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WakeCARES is an American non-profit organization, which is credited with starting the 2007 Wake County Public School System debate over year-round schooling and inter-county busing. Founded by three Cary, NC mothers; Patrice Lee Dawn Graff, and Kathleen Brennan in 2006 the group is most well known for its involvement in the 2009 NC Supreme Court case WakeCARES vs. Wake County Board of Education.

Legal status
MoveOn comprises two legal entities, each organized under a different section of U.S. tax and election laws:

MoveOn.org Civic Action, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, formerly known as MoveOn.org, primarily focuses on education and advocacy on national issues. MoveOn.org Political Action, a federal political action committee, formerly known as MoveOn PAC, gives contributions to candidates across the country to advance causes in Congress and help elect selected political candidates.

History
MoveOn started in 1998 as an email group, MoveOn.org, created by computer entrepreneurs Joan Blades and Wes Boyd, the married cofounders of Berkeley Systems. They started by passing around a petition asking Congress to "censure President Clinton and move on", as opposed to impeaching him. The petition, passed around by word of mouth, was extremely successful; ultimately, they had half a million signatures. Buoyed by their success, the couple went on to start similar campaigns, including: calling for more arms inspections rather than an invasion of Iraq (see Popular opposition to war on Iraq); the reinstatement of lower limits on arsenic and mercury pollution, and campaign finance reform. Since then, it has raised millions of dollars for many Democratic candidates. In November 2007, a drive spearheaded by MoveOn caused Facebook to change its controversial new "Beacon" program, which notified Facebook users about purchases by people on their friends list.

Organizing methodology
MoveOn uses e-mail as its main conduit for communicating with members, sending action alerts at least once a week. It communicates primarily through a variation on a chain letter:

The MoveOn website also uses multi-media, including videos, audio downloads and images. In addition to communicating via the Internet, MoveOn advertises using traditional print and broadcast media as well as billboards, bus signs and bumper stickers, digital versions of which are downloadable from its website. It also contains an area called the "Action Forum", which functions much like a traditional electronic discussion group. The Action Forums act as a grassroots organization allowing members to propose priorites and strategies."

Through this grassroots methodology, MoveOn collaborates with groups like Meetup.com in organizing street demonstrations, bake sales, house parties and other opportunities for people to meet personally and act collectively in their own communities.

Some of the core principles of MoveOn are:


 * Moveon is not dependent on foundation money.
 * The ability to use 'hard money' – as opposed to grants and tax-deductible contributions – enables them to be partisan, contribute to political campaigns and exercise clout in the political process.

Changes in federal election laws have also impacted groups like MoveOn. The McCain/Feingold election finance reform legislation, which went into effect in 2002, allowed political parties to raise larger amounts of "hard money" contributions, but were forbidden from raising "soft money" &mdash; As a result, individuals who sought to influence the 2004 election gave money to non-party organizations like MoveOn, which are still able to engage in political advertising using soft money under section 527 of U.S. tax code.

Call for Change
In preparation for the 2006 midterm elections, MoveOn created a new system for soliciting potential voters named Call for Change. As part of the Call for Change effort, registered voters in key voting districts were contacted by MoveOn members, who placed over 7 million phone calls as part of the effort.

Personnel

 * Joan Blades, Co-Chair, Board of Directors
 * Wes Boyd, Chair, Board of Directors
 * Carrie Olson, Chief Operating Officer, Board of Directors (PAC)
 * Eli Pariser, Executive Director
 * Adam Ruben, Political Director, responsible for MoveOn Political Action's electoral strategy
 * Justin Ruben, Organizing Director, oversees "Operation Democracy," MoveOn's in-depth volunteer driven field network
 * Tom Matzzie, Washington Director, maintains relationships on Capitol Hill and runs campaigns
 * Adam Green, Civic Communications Director, handles communications for MoveOn's c4 and leads campaigns on media reform issues like Net Neutrality, public airwaves for the public good, and taking on Fox
 * Nita Chaudhary, Advocate, runs campaigns on civil liberties, Censure, and other issues
 * Jennifer Lindenauer, PAC Communications Director
 * Laura Dawn, Cultural Director, co-creator of Bush in 30 Seconds, develops and runs cultural engagement campaigns like the celebrity directed "10 Weeks" ads and the Vote for Change tour.
 * Patrick Michael Kane Web designer, designing, building and managing MoveOn's web and mailing infrastructure.

