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

Sun Jan 17 15:36:19 EST 2016

Daniel,

I think the "loophole" is that Moveon.org used their list to send a message
from the candidate to their members. The use of resources isn't an outright
endorsement, as it doesn't directly come from Moveon.org. They are relaying
the message of a candidate directed at the members of their list, implying
their endorsement without explicitly endorsing Sanders.

I agree with Kevin that we should strongly consider operating within the
grey areas, so long as we don't violate or principles in doing so.

Bottom line: The message flirts with the line between a campaign and an
independent organization, not violating the law requiring separation. It
certainly flies in the face of the spirit of the law and gives the
impression of endorsement to most who don't understand the "inside
baseball" that we do, nor the nuance of how it was arranged.

Just my thoughts,

Brett C. Bittner

Region 3 Alternate
Libertarian National Committee

**This message sent from my phone. Please excuse any typos.
On Jan 17, 2016 14:38, "Kevin Ludlow" <ludlow at gmail.com> wrote:

> Mr. Wiener,
>
> I've definitely followed these kinds of emails for some time.  I don't
> know that it's a loophole at all.  I think it's quite clearly defined (and
> I don't know the language verbatim or anything) that the candidate and the
> organization are separate here.  One might suggest they're conflated, but
> the paper trail would quite clearly argue the opposite.
>
> I've suggested strategies like this to people in Texas time and again.
> There are lots of structures that can be used to raise money entirely in
> accordance with the law.  Many of these structures are separate from the
> candidate and therefore not subjected to certain laws and regulations.
>
> I've commonly heard back things like: "that's clearly not the spirit of
> the arrangement" (as if the Libertarian Party of all groups should be
> concerned with state-driven financial rules).  I've also heard: "we don't
> want to do the paperwork" (which is more along the lines of what I would
> expect to hear).  I'm sure there are many, many other views, but those are
> two that I've commonly heard from people when I've made similar mention of
> these entities.
>
> So to your question, yes, I believe there are a number of political /
> non-profit / corporate definitions that could be used to better the
> position of the LP and LP candidates.  I would love to see us examine them
> for the benefit of state parties and candidates.  If there is a way for the
> LP to hire an accountant to examine the possibility of such ideas for our
> candidates, I would support pursuing that as a goal.  Anything that gives
> our candidates more and the government less is a-okay in my book :)
>
> Kevin Ludlow
> Region 7 Rep
> 512-773-3968
>
> On Sun, Jan 17, 2016 at 1:24 PM, Daniel Wiener <wiener at alum.mit.edu>
> wrote:
>
>> 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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>>
>>
>
>
> --
> ========================================================
> Kevin Ludlow
> 512-773-3968
> http://www.kevinludlow.com
>
>
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