MoveOn not really worried about right wing competition

[eridani]

http://www.readersupportednews.org/off-site-news-section/69-69/2741-moveon-unfazed-by-new-group

Founded in 1998, MoveOn.org has taken on the likes of such diverse opponents as Bush, Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln and, most recently, Target, after it donated to an independent expenditure backing Tom Emmer, the Republican nominee for governor in Minnesota, who is opposed to same-sex marriage.

Markos Moulitsas, founder of Daily Kos, argues the right's failure to deliver a rival after years of attempts, proves that its core base of support isn't large or dedicated enough.

"In the end, it becomes easier to create fake grass roots — AstroTurf — than it is to build the genuine article," said Moulitsas.

"Progressives have spent the last half-decade building an infrastructure to match what conservatives have built the past four decades — from think tanks, to their robust media machine, to their leadership training, to their media and legal watchdog groups. Now, as we get closer and closer to achieving parity, they're suddenly all about building the next X group," he said.

Presented with the heap of skepticism, Liberty.com — which claims it will begin with an estimated 70,000 members and $700,000 — said the goal is to emulate and expand on the multiplatform MoveOn model by engaging its own movement in an unprecedented way.

"Despite their odious views against the free market, individual liberty and American sovereignty in general, MoveOn.org's communication success as an organization is to be admired," said Walker. "Their activist-donated dollars have moved national arguments often over the past several years."

MoveOn's Ruben said he wishes their ideological counterpart the best of luck, but notes the true measure of Liberty.com’s success will be how the new venture is organized.

"MoveOn is successful because we are a true grass-roots organization that is built from the bottom up. Not vice versa," he said.

[Cirque du So-What]

1. How can a movement be built upon greed?

With greed and self-aggrandizement as a foundation, adherents come to recognize that the leaders - and even their peers - would rat-fuck them without thinking twice about it. Kinda hard to concentrate on the task at hand when you're constantly looking out for the knife in the back.

[Uben]

2. I quit donating to MoveOn.......

....mainly because Eli pissed me off during the primaries. Up to that point, he had not made it a practice to endorse candidates, but right after I donated, he endorsed Obama. It goes without saying I was a Clinton supporter. Now, I'm glad Obama won and think he was the better candidate, but I did not think it was right to just suddenly begin endorsing candidates without giving donors the heads up. I felt like my money was being used to help my candidate's opponent. When I send someone money, I expect them to do what they've been doing or tell me different before I donate. That's water under the bridge now, but he lost me as a donor. I sure hope Skinner and crew continue to not endorse candidates in the primary and I hope Eli learned a lesson. I know there were a lot of members of MoveOn as pissed as I was.

[eridani]

3. I quit donating because I figured they really didn't need me as much

--as a number or other groups I donate to. Get well known enough and you are like Amnesty International. They do good work, but they have so many other donors.

[Uben]

4. That, too......

....I donate money and time to local charities as well as CASA, an org that serves children. Food and clothes drives are needed locally to help those without, and the only way to get it done sometimes is to do it yourself!