moveon.org - nothing but partisan hacks?
Pepe Silvia
Posts: 3,758
i went to a community forum the other night hosted by moveon.org. it was supposed to be about reclaiming democracy and how to battle corporate influence in politics....the only problem is they seemed only focused on republicans or democrats that didn't support Obama.
An older lady who used to be a sociology professor brought up Obama and how she feels he hasn't been following through on several of his promises and how do we make sure he is hearing our voice and doing what he told us he'd do? the moderator wanted nothing to do with it and said "that's not really what we do here, we fully support President Obama" and people started to mumble when this lady pushed it a little further saying she voted for him and isn't trying to make this an anti-Obama rally but she feels he shouldn't get any special treatment and then more people started mumbling and suggested she go to a tea party rally.
feeling bad for this woman i raised my hand and said it does seem somewhat hypocritical to hold a forum on corporate influence in politics while so blindly supporting the politician that took more corporate money than anyone last election cycle. more sighs and mumbles and i was told i can bring that up when we split up in groups.
so, we split up in 3 groups and supposedly everyone is to be given an equal amount of time. naturally the leader of my group picks the person next to to go first so i end up being last. finally it's my turn and some people had asked how they even find out what politicians are taking corporate money so i give them the opensecrets.org address then say i think 1 of the biggest problems with politics is there's no accountability for politicians, no one demands it unless it's the other party....that took maybe 30-45 seconds to say and the lady next to me, who was the 1st to go, started moving her hand in a sign to mean hurry it up. i ask her to please not do that as she spoke for a long time and no one did anything like that to her. she gets all angry and says "no, because i'm not going to let you sit here and do this!" do what, talk about holding ALL elected representatives accountable to their campaign promises? she rolls her eyes and says it's obvious i came here just to attack Obama and why am i even there?? i try to say because accountability and corporate influence isn't a partisan issue but she wasn't having any of it and then more people started talking and then the leader of the group declares we've now heard from everyone and it's time to move on.
it was pushed as a forum to hear what the public thinks and to discuss ideas but in reality it was just a big fucking pep rally for how awesome democrats are
:thumbdown: :thumbdown:
An older lady who used to be a sociology professor brought up Obama and how she feels he hasn't been following through on several of his promises and how do we make sure he is hearing our voice and doing what he told us he'd do? the moderator wanted nothing to do with it and said "that's not really what we do here, we fully support President Obama" and people started to mumble when this lady pushed it a little further saying she voted for him and isn't trying to make this an anti-Obama rally but she feels he shouldn't get any special treatment and then more people started mumbling and suggested she go to a tea party rally.
feeling bad for this woman i raised my hand and said it does seem somewhat hypocritical to hold a forum on corporate influence in politics while so blindly supporting the politician that took more corporate money than anyone last election cycle. more sighs and mumbles and i was told i can bring that up when we split up in groups.
so, we split up in 3 groups and supposedly everyone is to be given an equal amount of time. naturally the leader of my group picks the person next to to go first so i end up being last. finally it's my turn and some people had asked how they even find out what politicians are taking corporate money so i give them the opensecrets.org address then say i think 1 of the biggest problems with politics is there's no accountability for politicians, no one demands it unless it's the other party....that took maybe 30-45 seconds to say and the lady next to me, who was the 1st to go, started moving her hand in a sign to mean hurry it up. i ask her to please not do that as she spoke for a long time and no one did anything like that to her. she gets all angry and says "no, because i'm not going to let you sit here and do this!" do what, talk about holding ALL elected representatives accountable to their campaign promises? she rolls her eyes and says it's obvious i came here just to attack Obama and why am i even there?? i try to say because accountability and corporate influence isn't a partisan issue but she wasn't having any of it and then more people started talking and then the leader of the group declares we've now heard from everyone and it's time to move on.
it was pushed as a forum to hear what the public thinks and to discuss ideas but in reality it was just a big fucking pep rally for how awesome democrats are
:thumbdown: :thumbdown:
don't compete; coexist
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
you can still support someone while being critical of them at the same time. and what ever happened to talking differences out? now it's all about shouting anyone else down and not even hearing it.
especially when no one was even trying to be overly critical of Obama other than saying he shouldn't be given a free pass.
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
but don't let it happen to you dude...keep fighting the fight! :thumbup:
In a way sadly i'm glad you experienced that because I bet you it's no different of partisan issues on the other side. If I was there I would have been just as critical cause in that group it's so easy band together to block out those who defer from the mass group leanings. I think it's just better to be critical of our leaders to better their handling of the country than to give our politicians a pass just because he's on your side.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
The answer? Go third-party Pepe.
anyway, moveon emailed a survey afterwards which i filled out
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
I believe both groups began life as independents... and both groups have been taken over by the reigning Political Parties.
