MoveOn writes:

Yesterday, former Vice President Al Gore spoke to a packed audience of almost 3,000 MoveOn supporters about the Bush administration's attacks on our basic freedoms.

[Editor's note: I watched the speech, and it was indeed remarkable. Even better than his speech at NYU in August, which I attended with dawkins.]

With this speech, the groundswell of opposition to the Patriot Act, that has erupted through local resolutions in thousands of cities across the nation, has now leapt to the national stage. This is not a partisan issue. This is about defending the very fabric of our nation. Americans are fed up with politicians who use fear to consolidate power, leaving our institutions and traditions in tatters.

You can view a webcast of the speech at:

http://www.moveon.org/gore/webcast.html

The speech was covered by major media outlets -- AP, New York Times, Washington Post. We need to continue the drumbeat.

We'd like to place ads in the New York Times and in USA Today, with key excerpts from this speech. Can you help?

Just go to:

https://www.moveonvoterfund.org/donate/gore-ad.html

If we can raise $160,000 to the MoveOn.org Voter Fund, the Voter Fund will develop these ads today and get this campaign launched.

The setting -- Constitution Hall in Washington DC -- was perfect for this speech. And the crowd was just as inspiring as the speech. Thanks to all who attended and thanks for your support of this crucial campaign.

Sincerely,

--Carrie, Eli, James, Joan, Noah, Peter, Wes, and Zack
The MoveOn.org Team
November 10th, 2003

PS: Go here to check on the AP story on Mr. Gore's speech.

MoveOn.org co-sponsored this event with the American Constitution Society. ACS is a national organization of law students, lawyers, academics, judges, and policymakers committed to restoring the values of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, equality, and access to justice to their rightful, central place in American law. Visit ACS at: www.acslaw.org

Also: an update on MoveOn's larger campaign:

It's only been three weeks since we launched our $10 million grassroots fundraising campaign. In that time, over 70,300 people have pitched in to run ads that highlight President Bush's failed policies. If all the checks come in, together we've given a whopping $3.6 million.

That's why this campaign to expose President Bush has attracted the attention of some heavy hitters. Today, George Soros and Peter Lewis, two of the country's leading philanthropists, have announced their strong support of our effort. They've pledged to match every dollar given by those of us in the grassroots with 50 cents of their own. In other words, if we raise $10 million, they'll put in another $5 million.

Politicians, pundits, and the press are watching this effort closely to see what happens. President Bush is raking in millions in $2,000 checks. For the first time, we're in a position to show that small donors working in partnership with the big ones can counterbalance the influence of rich Republicans. We can do it, but we'll have to dig deep and bring in more people.

Please help however you can. Remember, every dollar you give today will be matched with 50 cents from George Soros and Peter Lewis. You can give online at the links below:

By credit card.

By check.

Your gift won't just help run ads. In the next week, we'll also be launching a great new PR campaign to make sure the ads' message gets free news coverage all across the country. We'll do this the MoveOn way -- engaging hundreds of local volunteers to hold press conferences and talk to reporters about the effect of President Bush's policies in our communities.

Together, we're changing the way politics works. Thanks for being a part of it.

Sincerely,
--Carrie, Eli, James, Joan, Noah, Peter, Wes, and Zack
The MoveOn.org Team
November 11th, 2003

P.S. For more on the match announcement from George Soros and Peter Lewis, check out today's article on MSNBC.