Hi all, Georgia here, Alexi's Director of New Media. Before I started working for Alexi, I was a blogger. I know concern trolling when I see it, and cries about how confronting the influence of corporate money in our election is backfiring for Democrats is concern trolling in its purest form.
This morning, Joan points us to a great piece from Greg Sargent about how Republicans and some beltway insiders are saying that calling out the U.S. Chamber, American Crossroads and Karl Rove for using corporate money to influence our elections is bad politics:
Mark Halperin, for instance, wondered allowed [sic] today: "I'm not sure how this appeals to voters." Halperin then stated this as outright fact: "It's just not relevant to voters."
Republicans are now entering the fray -- and they, too, agree it's a political flop, claiming that it will make Dems look anti-business.
"I'm not sure how this appeals to voters."
I, along with the thousands of volunteers we have on the ground, chat with voters every day. Through phone banking, canvassing, and outreach, we know what "appeals to voters" -- and the broken status quo isn't it.
Voters in Illinois and across the country are fed up with the overwhelming influence of corporate money in our politics, and they're standing with candidates who stand up for reform.
For Alexi Giannoulias, campaign finance reform isn't a fleeting "issue" to be trotted out around Election Day to get votes. It's a core part of his governing philosophy.
It's why from day one, he has refused to take a single dime from corporate PACs or federal lobbyists. It's why he proposed a bold government reform plan that goes farther than almost anything out there.
THIS IS WHAT BUYING AN ELECTION LOOKS LIKE
Alexi's opponent is Congressman Mark Kirk. Yesterday, CNBC called Mark Kirk "Wall Street's favorite GOP candidate on the Hill." Big business can't afford to lose its best friend, which is why the U.S. Chamber is pouring money into this race with huge statewide buys. Here's the breakdown as of this morning:
American Crossroads (Karl Rove): | $3,343,394 |
U.S. Chamber: | $976,218 |
Committee for Truth in Politics: | $472,415 |
New Prosperity Foundation: | $347,680 |
TOTAL AS OF 10/13: | $5,139,707 |
The "Committee for Truth in Politics" refuses to even file a FEC report (they claim it's unconstitutional to disclose its donors). We all know how Crossroads is keeping its donors secret, and the U.S. Chamber refuses to adequately explain how it funds its political attack ads.
MOVEON'S NEW AD CALLS THEM OUT & SENATOR DURBIN CALLS OUT ROVE
MoveOn, in turn, is calling out Mark Kirk and the Chamber in a brilliant ad encouraging Illinois voters to "connect the dots" between Kirk's voting record, the Chamber's funding, and the Chamber's investment in IL-Sen. You can watch the ad here:
And Senator Durbin called out Karl Rove for his tactics this week:
When it comes to low-down campaigning, Karl Rove crawls on his belly like a reptile. He will not disclose who's paying for his ads," Durbin told a group of Giannoulias supporters at a first-day-of-early-voting rally Monday in Chicago.
Clean elections don't just "appeal to voters." It's what voters deserve.
It's why Alexi's in this fight, and it's why he needs your help.
Can you help us fight back against the Chamber, Karl Rove and Mark Kirk by chipping in $5 today? You can help us out on ActBlue here.
Thanks for helping us keep up the momentum.
Update [2010-10-13 15:45:4 by Alexi for Illinois]:: MoveOn.org just broke the news that they've named Alexi one of their Progressive Heroes!:
The closest Senate race in the country right now is for President Obama's old Senate seat in Illinois. This race is such a top priority that we've named Alexi Giannoulias as one of our Progressive Heroes. Alexi is running a populist campaign focused on taking on the corporate special interests and cleaning up Washington, D.C -- and he's promised to start and lead a new Senate Progressive Caucus.
Help MoveOn reach its goal for Alexi by giving what you can over at their special "Save the Senate" page.