MoveOn Remains Silent on Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan

[Orwellian_Ghost]

MoveOn Remains Silent on Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan

By Tom Hayden, AlterNet. Posted May 27, 2009.

The most powerful grassroots peace movement organization, MoveOn, has not pushed Obama or Congress on U.S. conflicts raging across the planet.

The most powerful grassroots organization of the peace movement, MoveOn, remains silent as the American wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan simmer or escalate.

The executive director of MoveOn, Justin Ruben, met with President Obama in February, told the president it was “the moment to go big,” then indicated that MoveOn would not be opposing the $94 billion war supplemental request, nor the 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, nor the increased civilian casualties from the mounting number of Predator attacks.

What was MoveOn’s explanation for abandoning the peace movement in a meeting with a president the peace movement was key to electing? According to Ruben and MoveOn, it was the preference of its millions of members, as ascertained by house meetings and polls.

The evidence, however, is otherwise. Last December 17, 48.3 percent of MoveOn members listed “end the war in Iraq” as a 2009 goal, after health care <64.9%>, economic recovery and job creation <62.1%>, and building a green economy/stop climate change <49.6%, only 1.5% ahove Iraq.> This was at a moment when most Americans believed the Iraq War was ending. Afghanistan and Pakistan were not listed among top goals which members could vote on.

<snip>

http://www.alternet.org/story/140264/moveon_remains_silent_on_wars_in_iraq%2C_afghanistan_and_pakistan/

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. MoveOn just doesn't seem to know what it's doing any more.

I still get their emails, but rarely read them. They're too wordy, they send too many, and so often I'm thinking, "So what?"

I should stop getting them.

[yellowwood]

2. Disappointed in Moveon

I joined Moveon before the Iraq conflict. I have contributed money to them. But I've now taken my name off their roster. They are suffering from "mission creep." The issues that they are trying to cover are already covered elsewhere. Meanwhile they are not addressing the war issues for which I joined them at all.

I like President Barack Obama very much, and I support him. But I think that extensive military involvement is futile, no matter who is President. Organizations like Moveon gave people like me a voice. Now they don't.

[dem629]

3. Sound like the professional protesters Code Pink

They just want money and/or attention.

[slipslidingaway]

4. knr nt

[blindpig]

5. They have been co-opted.

They, like liberals in general, have tied themselves to Obama's star and now they are stuck. They are part of the apparatus now, peace is defined on partisan terms. They suck.

k&r

[rcrush]

9. Yep

I figure we'd find out if they really believed anything they said once Obama would be elected. They were just interetested in attention it seems.

[upi402]

6. Great movement, just no opposition party for them to rally behind

is my guess. I suffer from WTF a lot lately though.

Until;
the media is restored, and elections are fair, and the rule of law is followed and enforced EVEN FOR THE RICH AND POWERFUL - I just don't give a damn anymore. I'm tired and discouraged after decades of marching, donating hard earned money, writing, and being stabbed in the back by those I've supported - I'm done.

"They" win. But what have they won?

[Echo In Light]

8. Bingo

[peace13]

7. Interesting observation.

This has happened in our village peace group. After the election we lost many members at our twice weekly peace vigils. Their thought was that Obama was in and he would take care of the problem. Those of us who remain on the corner are focusing on vet's benefits, anti- torture, and bringing the troops home. As the weather warms up what is left of the right wing thuggery yells out to us, 'more war, get a job, kill the towel heads, get a life'. We must never give up on the fight against these wars. Peace, Kim

[noamnety]

10. I unsubscribed

when it became clear they cared more about winning elections and following popular opinion than the actual principles I thought they stood for. (About the same time I officially withdrew myself from the democratic party, for very similar reasons.)

[RufusTFirefly]

11. I was an early loyal MoveOn member, but I dumped them because of their milquetoast war position

It's sadly reassuring to realize I made the right decision several years ago.

[RufusTFirefly]

12. Here's MoveOn's response to Hayden.

We appreciate Tom Hayden's attempt to start a discussion here about the progressive posture on security issues, and we even understand his attempt to use MoveOn as a foil. We agree that it's time to confront the organizing challenges of building an effective peace movement in the Obama era, and we expect MoveOn and MoveOn members to play an important role in this.

In order to have a productive conversation, however, we have to make sure the facts are correct. Tom's characterization of our democratic process is inaccurate; the Top 10 issues we focus on were both nominated by and chosen by MoveOn members. Even more erroneous is Tom's description in the lead of his piece of Justin's conversation with the President. Our Executive Director, Justin Ruben, never "indicated that MoveOn would not be opposing the $94 billion war supplemental request, nor the 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, nor the increased civilian casualties from the mounting number of Predator attacks." The article by Ari Melber which Tom referenced as a source does not say that Justin said this. That particular conversation was about MoveOn members' current organizing focus on energy, health care, and the economy. And our belief that the administration should "go big" on progressive policies in these arenas.

"Security issues"? I cry bullshit.