From top White House operative Karl Rove to two of the party campaign committees, Republicans have launched a full-scale attack on MoveOn.org, questioning the liberal group?s patriotism and worldview, Roll Call reports in Monday editions. An example of this campaign can be found at the Drudge Report, which claimed Sunday evening to have obtained "exclusive" details about a MoveOn event instructing members not to wear 'Bush Liar' t-shirts. Excerpts follow (paid restricted article here).
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These attacks appear to have two purposes: One is to put the group and its Democratic allies on the defensive over support for the war on terror. And the second is to drive a wedge between Democratic candidates and the millions of dollars that MoveOn?s supporters have pumped into their campaigns.
With MoveOn fast becoming one of the Democratic Party?s most important fundraising sources, the second goal may end up being the more important one.
The 2006 Pennsylvania Senate race provides a window into the developing battle over MoveOn.org.
State Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. (D) was featured recently in a MoveOn e-mail designed to drive donors to support his challenge to Sen. Rick Santorum (R). Within the first 24 hours, the appeal brought in $150,000 for the Casey campaign.
But the National Republican Senatorial Committee immediately went on the offensive with a release titled, ?Casey Moves In With MoveOn,? alleging that the group?s e-mail on behalf of Casey shows how closely he is aligned with the ?ultra-liberal left.?
John Brabender, Santorum?s media consultant, predicted that if Casey continues to accept MoveOn money, he will have to answer for the group?s controversial policies, which include opposing military intervention in Afghanistan.
?You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep,? Brabender said. A group like MoveOn ?will have a lot of trouble in Pennsylvania, particularly in the middle part of the state. The group will be hung around Bobby Casey?s neck.?
