Source:
New York TimesBy Sarah Wheaton and Michael Luo
MoveOn.org announced today that it is dismantling its 527 group in response to Senator Barack Obama’s candidacy.
The MoveOn Voter Fund, which was able to take in unlimited donations, has been essentially dormant since 2004, when it brought in $20 million of the group’s $50 million-haul. MoveOn will rely instead on its political action committee, MoveOn Political Action which can take in up to $5,000 from an individual.
Mr. Obama, who announced yesterday that he would not take public financing for his general election campaign, has been critical of the influence of outside groups, especially the so-called 527 groups, seen by many as a soft-money loophole.
“The small-donor driven politics that built MoveOn and the progressive movement has helped to drive Barack Obama’s candidacy,” said Eli Pariser, executive director of the liberal advocacy group, in a statement. “We’ve always believed this new kind of politics can change our country and end the gridlock in D.C. And now is the time to let the voices of ordinary Americans be heard in this election.”
In an interview with The New York Times this morning, Mr. Pariser said the organization had been discussing the move for several months and made a final decision on Thursday amid discussions among board members and staff. He said the possibility of a powerful conservative 527, along the lines of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004, had been a concern. “We did think about it,” he said. “This is a big bet on small donors together being able to beat back an effort financed by large donors.”...
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http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/moveon-terminates-its-527/
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