Why Isn't There a Conservative Answer to MoveOn.org?

I'm new to Free Republic, and I kind of see it as an activist haven for conservatives. But I only heard about it by way of an e-mail link, though once I think I heard Ann Coulter mention it on Hannity & Colmes. I'm sure there are other activist organizations out there, but I have to wonder if conservatives have anything like MoveOn.org. My guess is, no - at least nothing that is visible, or has the backing of huge money from people like George Soros, who I think is a very scary power player. Everyone knows that the Democrats can rely on MoveOn to be its mouthpiece, which means they have a way to get around campaign laws.

I saw an article linked on this site, by Mona Charon, that advises Bush to take the gloves off. If we had a MoveOn.org of our own, with the money to produce commercials, perhaps we could put those gloves on for ourselves. I would love to see some very damaging commercials about John Kerry's post-war record and his voting record. He is a traitor to this country, but all I hear from Republicans is how much respect his service to our country. I would respect it to if he hadn't come back as a traitor. I would love to see some Vietnam Vets step up to the plate on primetime.

Hillary is another problem. We need to crush her. I didn't hear a thing about Hillary's pro-Saddam comments this week until I saw a thread on this site, the article by Oliver North. I would love to see some commercials made by our own activist group that denounces her viciously. Put these rotten people's records in primetime. We must expose them and hit them with both barrels!

If there is an conservative organization that is comparable to MoveOn.org, please let me know, and I'll join up. After that I'll be asking, "Why haven't I heard of you? Is it me? And if you are out there, where are the commercials, the ads, the visibility? Do you have a big power player, an answer to Soros?"

Actually, in all seriousness, it's called moveon.org

You see, they're so loony that we don't need to do anything to convince people that they're wrong or that just about everything that they say has no basis in fact; it's self-evident. After all, remember what Jim Baghdad McDermott (the distinguished Representative from the great state of Washington, a Democrat) did for us (Republicans) in 2002? And Tom Daschle's made-for-television self-implosion? He couldn't get through a week as majority leader without publicly revealing that he was a moron who shouldn't be trusted with national security.

I wish I had your confidence that the left will self implode. I lost my confidence when I saw that at least half the country thought Clinton was wonderful and still does, and when half the country couldn't see that Gore tried to steal the election and then made it seem like Bush did.

Cathy, I agree with you. It is foolish to just hope that the left will 'self-implode.' Conservatives/Republicans (not always the same, but at least close) have a GREAT message -- but it seems NO talent in articulating and disseminating it. It seems like basic PR to me: target your audience, define your message, get it into the media where it will reach your audience. This takes a talented wordsmith, able to reach people at their own level -- issues expressed in terms of what is important to Everyman.

Other posters have pointed out that the 'mainstream' media are overwhelmingly Liberal/Democrat. That is why your comment that MONEY is needed is so true. The only way to get the message out for us is to BUY the space or airtime. So I would be pleased to see an organization that could do these two things. However, it would have definite tax disadvantages, because as Diotima has pointed out, nonprofits are severely restricted as to what political activities they may pursue. Thus, donors would have to care enough about the cause not to require tax deductibility.

Your third point, getting out big marches, is not doable. It is all too true that Conservatives 'have a life' -- a job, a home, a family. We don't do well in marches (except for a few brave counter-protesters!). However, we could perhaps do targeted media events.

Bottom line: GOP needs to hire a good, inventive PR firm. Know any? :-)

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