Hail, Hail!!!
yeah, i signed up with moveon when they started but never did anything with them. then during bush's years i'd constantly get emails from them about how we need to demand all these things and protest against certain actions (like nuclear power, patriot act, war funding....) but now that their guy is in office and supports those same policies they never make a peep about those issues anymore.
anyway, the email made about the forum made it seem like it wasn't going to be partisan, it said
So MoveOn is confronting the problem head-on, with a huge campaign to fight corporate influence, demand real accountability from our elected officials, and reclaim American democracy so it works for regular Americans. At the May 6th community forum, we're going to gather together to learn about the problem, and come up with great ideas about how to use legislation, elections, and community events to put "we the people," back in charge of our government.
but the reality was they were only concerned about corporate influence of republicans and democrats that didn't vote for the 'reforms'
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
Some groups start with the best intentions but turn into something they never wanted to be when a large amount of people get involved. The mob mentality takes over. Most of the people at that rally probably would have had a reasoned discussion with you at some other time.
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
seriously, if bush had appointed a former advisory board member of goldman sachs who also supports the indefinite detention of SUSPECTED terrorists without a trial people would be going apeshit. but you turn on the daily show and the colbert report and they mention none of these things, they only mention she MAY be a lesbian and other meaningless issues. i go to alternet's, credo mobil's and other 'progressive' facebook pages and they are all kissing kagan's ass
washington was right; partisan politics will destroy the country
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
Move On should be questioning the obama administration because its a widely unpopular presidency. obama may have sadly convinced many folks that he would bring change, he really hasnt. And he needs to be held accountable for his actions and non actions. Just because he is percieved as "not a politician" and ran on "change and hope" doesnt mean people get to lay off him when he enacts policy.
If anything the one thing that turned me off from activism, and made me become non political, was the actions of many activist organizations where they focused more on electing leaders, rather than criticizing them and demanding change.
they contacted me after hands across the sand inviting me to something they call camp moveon, they way they explained it to me was it gave training on how to get your message out more effectively and a chance to network, so i thought sure, i'll go!
so, it was this weekend and i go with good expectations despite their previous actions and......fuck, was i sure disappointed.
basically the entire thing was on coming up with talking points to get people to vote democrat this november and "stop the corporate takeover of congress!" as if it's only the republicans taking corporate money. what i also found hypocritical is to find moveon suddenly so supportive of our congressman, who is a democrat, but for months they have sent out emails seemingly so angry at him over taking corporate money, voting against obama's stuff, being against the health care reform and saying stuff in debate written for him by health care lobbyists......but now just because he has a (D) next to his name he gets their full support??
i tried to bring up how giving blind support to a political party only makes things worse and will ensure nothing ever changes but they didn't want to hear it. at least do it on a case by case basis, not just across the board just because they call themselves a Democrat!
they eventually pulled me aside and told me i was being very disruptive and if i'm not willing to take this seriously i should leave and how there was limited space and someone who actually wanted to be there could've come instead.
show me a candidate and why they should be supported and i'll consider it but i refuse to just throw my support behind someone just because of the party they belong to.
stop the corporate takeover my ass, they are only contributing to the problems and strengthening them
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
so did you leave? and why did they say 'someone who actually wanted to be there couldve come..'. if you didnt want to be there you wouldnt have gone. idiots.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
The right imo do not and are still singing the prasies of Bush to this day. Thought it was bad 2000-2008? Just wait until the tea partiers are brough back in power.
It will be a low worse then the previous administration.
Most true tea partiers do not sing the praises of those big budget Republicans including Bush... Explain to me how the tea partiers will make it a low worse than th Bush Administration? what specifically will the tea partiers do to make it worse for everyday Americans?
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
Good points. I joined MoveOn as a requirement to attend a Vote For Change show, which was worth it!
I had an open mind regarding the organization until I received their e-mails. That outfit is full of extreme left-wing fanatics. Their constant melodrama wore me out. I was no fan of Bush but MoveOn did itself no favors in trying to indoctrinate me into joining their causes, that's for sure.
I'm filing this one in the 'What Did You Expect?' file... next to the 'I joined PETA only to find that they disapproved of my 'All You Can Eat Veal' restaurant' file.
Hail, Hail!!!