What would you ask AIG's CEO?

US House of Representatives Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank

March 17, 2009

Dear Nicole,

When news broke that AIG gave hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses over the weekend to the very people who wrecked our economy, the nation erupted in outrage.

More than 225,000 MoveOn members have signed our petition demanding that the insurance giant return those disgraceful bonuses. And yesterday afternoon, President Obama ordered the Treasury Department to find some way to get them back.

Still, AIG isn't budging. But tomorrow, they'll have to face the music.

That's because there's a House hearing with the AIG executives themselves—including their Bush-appointed CEO. Sign our petition below, and send in a question for AIG. If you do by 5 p.m. ET today, we'll make sure the committee grilling these executives gets your comments in time for the hearing.
http://pol.moveon.org/aigbonus/?id=15758-14894119-rATZFLx&t=1

–Daniel, Peter, Lenore, Matt and the rest of the MoveOn team

P.S. Our friends at SEIU and ACORN are holding over 100 rallies nationwide on Thursday against the corporate excesses that got us into this mess. You can find a rally to attend near you at http://takebacktheeconomy.org/

How Big Is Your Yacht?

circulated today - February 16, 2009 -

Dear MoveOn Member,

When Congress grilled top Wall Street CEOs last week, they weren't doing it alone—they had hundreds of thousands of Americans behind them.

In the days and hours before that hearing, MoveOn members sent in more than 330,000 signatures on a petition to cap executive pay, as well as 30,000 stories and questions for those banking CEOs. The best part? Some lawmakers even asked your questions during the hearing.

And there's even more good news: Thanks in part to the populist pressure from MoveOn members, Congress included Sen. Chris Dodd's amendment limiting executive pay in the stimulus bill that passed on Friday.

Check out the video below, featuring your questions and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.



This is MoveOn at its best: leaping into action at a critical moment and giving voice to everyday Americans. The petition signatures demanding limits on executive compensation and the questions for bank CEOs gave our representatives a powerful mandate directly from their constituents to act.

When hundreds of thousands of us act together, we CAN have an impact.
So thank you, for all you do.

–Daniel, Michael, Matt, Carrie and the rest of the team

Regina Spektor supports Courage Campaign

Dear MoveOn member,

Opponents of gay marriage in California weren't content with passing Proposition 8 and taking away the right of loving couples to marry.

Led by Ken Starr — yup, that Ken Starr — they're now urging the state Supreme Court to both validate Prop 8 and forcibly divorce 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who were married before the ballot measure passed. The Court's ruling will determine whether right-wingers can legally use ballot initiatives to strip vulnerable minorities of their constitutional rights.

Progressives are responding with one of the most incredible actions we've ever seen.

The Courage Campaign — a MoveOn-style progressive group that works on California issues — asked married couples, their friends and their families to mail in pictures with a simple message for Starr and his right-wing allies: "Don't divorce..." With the help of musician Regina Spektor, they've turned the photos into a music video that will break your heart.


"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

More info here, including a letter to the California Supreme Court that you can sign, asking it to strike down Prop 8, reject Ken Starr's case, and let all loving, committed couples marry.

The fight for equal rights in California won't be easy — and the Courage Campaign will need all of our voices to help make it happen.

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Ilyse, Laura, Patrick S. and the rest of the team