MoveOn's Latest Strategy: Getting Their Members to Write Letters to the Editor

8/13/09

[FrdmLvr]

Dear MoveOn member, Right-wing mobs aren't just disrupting congressional town halls—their outlandish lies are now making their way into mainstream news coverage, too.

We need to set the record straight. The majority of Americans support real health care reform. And no wonder, given the incredible cost of inaction.

In Michigan alone, 620 people lose their coverage every day. And for those with insurance, yearly premiums will hit $22,579 in a few years if we don't act.

We can't let right-wing extremists ruin the biggest opportunity in a generation to get real reform. Can you send a quick letter to the editor of The Detroit Free Press—or another local paper—about the urgent need in Michigan for Congress to pass health care reform with a real public option?

Click here:

http://pol.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=116&id=16803-10389527-IF_Vq.x&t=3

Our tool makes writing a letter really simple. You can send the letter right from our website—it only takes a few minutes.

If you've never written a letter to the editor before, now is the time to send your first. The letters page is one of the most widely read—and most important—in local newspapers. Members of Congress and their staffs read it to understand how their constituents are feeling. And since members are all home in the district this month—and paying close attention to the health care debate in particular—your letter will make an even bigger impact.

Here are some talking points specific to Michigan you can use in your letter:

We can't afford to wait for reform: Each day, 620 people in Michigan lose their health care coverage. And without reform, those who still have insurance will see their yearly premiums go up by $9,347 in the next decade—to a staggering $22,579.

Reform with a real public option is key to expanding coverage: Under current legislation, which includes a strong public health insurance option, 869,000 people in Michigan—and 37 million Americans nationwide1—will gain coverage by 2019.

A real public health insurance option is crucial to lowering costs: With premiums projected to hit $22,579, we need to get costs down. By spurring competition, a public plan will help bring down out-of-control costs2 for individuals, families, and small businesses. Can you send a letter to the editor of The Detroit Free Press, or another local newspaper, as part of our "Real Voices for Change" campaign? Just click here to get started:

http://pol.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=116&id=16803-10389527-IF_Vq.x&t=4 Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Kat, Eli, Wes, and the rest of the team

Sources:

All state-specific figures: "Why We Need Health Reform," Center for American Progress, July 31, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51750&id=16803-10389527-IF_Vq.x&t=5

1. "Coverage for America: We All Stand to Gain," Families USA, July 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51751&id=16803-10389527-IF_Vq.x&t=6

2. "Why We Need a Public Health-Care Plan," The Wall Street Journal, June 24, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51737&id=16803-10389527-IF_Vq.x&t=7

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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The Talking Points in the first link:

We Need Real Health Care Reform Now Right-wing mobs aren't just disrupting congressional town halls—their outlandish lies are now making their way into mainstream news coverage, too. We need to set the record straight. Can you send a quick letter to the editor of your local paper about the urgent need for Congress to pass health care reform with a real public health insurance option? The process is simple -- just follow the three steps below. See the tips on the bottom right of the page for ideas (click on the "Writing Tips" tab). Please report any problems you have here.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Step 1: Select a newspaper Local Papers Circulation # Sent

Dearborn Press & Guide 50,000 0 The Mirror of Royal Oak 34,615 1 Dearborn Times-Herald 28,000 0 Sunday Times 25,000 0

Regional Papers Circulation # Sent

Detroit Free Press 363,490 14 The Detroit News 233,085 5 The Blade 138,435 0 The Metro Times 105,000 1

Step 3: Enter Your Address & Send (*=required) *Name: *Email: *Phone: *Address: *City/State: *Zip: Change ZIP Code

Step 2: Write your letter Use the talking points below the composition window for ideas.

View: drafting in own words Subject:

Body:

Talking Points (see your email for state-specific facts to include) We can't afford to wait for reform: Each day, 14,000 people in the U.S. lose their health care coverage. And without reform, those who still have insurance will see their yearly premiums go up by $9,000 in the next decade—to a staggering $22,000.

Reform with a real public option is key to expanding coverage: Under current legislation, which includes a strong public health insurance option, 37 million Americans will gain coverage by 2019.

A real public health insurance option is crucial to lowering costs: With premiums projected to hit $22,000, we need to get costs down. By spurring competition, a public plan will help bring down out-of-control costs for individuals, families, and small businesses. Sources: "Why We Need Health Reform," Center for American Progress and "Coverage for America," Families USA

Tips on Writing a Letter to the Editor Reference a Recent Article: If possible, it is best to include a reference to recent article that appeared in the newspaper you've selected and then write your letter as a response, building on what was printed or pointing out how your viewpoint isn't included. This greatly increases the likelihood that your letter will be printed.

