MoveOn email requesting help airing ad on Gonzales

[DireStrike]

My comments: We wanted the 527s to get involved with ads, right? Here's our shot. They need lots of money in an extremely short period of time, but we can do it if we really want to.



Dear MoveOn member,

Today, the Senate is beginning consideration of Alberto Gonzales for the post of Attorney General. Thanks to your efforts, Gonzales is on the defensive about his torture record.

To keep the pressure on, we helped place a large ad in today's New York Times.1 We also have a hard-hitting TV ad ready to go, but we need your help to buy airtime. The ad recalls the initial outrage of many Senators from both parties over revelations of torture and reminds Senators and Americans that Gonzales is "the man whose memos justified the use of torture in Iraq."2

Can you help us raise $130,000 for these ads by Friday? See the ad and help air it at:

https://www.moveon.org/donatec4/gonzales.html

The more we learn about Gonzales, the worse things look. His unquestioning allegiance to George Bush runs deep enough to cloud his judgment in deadly ways. Serving as Bush's legal adviser in Texas, Gonzales briefed then-Governor Bush on death penalty cases being considered for clemency. In case after case, Gonzales failed to mention mitigating circumstances like incompetent legal aid or relevant histories of child abuse and mental illness.3 Bush became the only governor in American history to authorize more than 150 executions.

As a lawyer, Gonzales represented Enron. When he stood for election to the Supreme Court of Texas, Enron was among his largest campaign contributors. Yet Gonzales refused to recuse himself when the White House investigated Enron's fraud, playing a central role despite his conflict of interests.

The Attorney General isn't supposed to look out for just the President, but for all of America. Gonzales' lack of independence to President Bush makes him unfit for the job. People for the American Way recently came to the same conclusion after a thorough review. You can take a look at their excellent memo at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=633

We need to raise $130,000 by Friday to remind America that Gonzales is the man who disgraced us with torture. Help out at:

https://www.moveon.org/donatec4/gonzales.html

Thank you for all you do.

Sincerely,

--The MoveOn Team
Thursday, January 6th, 2005

P.S. The Good News: House Republicans wanted to loosen ethics rules to protect their plagued leader, Rep. Tom DeLay. But your phone calls in select Congressional districts embarrassed them into reversing course this week. DeLay is likely to be indicted in a corporate campaign fundraising scandal in Texas. Republicans did make it harder to investigate House members' conduct, but your calls forced a major retreat by the leadership.

Footnotes:
1. Gonzales print ad in today's New York Times
http://cdn.moveon.org/content/pdfs/gonzales_ad.pdf

2. Our Gonzales TV ad
http://cdn.moveon.org/content/video/HorrifiedMOV-050130.mpeg

3. "Statement of Opposition to the Confirmation of Alberto Gonzales to the Office of Attorney General of the United States," People for the American Way, January 4, 2005
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=633