Criticism


MoveOn was criticized by several Jewish advocacy groups, among others, when a member-submitted TV ad which drew parallels between President George W. Bush and Adolf Hitler briefly appeared on an affiliated website. The ad was part of a MoveOn-sponsored contest "Bush in 30 Seconds" during the 2004 presidential election in which members were invited to create and submit political TV ads challenging President Bush and his administration. The advertisement was quickly removed.

Fox News criticized the organization after it successfully encouraged the 2008 Democratic Presidential Candidates not to attend two debates sponsored by the network. Fox News advisor David Rhodes and the network's commentators Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly have also stated that MoveOn.org "owns" the Democratic Party. This stems from a 2004 e-mail composed by Eli Pariser, among others, stating that, in regards to the Democratic Party; "grassroots contributors like us ... bought it, we own it, and we're going to take it back."

MoveOn was criticized for running a print ad in The New York Times that questioned the personal integrity of General David Petraeus, saying "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?" and "Cooking the Books for the White House." On September 20, the Senate passed an amendment by Republican John Cornyn III of Texas designed to "strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus." All forty-nine Republican Senators, as well as twenty-two Democratic Senators, voted in support. The House passed a similar resolution by a 341-79 vote on September 26. The Washington Post stated on September 20 that "Democrats blamed the group [Moveon.org] for giving moderate Republicans a ready excuse for staying with Bush and for giving Bush and his supporters a way to divert attention away from the war." The New York Times public editor Clark Hoyt later stated in an editorial that MoveOn was mistakenly charged $77,000 less for the ad than it should have been under Times policies, and MoveOn announced that it would pay The New York Times the difference in prices. MoveOn.org is running more ads using a 'betrayal' theme, with TV spots targeting President Bush and Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani specifically. Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani ran his own full-page ad in The New York Times on September 14. Giuliani asked for and received a similar reduced fee as Moveon.org, paying $65,000.

Google and MoveOn have been accused of selective adherence to trademark law for removing ads from Google Adwords for Maine Senator Susan Collins, citing infringement of MoveOn trademarks. Wired stated on October 15, 2007 that the "left-leaning political advocacy group, MoveOn.org, is backing down" and will allow Google to show the ads. "We don't want to support a policy that denies people freedom of expression," Moveon.org communications director Jennifer Lindenauer said.

Relationships with other organizations
MoveOn is co-founder of Avaaz.org a civic organization that promotes progressive political action on issues such as the climate change and religious conflicts.

MoveOn is not connected with MoveOnForAmerica (now known as Move America Forward), a conservative organization that was set up by Stephen Marks, a Republican political consultant.

Candidates supported
Since the 2000 election cycle, the MoveOn PAC has endorsed and supported the campaigns of dozens of candidates.

2000 election

 * Scotty Baesler, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator.
 * Jean Elliott Brown, a MoveOn volunteer and public relations executive who ran unsuccessfully for Congress against Rep. Mark Foley in Florida. MoveOn helped raise more than $100,000 for Brown's campaign.
 * Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, who ran against Senator John Ashcroft in a Senate race. Carnahan died in a plane crash during the campaign, but posthumously defeated Ashcroft in the election. His wife, Jean Carnahan, was then appointed to his Senate seat and served for two years.
 * Delaware Governor Thomas R. Carper, who successfully defeated incumbent GOP Senator William Roth.
 * Linda Chapin, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Florida's 8th district.
 * Regina Montoya Coggins, who ran unsuccessfully in Texas's 5th District against Pete Sessions
 * Susan Davis, who ran successfully in California's 49th District (now the 53rd District, following redistricting).
 * Rep. Rush D. Holt, Jr., D-N.J., who in 1998 defeated Rep. Mike Pappas, a vociferous supporter of Clinton's impeachment.
 * Nancy Keenan, a Montanan seeking the seat of conservative Rep. Rick Hill.
 * Rick Larsen, who ran successfully in Washington's open 2nd District race.
 * Susan Bass Levin, who ran unsuccessfully in New Jersey's 3rd District against H. James Saxton.
 * California State Senator Adam Schiff, who defeated Rep. James E. Rogan, one of the House Managers in charge of Clinton's impeachment trial. MoveOn directed nearly $200,000 in small member contributions to Schiff and was his top contributor.

