Dear MoveOn member,

Today could be the day when President Obama decides if he'll stand with homeowners or with the big Wall Street banks behind the housing crisis.

We need to keep the pressure on the president to launch a full federal investigation now, and not to give into the banks' demand for a sweetheart settlement deal. 

Can you make a phone call to the president right now demanding an investigation?

White House comment line: 202-456-1111

Then, please report your call by clicking here:
http://pol.moveon.org/call?cp_id=1707&tg=704&id=35007-19144672-k5hDT%3Dx&t=3

Over the weekend, more than 70,000 people added their names to the petition asking President Obama to open a federal investigation into the Wall Street banks behind the housing crash. That makes more than 430,000 Americans demanding that the president stand for homeowners, not Big Banks.

If someone robbed your house, you wouldn't just let them hand you $10 and walk away. You'd want to know how much they stole, get it back, and make sure they answered for their crime. The big Wall Street banks are asking us to just forgive and forget—in exchange for a fine that amounts to a slap on the wrist—by trying to settle before there's a full investigation of their wrongdoing during the housing crisis.¹

A federal investigation is the only way we'll know the real scope of the problem. And for that, we need the president to take action. So show the president where you stand: for a full investigation of Wall Street banks.

White House comment line: 202-456-1111

Then, please report your call by clicking here:
http://pol.moveon.org/call?cp_id=1707&tg=704&id=35007-19144672-k5hDT%3Dx&t=5

Thanks for all you do.

–Elena, Stephen, Ryan, Sarah, and the rest of the team

P.S. Check out this great video, where Robert Reich explains the need for an investigation in two minutes.

Source:

1. "HUD secretary: Mortgage settlement deal 'very close,'" USA Today, January 18, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269652&id=35007-19144672-k5hDT%3Dx&t=7

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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 Charles Lenchner on January 23, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

From: Garlin Gilchrist II, MoveOn.org Political Action [mailto:moveon-help@list.moveon.org]
Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2012 11:49 AM
To: Charles Lenchner
Subject: The blackout worked

Share This Victory!

Dear MoveOn member,

Wednesday's Internet blackout was historic because of your activism and the millions of others who spoke out strongly against Internet censorship.¹ Our voices were heard loud and clear through major media coverage of the blackout. 

What did we accomplish? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid indefinitely postponed this coming Tuesday's vote on the Internet censorship bill in the Senate, the PROTECT IP Act.²

Ten million people spoke out online to reject Internet censorship and drowned out the lobbyists who thought they could get whatever bill they wanted passed only a few months ago.³ Wednesday proved that the energy, enthusiasm, and influence of real people contacting Congress is stronger than anything lobbyist money can buy.

This week's Internet blackout was a success, but there's more work to do. As long as these Internet censorship bills are being considered, we'll keep fighting. Stay tuned.

Thanks for all you do.

–Garlin, Eli, Ryan, Elena, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Sopa support drops off as blackout protest rattles the internet," The Guardian, January 18, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269646&id=34956-19144672-okiYXJx&t=3

2. "SOPA, PIPA votes to be delayed in House and Senate," The Washington Post, January 20, 2012 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269670&id=34956-19144672-okiYXJx&t=4

3. "Largest online protest in history—January 18," SOPA STRIKE, January 19, 2012 
http://sopastrike.com/numbers/

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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 Charles Lenchner on January 21, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Dear MoveOn member,

Two years ago this week, the Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United that corporations have the constitutional right to spend unlimited money influencing our elections.

Since then we've seen a massive wave of corporate cash, super-PACs, and secret spending flood our democracy. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent to influence elections and we have no clue which corporations are behind it.

There are two big things President Obama could do right now that would start to turn the tide: 1) He could sign an executive order to require corporations that do business with the government to disclose their political spending right away for this election, and 2) he could declare his strong support for a constitutional amendment to get big money out of politics permanently. 

Will you sign a petition to call on the president to take both steps and confront corporate influence over our democracy head-on?

Click here to add your name to the petition calling on the president to act immediately.

Our goal is to deliver as many petitions as possible before the State of the Union address next week. Two years ago the president criticized Citizens United during the State of the Union. Now he has the chance to take action.

The executive order has already been drafted by his advisers and news reports say the president is considering it right now.¹ The order would immediately end the secrecy that so many companies can exploit currently. Many of the biggest corporations in the world are government contractors for defense, telecommunications, technology, and more. All told, companies that could be affected by the order—including giant corporations like Halliburton, Verizon, Chevron, and more—employ 22 percent of the American workforce.²

And by weighing in with his support for a constitutional amendment, President Obama could help bring the Citizens United ruling itself front and center during the election, put politicians who disagree on the defensive, and potentially fast-track the amendment process.

Four out five Americans support passing a constitutional amendment.³ All over the country progressives are organizing at the local level to get one passed.⁴ Members of Congress are even starting to take action.

The next big step is for the president to take a stand.

Click here to add your name to the petition calling on the president to act immediately.

Thanks for all you do.

–Robin, Elena, Stephen, Milan, and the rest of the team

P.S. You can also check out the great new Robert Reich video about Citizens United from our friends at Common Cause here.

Sources:

1. "Will Obama Issue an Order Exposing Big Corporate Political Spenders in Citizens United Era?," Alternet, January 10, 2012.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269582&id=34931-19144672-nWXzJgx&t=6

2. Ibid.

3. "Survey Shows Strong Support for Amendment Overturning Citizens United," American Constitution Society, January 21, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269653&id=34931-19144672-nWXzJgx&t=7

4. "How Cities and States are Sticking It to Citizens United," Yes! January 5, 2012.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269657&id=34931-19144672-nWXzJgx&t=8

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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 Charles Lenchner on January 20, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Dear MoveOn member,

Imagine Mitt Romney in the White House. Tea party Republicans still in control of Congress. No Obama to veto their worst bills.

The election is months away, but this scenario could definitely happen, and here's a big reason why: voter suppression laws passed by Republicans in battleground states to make it as hard as possible for students, poor people, African-Americans, and Latinos to vote. 

Already, Wisconsin, Florida, and Ohio have passed laws to restrict voter registration drives, end early voting, or require voters to present photo IDs at the polls.¹ And now Republicans are scrambling to pass laws in virtually every other key battleground state to make it harder to vote in 2012.

These laws shamelessly target key segments of the Obama coalition from 2008, including first-time voters, poor people, and people of color, and could easily tip a close election to Mitt Romney or whoever the Republican nominee is. We're looking at Florida in 2000 all over again.

The good news is that Attorney General Eric Holder has used the Voting Rights Act to block one of the worst GOP voter suppression laws in South Carolina. But the election won't be decided in South Carolina—and to protect every vote Holder needs to keep going.

It'll be a huge fight with Republicans, and with the election approaching, we don't have much time. So we're aiming to raise at least $150,000 this week to launch an emergency grassroots campaign for voting rights. Can you chip in $5?

Yes, I can give $5 to help stop the GOP attack on voting rights.

Here's our plan: First, we'll team up with the leading voting rights groups in each state—great organizations like the Advancement Project, who have top-notch expertise in the policy but who don't have the grassroots network that MoveOn has.

Then, MoveOn will organize events to deliver petitions calling out the Republican legislators behind these despicable attacks on voting rights, swamp their phone lines, and show Attorney General Holder that if they refuse to back down, we'll be right there with him. 

Voting is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy. But Republicans know that if they can shave off even 1-2% of turnout among these key voting blocs, it'll be enough to tip the scales in race after race. 

These laws are a major attack on voting rights. Nationwide, 21 million eligible voters lack the kinds of photo ID required by these laws.² And especially if you're elderly, poor, or a student, it's not easy to jump through the hoops required by these laws.

Take Joy Lieberman of Missouri. She's 80 years old and has been voting for 60 years. But now she won't be able to vote because her birth certificate does not list her middle name. Or Larry Butler, who was born in 1926 in South Carolina, when birth certificates often were not issued to black Americans. Now, it would cost Mr. Butler $150 to get the documents required by South Carolina's voter suppression law.³

The 2012 election is coming up fast, so we don't have much time. Can you chip in $5?

Yes, I can give $5 to help stop the GOP attack on voting rights.

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Anna, Adam Q., Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Voter Identification Requirements," National Conference of State Legislatures, January 9, 2012
http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16602

2. "Voting Law Changes in 2012," Brennan Center for Justice, October 3, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268598&id=34706-19144672-Kyj5Nnx&t=4

3. "Democracy Under Assault: The Truth About Voter Disenfranchisement Laws," Advancement Project, accessed December 6, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268596&id=34706-19144672-Kyj5Nnx&t=5 [PDF]

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

This email was sent to Charles Lenchner on January 13, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Dear MoveOn member,

In just 3 days, more than 200,000 people have signed our petition asking President Obama to "hold Wall Street banks accountable by fully investigating the Big Bank fraud that caused the housing crisis." Next Thursday, January 19, we'll deliver these petitions to local Obama campaign offices so that he uses his power to make Wall Street pay. 

Despite wrecking our economy and harming millions of Americans, Wall Street still hasn't had to account for its actions. Adding insult to injury, although Big Banks foreclosed on nearly 350,000 homes over the past few months,¹ banks are set to give out a whopping $156 billion in compensation this year, including executive bonuses.² 

President Obama has a choice to make: Let the banks off the hook or order a full federal investigation into bank practices during the housing crisis. President Obama has referenced FDR's famous quote before: "You've convinced me. Now go out and make me do it." Can you help "make him do it" by hosting an event in front of your local OFA campaign office?

Yes, I can organize an event!

The president has the power to order this investigation today and start the year off right. Emboldened by the energy of the 99% movement, he recently bucked the GOP and Wall Street to appoint Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Now we need President Obama to keep fighting to bring Wall Street to justice. 

On January 19—just five days before his State of the Union address—we'll gather to deliver our petitions in front of Obama's campaign offices in all 50 states for "Yes He Can?" events. We'll call on President Obama to stand strong with the 99% and make sure Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, and other Big Banks are held accountable. 

