Anti-War Web Site Boosts Democrats

AP via NYTimes.com ^ | 10/18/02

[GeneD]

Filed at 5:50 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats who cast what some considered a politically risky vote -- opposing the resolution authorizing use of force against Iraq -- are getting a financial reward for their troubles.

MoveOnPAC.org, an Internet site, raised more than $1 million this week for four members of Congress that the group calls ``heroes.''

The biggest recipient is Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., who hauled in nearly $600,000 after the MoveOn Web site started soliciting donations on Monday, said Wes Boyd, who co-founded the San Francisco-based site and serves as treasurer of its political action committee.

Democratic Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey received more than $170,000, Boyd said, while Reps. Rick Larsen and Jay Inslee of Washington state each received more than $150,000.

All but Inslee are involved in close races, with Wellstone in the toughest fight. His Republican opponent, former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, got a boost from President Bush, who visited Minnesota on Friday.

Boyd said the closeness of the campaigns was not the deciding factor in offering to help.

``What's important to us is they got out there and spoke (against the war) and took a courageous position,'' Boyd said. ``Not a lot of folks have.''

Since topping $1 million through more than 37,000 donations, the group has added two more Democrats: Oregon Senate challenger Bill Bradbury and Connecticut Rep. James Maloney. Maloney received more than $23,000 in the first day of donations, while Bradbury got more than $15,000, Boyd said.

Boyd and another Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Joan Blades, founded MoveOn.org in 1998 to lobby against the impeachment of President Clinton. Its name comes from its original message: ``Censure and move on.''

MoveOnPAC.org is a separate legal entity run by many of the same people. Contributions made online go directly and instantly to the candidate's campaign.

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On the Net: http://www.MoveOnPAC.org

[GeneD]

The AP was in such a rush (no pun intended) to run this story its functionaries forgot the forward slashes on the Web site's name.

[mewzilla]

Bet the donor list would make interesting reading...

[Rodney King]

That's a lot of money. I don't beleive it for a second. They are lying. There is no way they raised that much money that fast.

[BigWaveBetty]

I hope Babs got writers cramp. ;-)