2002 election

 * Democratic Senate candidate Bill Bradbury of Oregon.
 * Missouri Senator Jean Carnahan.
 * Martha Fuller Clark, a candidate for the House of Representatives in New Hampshire.
 * Jack Conway, a candidate for the House of Representatives in Kentucky's 3rd District.
 * Representative Rush D. Holt, Jr. of New Jersey.
 * Representative Jay Inslee of Washington.
 * South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson.
 * Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk in his Texas Senatorial bid.
 * Representative Rick Larsen of Washington.
 * Arkansas Attorney General Mark Pryor in his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
 * Former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen, who ran unsuccessfully for Senate against John E. Sununu.
 * Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota.

2006 election

 * Ned Lamont, who defeated three-term Democratic incumbent Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Democratic primary, but lost in the general election against Lieberman, who ran as an independent. [Lost]
 * Patrick Murphy, Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District. [Won]
 * Westport first selectwoman Diane Farrell, Democratic nominee for Connecticut's 4th Congressional District. [Lost]
 * Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), running for re-election to his tenth term in the U.S. Senate [Won]
 * Pennsylvania State Treasurer Bob Casey, Jr., Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. [Won]
 * Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), running for his second term. [Won]
 * Montana State Senate President Jon Tester (D-MT), running to unseat Conrad Burns (R-MT) [Won]
 * Former Congressman Nick Lampson, Democratic candidate for Texas's 22nd Congressional District. [Won]
 * Congressman Chet Edwards, Democratic incumbent for Texas' 17th Congressional District. [Won]
 * Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. [Won]
 * Cardiff School District Board Trustee Francine Busby, Democratic candidate for California's 50th Congressional District. [Lost]
 * Former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, Democratic candidate for Texas' 23rd Congressional District, pending redistricting decisions.[Won]
 * Bob Shamansky, Democratic candidate for 12th congressional district of Ohio. [Lost]
 * Gabrielle Giffords, Democratic candidate for Arizona's 8th congressional district. [Won]
 * Jason Altmire, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district [Won]
 * John Yarmuth, Democratic candidate for 3rd congressional district of Kentucky. [Won]
 * Tim Mahoney, Democratic candidate for 16th congressional district of Florida, running against Mark Foley's replacement. [Won]
 * Ron Klein, Democratic candidate for Florida's 22nd congressional district, running against 12-term Republican incumbent Clay Shaw. [Won]
 * Bruce Braley, Iowa. [Won]
 * Martin O'Malley, Democratic candidate for governor of Maryland. [Won]
 * Doug Gansler, Democratic candidate for Attorney General of Maryland. [Won]
 * James T. Smith, Jr., Democratic incumbent for Baltimore County (Maryland) Executive. [Won]

2008 election

 * Barack Obama, US Senator and candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination

Financial contributors
According to the March 10, 2004, Washington Post, "The Democratic 527 organizations have drawn support from some wealthy liberals determined to defeat Bush. They include financier George Soros who gave $1.46 million to MoveOn.org Voter Fund (in the form of matching funds to recruit additional small donors); Peter B. Lewis, chief executive of the Progressive Corp., who gave $500,000 to MoveOn.org Voter Fund; and Linda Pritzker, of the Hyatt hotel family, and her Sustainable World Corp., who gave $4 million to the joint fundraising committee."
 * Linda Pritzker, $4. Million.
 * George Soros, $1.46 Million.
 * The San Francisco Foundation Community Initiative Funds, a 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with the San Francisco Foundation, began serving as a fiscal sponsor for MoveOn.org Civic Action in 2000, providing a channel through which individuals can make directed, tax-exempt donations to support its work. In 2001, SFFCIF's IRS Form 990 show that it provided MoveOn.org Civic Action with $17,698 in funding.
 * Iraq Peace Fund, an effort of the Tides Foundation
 * Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund