Stamp big money out of politics

Dear MoveOn member,

This is Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream—but today I’m writing about something that leaves a foul taste in my mouth: money in politics.

Jeb Bush has raised so much money that he’s told his billionaire donors to give no more than $1 million now and save the rest for later—and he’s going to let his Super PAC run his campaign.1,2 The billionaire Koch brothers have pledged $100 million to the candidates they support, likely including Governor Scott Walker’s run for president.3,4 While Ted Cruz raised $4 million in a few days, he helped his Super PAC raise $31 million.5 And Hillary Clinton is planning on raising $200-300 million for Super PACs that back her—in addition to $2.5 billion for her own campaign.6

This system is disgusting. It’s proof that our democracy is more awash in political spending than ever. It’s a reminder that the richest 1%, corporations, and their lobbyists are going to own these elections—and that pushes the rest of us to the sidelines.

Fortunately, MoveOn’s 8 million members are doing something about this—and I know, because I’m a MoveOn member, and I see the meaningful, long-term work MoveOn is doing to overturn Citizens United.

Which is why I’m writing today: Will you join me in supporting MoveOn’s efforts to overturn Citizens United and combat its impact? If you donate $10 or more, my friends from MoveOn will send you a stamp that you can use to legally stamp your own dollar bills with this simple message: “Amend the Constitution—Stamp Money Out Of Politics.”

Click here to chip in, join the campaign to overturn Citizens’ United, and help stamp big money out of politics.
MoveOn members have a track record of effective work on these issues.

MoveOn members helped push the Senate to hold a historic vote on a Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United last fall.
MoveOn members were part of the coalition that delivered 5 million signatures calling to overturn Citizens United this January.
Over 100,000 MoveOn members signed petitions, made phone calls, and attended rallies urging President Obama to issue an executive order that all federal contractors must disclose political spending.
And I know that my fellow MoveOn members and I are in this for the long haul—from achieving those executive orders to taking campaign finance reforms to the state level to ultimately bringing a constitutional amendment through Congress and to the nation.

There’s work to be done—and it’s not getting funded by Jeb Bush’s Super PAC.

Will you join me in fueling MoveOn’s work to stamp Big Money out of politics? And if you give 10 bucks or more, I’ll send you your very own stamp so you can spread the message on your own.

Click here to get your stamp—and help stamp Big Money out of politics—with a donation of $10 or more.

I founded the Stamp Stampede because I’ve realized that getting money out of politics is the single most important fight of our generation. Whether you want to break up the big banks, reduce the Pentagon’s budget, or fight climate change, you have to start by reclaiming our democracy.

The Stamp Stampede has grown into a movement of tens of thousands of Americans, stamping dollar bills and circulating important ideas throughout the American economy. The more we can spread the word, the more we can build the movement. Each stamped bill will be seen an average of 875 times; it’s like a petition on steroids!7

So, I’m ready to send you a stamp—and I’m ready to add my own stamp of approval to MoveOn’s work. Let’s not let billionaires have all the fun. This is our country. Let’s stamp out Big Money and take our democracy back.

Click here to let me send you a stamp—just pitch in $10 or more to MoveOn’s ongoing, long-haul work to reclaim our political system.

With you in the fight,

–Ben Cohen, Stamper-in-Chief

P.S. Here’s an example of what a stamped bill looks like:

What do you say? Are you ready to get stamping?

Yes, I’ll chip in $10 or more, get my stamp, and join you and MoveOn in the fight to stamp money out of politics.

Sources:

1. “Jeb Bush asks donors to limit gifts to $1 million,” Morningstar, March 4, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303666&id=&t=3&id=116781-8579559-m5fFYux&t=11

2. “The robots are here: Jeb Bush and the first super PAC-run campaign,” The Washington Post, April 21, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304382&id=116781-8579559-m5fFYux&t=12

3. “Koch-backed network aims to spend nearly $1 billion in run-up to 2016,” The Washington Post, January 26, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304383&id=&id=116781-8579559-m5fFYux&t=13

4. “Scott Walker Is King of Kochworld,” Bloomberg Politics, February 17, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303392&id=&t=2&id=116781-8579559-m5fFYux&t=14

5. “Network of ‘Super PACs’ Says It Has Raised $31 Million for Ted Cruz,” The New York Times, April 8, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304384&id=116781-8579559-m5fFYux&t=15

6. “Hillary Clinton Embraces a ‘Super PAC,’ Trying to Erode a Republican Edge,” The New York Times, May 6, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304385&id=116781-8579559-m5fFYux&t=16

7. The Stamp Stampede, accessed May 12, 2015
http://www.stampstampede.org/pages/build-the-movement

• This topic was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Zooey.