*
—Bernie
------------------------------

Daniel—

For many months, I have been traveling from coast to coast across our
country, and I've had the opportunity to meet with thousands of good,
hard-working, and remarkable people. Like you and me, they are deeply
concerned about the future of our country.

They wonder why they are working longer hours for lower wages. They worry
about whether their kids will be able to afford college or get decent jobs.
They fear that they may not have the savings to retire with dignity and
security.

The challenges facing our country are enormous. That's why I decided to run
for president—and *why I am so humbled to have earned the overwhelming
endorsement of MoveOn's members for our campaign.*

I want to be clear about something: This campaign is not about Bernie
Sanders. It's about a grassroots movement of Americans standing up and
saying: "Enough is enough. This country and our government belong to all of
us, not just a handful of billionaires."

So I want to welcome you to our political revolution, because our movement
needs people like you involved to help it succeed. *Can you contribute to
support the critical work of MoveOn.org and our campaign?*

*Chip in $3 now to help our campaign and MoveOn.org work to win the
Democratic nomination, win the White House, and take back our country from
the billionaire class.
<https://act.moveon.org/donate/lets-go-bernie?suggested_ask=3&t=2&akid=161070.3001909.bnB40d>*

For 17 years, MoveOn and its members like you have brought together people
to fight for progressive change and stand up against big money interests.

Like me, you opposed the Iraq War from the beginning. We have fought
together to protect Social Security and Medicare from the hands of the
billionaire class. You and I have both worked hard to protect women's
access to abortion and reproductive health care in the face of Republican
attacks. We have stood side by side against the Koch Brothers and worked to
overturn the disastrous *Citizens United* decision by the Supreme Court.

And now we will stand together as the first voters help choose our next
president starting in just a few weeks. I am so glad to have MoveOn members
by our side once more.

I run not to oppose any man or woman, but to propose new and far-reaching
policies to deal with the crises of our times. And I run because I know we
must change course now, or risk losing the future for so many to the
interests of so few.

For forty years, the middle class has been disappearing. Most of all new
income is going to the top 1%, and the grotesque level of wealth and income
inequality today is worse than at any time since the late 1920s. Women earn
only 79 cents on the dollar for doing the same work as a man. The people at
the top are grabbing all the new wealth and income for themselves, and the
rest of America is being squeezed and left behind. The billionaire class
has rigged the system by using their super PACs to buy politicians and
elections.

*A successful national campaign is a massive undertaking, especially when
we will be heavily outspent.* It will require the active participation of
millions of Americans in every community in our country. In fact, it will
require nothing less than a political revolution which combats the
demoralization and alienation of so many of our people from the political
process.

We are at a moment of truth. We need to face up to the reality of where we
are as a nation, and we need a mass movement of people to fight for change.

Democrats will win the 2016 presidential election if massive numbers of
voters turn out, including voters who too often sit out on Election Day.
Our campaign, backed by millions of active supporters, is the best chance
for winning the White House.

*If we all chip in, there's no limit to what we can accomplish together.
Click here to contribute $3 to support the work of MoveOn and our campaign
as we elect our next president.
<https://act.moveon.org/donate/lets-go-bernie?suggested_ask=3&t=3&akid=161070.3001909.bnB40d>*

Once again, thank you for your endorsement. Let's get to work for our
country.

In solidarity,

Bernie Sanders
------------------------------

*Want to support our work? *The average contribution from a supporter like
you affords the Bernie Sanders campaign nearly two extra hours of work from
a field organizer who can mobilize about ten volunteers at a single canvass
or phone bank. And now, MoveOn.org is joining the effort. With your help,
we will mobilize our people power aggressively and help put Bernie Sanders
over the top. Click here to chip in.
<https://act.moveon.org/donate/lets-go-bernie?t=4&akid=161070.3001909.bnB40d>
------------------------------

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not
authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

This email was sent to Daniel Wiener on January 16th, 2016. To change your
email address or update your contact info, click here
<https://act.moveon.org/me/update/?akid=161070.3001909.bnB40d&mailing_id=161070&source=mailing-footer&t=5>.
To opt out of "MoveOn for Bernie" emails, click here
<http://act.moveon.org/survey/optout-moveon-bernie-emails-short/?akid=161070.3001909.bnB40d&mailing_id=161070&source=mailing-footer&t=6>.
To remove yourself from the MoveOn.org list, click here.
<https://act.moveon.org/unsubscribe/unsubscribe/?akid=161070.3001909.bnB40d&mailing_id=161070&source=mailing-footer&t=7>
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