An open letter to MoveOn.org and AfterDowningStreet.org

[Rottenmac]

I just dropped this off in their email/ comments after yet another frustrating experience. It might not be delicately worded enough for most, in fact, I would have used more >ehem< colorful language, but I'm too tired and pissed off to try harder right now.
This is in response to trying to donate to MoveOn after the Betray-Us ad as well as wanting to buy the Impeach Bush/Cheney wristbands at ADS.org. Frustration is the mildest I can express it. I have a hard enough time not using foul language on a good day, but as bad as it has been lately with Bush et.al... I'm having a hard time not breaking things on a daily basis. Especially with the Dem's lately... But I digress...

Dear sirs, I find it not only distressing but downright annoying that U.S. citizens who choose… CHOOSE to live abroad, and who are STILL eligible to vote in the U.S. are not able to support your organizations due to said choice.

In simpler terms, I want to support you, but YOU DO NOT ALLOW ME.

Seriously, there are more than a few scattered ex-pats who think Bush is a tool; Who think Gonzales did more damage in his short yet evil reign than is measurable in such a short time; Who think ‘Betray Us’ was appropriate and not deserving of congress’ attention… but to EXCLUDE us from supporting you… well that’s just downright idiotic.

There are plenty of people who think GWB should be impeached, and would willingly donate, given the chance. There are many who would pay to help MoveOn.org run ANOTHER ad pointing out the hypocrisy of the recent vote. There are many who would do anything… ANY-THING to get this administration hung up by the short and curlies… yet both of you offer us no way of doing just that. Showing our support and solidarity with you.

Shame on you, ADS and MoveOn.

Shame.

It's bad enough to have to scream at the TV in German, but to be essentially banned from supporting due to my choice of country is infuriating at best. I vote, I am still a citizen. Fix it. Period.

[mike_c]

1. I don't understand....

Do you mean that if you send MoveOn or ADS a check they will not cash it? Huh? :shrug:

[Rottenmac]

3. Oh.... Im sorry...

Let me be more clear then. I want to donate NOW. While my blood is still BOILING. Not wait 4 weeks till my check finds its way to god-knows-where.

I want to do it with Paypal, the 21st century international standard. I can buy a t-shirt showing my support for http://www.internationalcannedbeermonth.com/ online, why should MoveOn or Downing Street be any different?

It's just idiotic, and then when I dropped a line to MoveOn (who reads all emails and has people working on weekends apparently...) don;t respond, but I get stuck on their email spamming list... well lets just say that is a little frustrating. Instead of getting an answer all I get is SUPPORT US SUPPORT US SUPPORT US, and yet I cannnot due to their not accepting non-US paypal payments.

Just bad.

[hlthe2b]

4. I know that international paypal problems occur in other contexts

Seems to me that Skinner had to deal with it for DU donations, too.... I can understand your frustration and perhaps your email to them will get them moving on this issue. Good luck.

[hlthe2b]

2. Can you do so through the mail?

[Milo_Bloom]

5. Just a thought...

I think it might have to do with them being a registered PAC. I think, like candidates, they are somewhat restricted as to who they can accept payments from. If they allowed non US based addresses to send in payments, they may have an accounting nightmare to deal with, as every payment would have to be fully vetted.

I am not sure, but I think there are some restrictions that come with registering as a PAC.