Organization to Promote Democratic Agenda

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- An organization with strong backing from the top Democrats in Congress intends to launch a costly election-year campaign to promote issues on the party's agenda, officials said Tuesday, beginning with a television commercial arguing it's "time for a change" after a season of political corruption.

Americans United "will use all the campaign-style tactics which characterize political campaigns," ranging from paid advertising to grassroots organizing, according to a memo describing the group's plans.
....
A formal announcement was scheduled for Wednesday.

Officials said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California met with potential donors in Los Angeles earlier this month, underscoring their personal interest in the group's efforts.
....
Americans United intends to lobby on issues such as health care, homeland security and education rather than advocate for the election or defeat of specific candidates in the November elections. As a result, it is permitted to accept donations of unlimited size from donors, and is not required to disclose the names of its contributors. It is headed by Karen Olick, a former chief of staff to Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and will rely on several other Democrats with long experience in political campaigns.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-democrats-group,0,4589196.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[hang a left]

1. That is what I am talking about.

[Demeter]

2. If It Doesn't Say Impeachment, I'm NOT Interested

'Cause nothing's going to happen until the piper is put paid to.

[brentspeak]

3. ?

[Rose Siding]

4. A positive agenda must be offered simultaneously with any sort of attack

An alternative must be ready to fill any void.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. I don't understand this

and maybe you can offer clarification. Impeaching George Bush puts Cheney in charge. What have we gained? Impeaching Cheney (or Cheney resigns or dies) puts Hastert in charge. What have we gained. I'll await your answer.

[sandnsea]

5. AmericansUnited.org

is a pro-life group with Henry Hyde on the front page. Sad to say, not a great start. I hope their first order of business is to come up with a unique name.

[dmr]

7. There are two similarly named organizations:

This pro-life organizeation is what you're probably thinking of: Americans United for Life: http://www.unitedforlife.org/

I think this is the organization mentioned in the article: Americans United for Separation of Church and State was founded in 1947 by a broad coalition of religious, educational and civic leaders. http://www.au.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aboutau

[sandnsea]

8. It's the social security group

"A predecessor group, Americans United to Protect Social Security, was instrumental in defeating legislation President Bush proposed a year ago to remake the program that provides retirement benefits to millions."

I'm just saying that since this is a new group, they might have chosen a name that hadn't already been taken by a right wing group. http://www.americansunited.org