FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        Contact: Robert Pérez, Simon Aronoff, Jenny Park

Wednesday, September 3, 2003        Fenton Communications, 415-901-0111

MoveOn.org PAC Launches “Recall No, Democracy Yes” Campaign in California

Leading Progressive Group Says Recall Is the Latest Example of Republican Leadership Efforts to Undermine Democracy;

Sets Goal of One Million On-Line Pledges to Vote “No” on the Recall

Wednesday, September 3, 2003—MoveOn.org PAC, the leading Web-based organizer of progressive action, announced a campaign today challenging one million California voters to sign an on-line pledge to vote “no” on the recall ballot in California. Criticizing the recall as the latest example of efforts by the national Republican leadership to undermine democracy, the Internet group that has proven online activists can also be on-the-ground organizers is now throwing its weight into the anti-recall movement.

“California voters should stand up for democracy – by rejecting the recall in California,” urged MoveOn.org co-founder Joan Blades. “Unless we put an end to this disturbing trend that began with the campaign to impeach President Clinton, the Republican leadership will continue to manipulate the legitimate outcome of elections. Nothing less than democracy is at stake.”

Noting broad opposition to the California recall by MoveOn members, Blades added, “MoveOn members – across the political spectrum – have begun to connect the dots from Florida to Texas to California and what they’re seeing is a very alarming trend.” 

To kickoff the campaign, MoveOn.org PAC (www.moveonpac.org) contacted its 1.5 million nationwide members (including 330,000 in California) and challenged them to:

§         Sign the pledge to vote “no” on the recall (if they vote in California);

§         Sign up online for community meetings to organize others against the recall;

§         Telephone California voters as part of the largest political phone-bank effort ever; and

§         Produce and distribute leaflets and posters on the streets of California.

The “Recall No, Democracy Yes” campaign is part of the organization’s broader efforts to counter a pattern by the Republican leadership to manipulate democratic processes for their own gain.

“Impeachment. Florida and the 2000 Election. Redistricting in Texas. The California Recall. The pattern could not be clearer: When they don’t win elections fair and square, the Republican leadership goes to extreme lengths to overturn the democratic will of voters. Consider this: The recall effort for Gov. Davis was put into action three months after Davis was voted into office by a majority of the voters,” said Zack Exley, MoveOn.org’s organizing director.

Just over a month before the recall election, polls and public opinion about the recall have fluctuated. A recent poll by the Los Angeles Times found that nearly half of all respondents now oppose the recall, regardless of their approval of Gov. Davis.

“MoveOn has fired up the grassroots and the message that they’re going to bring to this battle is very clear:  This recall is part of a larger movement to either undo elections or grab political power,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer.  “We’ve seen it before and we have to stop it in California.” 

Sen. Boxer added, “MoveOn’s involvement is a major development in this fight to beat the recall.”

Some comments from MoveOn.org members about the California recall include:

“What they can’t win at the ballot box, they steal with anti-democratic tricks.  They have the money, they buy the election.”

“I see this as a ‘right-wing’ attempt to steal yet another legitimate election.”

“I feel that the California recall is simply a national strategy to increase the Republican majority through any crack or loophole the system will offer. Texas comes to mind as another approach to monopolize representation…”

“It seems like a waste of money. We are already in debt and this is not helping. We need to focus on important issues rather than on the Hollywood recall.”

To listen to a REPLAY of Wednesday’s telephone press conference DIAL 888-562-6197.  Replay audio of this call will be available until Friday, September 5th at 12:00 AM (PT).

For more information, visit: www.moveonpac.org. 

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