Big Flash Contest to Stop the Republican Social Security Scam: MoveOn.org

[ElsewheresDaughter]

Get to work and Break-a-leg DUers!
Please keep this kicked?

Dear MoveOn member,

The Republicans are running a $100 million public relations blitz to
convince Americans to privatize Social Security. Today, we're launching
a contest to find an entertaining, memorable, and persuasive Macromedia
Flash piece that can pierce the Republicans' spin. (A Flash is a kind of
animation, game, slide show, or program that can be easily viewed on the
Internet.) We believe that when we put our heads together, our
creativity and authenticity can beat high-priced PR any day of the week.

During the election, MoveOn Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds contest
asked MoveOn members to make political ads about the real George W.
Bush. Over a thousand people across the country submitted ads, and
political media expert Kathleen Hall Jamieson said the winning ad,
Child's Pay, may rank as "the ad that has achieved the most air time
with the least dollars expended of any ad in the history of the
republic" <1>.

Now we're announcing Bush in 30 Years, a contest to find the best online
Flash animation, game, or application exposing Bush's real plan for the
retirees of the next generation. Joining us in this effort is a great
panel of celebrity judges -- actor John Cusack, comedian and radio host
Al Franken, columnist Arianna Huffington, filmmaker Richard Linklater,
and animator Aaron McGruder. MoveOn members will pick 10 finalists, and
the judges will decide on a winner. We'll run the winning Flash on major
news and youth websites. And to sweeten the deal, we'll give the winner
a brand new Apple PowerBook.

Interested in making a Flash piece for Bush in 30 Years? Learn all about
the contest at:

http://www.bushin30years.org/?id=5136-1741997-Mp6TFvs7WDJC0M52OMbosg

And please send this message on to folks you know who might want to
participate.

Making a Flash is relatively easy and it allows for a whole range of
possibilities -- from animations to games to interactive calculators
showing the benefits we'd each lose. Of course, there are lots of other
creative approaches we haven't thought of -- that's why we're sponsoring
this contest. This is your chance to do something totally original that
will shatter the myth of Bush's Social Security scam once and for all.
Even if this isn't your thing, you probably know someone who would love
to participate.

Flash is a perfect medium to cut to the heart of this struggle between
the Republicans and the retirement working Americans deserve. And it's a
great way to reach the young voters and students Republicans are
desperate to convince, but who have the most to lose from Bush's plan.

The Republicans are counting on scare tactics, half truths, and outright
lies to convince Americans privatization is our only choice. But behind
all the deception, the reality is clear: the Republicans want to hand
over our Social Security to their buddies on Wall Street, who stand to
make millions off the deal. To pay for it all, they'll cut benefits for
future retirees and add to our soaring national debt.

Social Security's been in the news a lot lately, but the Republicans and
their corporate allies are just getting started. This is our best shot
at breaking through the spin before they inundate Americans with false
claims.

Of course, this contest won't be enough to stop the Republicans all by
itself. We'll all need to gather petition signatures, call Congress,
donate to run ads, contact the media, and more to counter the Republican
juggernaut. But using our creativity to reach out to millions of young
voters already targeted by Bush's spin is a crucial first step.

If you're interested, you can find out all about Bush in 30 Years at:

http://www.bushin30years.org/?id=5136-1741997-Mp6TFvs7WDJC0M52OMbosg

Be creative, have a great time, and good luck!

Sincerely,

--Laura Dawn, Noah T. Winer, Eli Pariser, and the whole MoveOn PAC team
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2005