Include Your Contact Information: Most newspapers will only print a letter to the editor after calling the author to verify his or her identity and address. Newspapers will not give out that information and will usually only print your name and city should your letter be published.

Be Clear and Concise: Keep your letters brief and to the point. Newspaper editors often edit for length, so try to keep your letter to less than 200 words. The shorter it is, the more likely it will be printed.

State Your Point Early: Be sure to state your main point in the subject line and in the first sentence of the letter.

Keep to One Topic: Keep your letters focused on one subject.

Privacy Policy (the basics): We do not share the information you’ve given us with unaffiliated groups without your explicit permission. For petitions, letters to the editor, and surveys you've signed or completed, we treat your name, city, state, and comments as public information. We will not make your street address publicly available, but we may transmit it to members of Congress and to the President as part of a petition. MoveOn will send you updates on this and other important campaigns by email. If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from our email list, you may do so. For our complete privacy policy, click here.

Paid for by MoveOn.org Political Action, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

MoveOn.org Civic Action is a 501(c)(4) organization which primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on important national issues. MoveOn.org Political Action is a federal political committee which primarily helps members elect candidates who reflect our values through a variety of activities aimed at influencing the outcome of the next election. MoveOn.org Political Action and MoveOn.org Civic Action are separate organizations.

[ronnietherocket2]

The majority of Americans support real health care reform

I wholeheartedly agree with the need for real healthcare reform.

[La Lydia]

Why bother when their sympathizers and fellow travelers already write the editorials and most of the columns.

[Tarpon]

Maybe they forgot no one reads newspapers anymore?

[Uncle Ike]

Dear MoveOn...

Good luck — we tried the ‘Letters to the Editors’ route for years, as well as ‘Letters to Congressmen’ and ‘Letters to Senators’....

It didn’t work....

All those years of writer’s cramp, and we’ve accomplished so much more in 2 weeks of ‘taking it to the streets.’

Maybe your results will be different, and we wish you well - but we’re ready to meet you on the street, whenever you’re ready...

Best Wishes...

The Right Wing Angry Mob

[Tarpon]

Me too, let’s start with tort reform and get the ambulance chaser, like Edwards out of the process. Loser pays will do that.

[a fool in paradise]

Dear MoveOn member, Right-wing mobs aren't just disrupting congressional town halls—their outlandish lies are now making their way into mainstream news coverage, too. We need to set the record straight.

"Dear Moron member, Right-wingers are appearing too plentiful in number to no longer pretend they don't exist. So now we must proceed to scare the public about them. Communism never was a threat to this nation but Conservativism IS. Some newspapers are writing about their rallies and even taking pictures. Democrats been caught planting Obamunists both inside the town halls and outside in the protests. We say they are telling lies; now it's our "turn" to tell some Healther whoppers. Please write your local editor..."

[Condor51]

Okay. So moveon wants to spam Michigan congress-critters.

But don't letters written in crayon get tossed out, or sent to the FBI for follow-up?

[Brookhaven]

I heard one congressman say several years ago that one handwritten letter carried as much weight as 100 typed letters and 1,000 emails.

These robo letters don’t have much impact. The people that get them know what they are (and recognize they contain almost the same text.)

If you really want to impact someone, write it out in long hand. Or if you must type it, add a hand written PS at the bottom of the letter.

[clintonh8r]

It works just fine for me as is.

[avacado]

"And for those with insurance, yearly premiums will hit $22,579 in a few years if we don't act."

Speaking of Whoppers!

[a fool in paradise]

Maybe they forgot no one reads newspapers anymore?

It's cheaper to run readers' letters, no author to pay, just publishing costs and solicit some ads.

Maybe the New York Times will start a "Letter To The NYTimes" publication ala Penthouse Forum:

"Jason Blair, you'll never believe what happened to me..."

[freekitty]

Why don’t they just write “we are non thinking lemmings and we want big government to run our lives for us”?

[doxteve]

“Me too, let’s start with tort reform and get the ambulance chaser, like Edwards out of the process. Loser pays will do that.”

I like it. Frivolous lawsuits have done a lot of damage, here in WA State, and as we've seen what Sarah Palin had to divest herself from in AK.

Alas, I don't see or sense any change in our lawyer infested Congress or any other level of politics. But I wish we could literally change the system as we all wish.

[mdk1960]

Send it by “Mob” Mail...great idea!

[ronnietherocket2]

I am in favor of getting the gooberment out of healthcare. right now it is deeply entrenched.

[popdonnelly]

I can always spot the letters to the editor that are written by Dem politicos.

[popdonnelly]

Astroturfing. Phony “public opinion”.

[elpadre]

Writing Letters to the Editor is a project all of us can do. The left seems to have a corner on the market only because we let them have it.

Would that everyone on FR would write a letter on a regular schedule.