Can you host a "Yes He Can?" event to ask the president to use his power to make Wall Street pay?

Click here to host!

Hosting an event is powerful and easy. You'll get all the materials you need and access to the petitions from MoveOn members for the delivery. If you don't have an office near by, that's OK—just hold the event outside of the nearest Wall Street bank branch—then, mail in the petitions.

Thanks for all you do.

–Elena, Robin, Peter, Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Home foreclosures jump in third quarter," Reuters, December 21, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269265&id=34675-19144672-C2nGDCx&t=5

2. "Report: Big Bank Bonuses in 2011," New Bottom Line, accessed January 10, 2012
http://www.newbottomline.com/report_big_bank_bonuses_in_2011

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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 Charles Lenchner on January 12, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Dear MoveOn member,

In just 3 days, more than 200,000 people have signed our petition asking President Obama to "hold Wall Street banks accountable by fully investigating the Big Bank fraud that caused the housing crisis." Next Thursday, January 19, we'll deliver these petitions to local Obama campaign offices so that he uses his power to make Wall Street pay. 

Despite wrecking our economy and harming millions of Americans, Wall Street still hasn't had to account for its actions. Adding insult to injury, although Big Banks foreclosed on nearly 350,000 homes over the past few months,¹ banks are set to give out a whopping $156 billion in compensation this year, including executive bonuses.² 

President Obama has a choice to make: Let the banks off the hook or order a full federal investigation into bank practices during the housing crisis. President Obama has referenced FDR's famous quote before: "You've convinced me. Now go out and make me do it." Can you help "make him do it" by hosting an event in front of your local OFA campaign office?

Yes, I can organize an event!

The president has the power to order this investigation today and start the year off right. Emboldened by the energy of the 99% movement, he recently bucked the GOP and Wall Street to appoint Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Now we need President Obama to keep fighting to bring Wall Street to justice. 

On January 19—just five days before his State of the Union address—we'll gather to deliver our petitions in front of Obama's campaign offices in all 50 states for "Yes He Can?" events. We'll call on President Obama to stand strong with the 99% and make sure Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, and other Big Banks are held accountable. 

Can you host a "Yes He Can?" event to ask the president to use his power to make Wall Street pay?

Click here to host!

Hosting an event is powerful and easy. You'll get all the materials you need and access to the petitions from MoveOn members for the delivery. If you don't have an office near by, that's OK—just hold the event outside of the nearest Wall Street bank branch—then, mail in the petitions.

Thanks for all you do.

–Elena, Robin, Peter, Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Home foreclosures jump in third quarter," Reuters, December 21, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269265&id=34607-19144672-1784shx&t=4

2. "Report: Big Bank Bonuses in 2011," New Bottom Line, accessed January 10, 2012
http://www.newbottomline.com/report_big_bank_bonuses_in_2011

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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 Charles Lenchner on January 10, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Dear MoveOn member,

Last Wednesday, President Obama stood up to Wall Street by appointing Richard Cordray as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. For months, Republicans have been blocking the appointment, and Obama's action will finally allow the agency to get to work.

Now, President Obama has a choice to make: whether or not to order a full federal investigation into bank practices during the housing crisis. 

Progressive attorneys general have temporarily blocked a sweetheart deal that would have given broad immunity to the banks.¹ Now, the president can decide whether or not to move forward with a full federal investigation that would hold the banks accountable.

The president has the power to order this investigation today and start the year off right. It's up to us to make sure he hears loud and clear that progressives are counting on him to continue taking bold and immediate actions to help the 99%.

Can you sign the petition calling on the president to order a full federal investigation today? Click below to add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/bankfraud?id=34566-19144672-zjwnl9x&t=2

Who was hurt by the greed of Wall Street's 1%? Fellow MoveOn members like Eleanor J., who was sold a high-interest subprime loan even though she qualified for a safer one. Now she is struggling to make payments after her home lost over a third of its value. 

There are plenty of examples of Wall Street banks pushing bad loans on unsuspecting homeowners and lying about the value and risk of mortgage-backed securities.² But without an investigation, we can't hold them truly accountable for the $7 trillion they cost the global economy, and homeowners can't get fair compensation.³

The president has the power to order a full investigation. Can you help send him a strong message today?

Click here to tell President Obama to launch a full federal investigation into the Wall Street banks and the housing crisis, and insist on a fair deal for homeowners.

Thanks for all you do.

–Elena, Stephen, Milan, Lenore, and the rest of the team 

Sources:

1. "California breaks from 50-state probe into mortgage lenders," The Los Angeles Times, September 30, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=265918&id=34566-19144672-zjwnl9x&t=4

2. "Massachusetts AG Lawsuit: Five Major U.S. Banks Accused of Deceptive Foreclosure Practices," The Huffington Post, January 6, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269126&id=34566-19144672-zjwnl9x&t=5

3. "U.S. Subprime Crisis Costs World $7.7 Trillion Dollars," The Huffington Post, February 15, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263403&id=34566-19144672-zjwnl9x&t=6

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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 Charles Lenchner on January 9, 2012. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.