MoveOn Launches Ad Campaign Highlighting Benefit Cuts in President's Social Security Pla

MoveOn Launches Ad Campaign Highlighting Benefit Cuts in President's Social Security Plan; Large TV Ad Buys Aim at Members of Congress Who May Support Privatization; Print Ads to Highlight 'Phony Crisis'

1/31/2005 4:01:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Trevor FitzGibbon, Jessica Smith or Steve Smith, 202-822-5200, all of Fenton Communications

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- On the eve of President Bush's State of the Union address, MoveOn.org, a nationwide 3 million-member grassroots organization, is calling on Members of Congress to oppose the President's plan to cut Social Security benefits-taking the message straight to their districts.

"We are determined to prevent the President and his allies in Congress from turning a guaranteed benefit into a guaranteed gamble," said Tom Matzzie, Washington director of MoveOn.org.

Starting Tuesday, MoveOn.org will air a television ad called "Working Retirement" in the districts of three Members of Congress -- Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), Chris Chocola (R-Ind.), and Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) -- as well as in other local markets and on cable television in New York and Washington, DC. On Wednesday, MoveOn.org will also run a full-page advertisement in the New York Times.

The television ads focus on benefit cuts at the center of the President's proposal -- cuts that some experts estimate could amount to 46 percent in real dollars over the long run. They will air first in the districts of Members of Congress who may support the President's proposal to privatize Social Security.

"We can't countenance Bush's plan to cut Social Security benefits by up to 46 percent when small adjustments in the system would put it in the black indefinitely," said Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org executive director.

MoveOn.org intends to expand this effort to other districts as the battle over Social Security heats up. "We are committed to this effort for the long haul," said Pariser. "We will make sure that Members of Congress who consider supporting a plan that reduces benefits for future retirees know that their constituents will hear from us -- and they will hear from their constituents."

Last year, MoveOn.org members contributed nearly $10 million to the organization's issue campaigns, at an average contribution of about $50 per person. The MoveOn family of organizations consists of three entities: MoveOn.org, a 501(c)(4) organization, primarily focuses on education and advocacy on important national issues; MoveOn PAC, a federal PAC, primarily helps members elect candidates who reflect our values; and MoveOn.org Voter Fund, a 527 organization, primarily educates voters on the positions, records, views, and qualifications of candidates for public office.

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Television Ad Script

VO: First, someone thought up the working lunch.

Then, we discovered the working vacation.

And now, thanks to George Bush's planned Social Security benefit cuts of up to 46 percent to pay for private accounts, it won't be long before America introduces the world to...

The working retirement.

FADE TO MOVEON LOGO.

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View TV Ad at: http://cdn.moveon.org/content/video/SS_ad.wmv

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