Grassfire Team "Delivers" Strong Message to Rep. McDermott

When Rep. Jim McDermott omitted the words “Under God” in his recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance from the floor of the House of Representatives, he likely did not anticipate the overwhelming grassroots response that would ensue.

Shortly after Rep McDermott’s blunt and intentional omission of the Pledge, Grassfire.org notified our Pledge of Allegiance petition signers and encouraged our team to call, fax or e-mail Rep. McDermott’s office.

The response from the Grassfire team was overwhelming, literally. “We heard reports that Rep. McDermott’s phones were tied up for days,” says Grassfire Director of Communications, Ron De Jong. “In fact, a staffer in his office told me that they finally just shut off their fax machine.”

The Grassfire team continued to contact Rep. McDermott’s office for several days. Then, during a trip to the nation’s capital, De Jong and Grassfire President Steve Elliott hand-delivered Grassfire’s custom “One Nation Under God” lapel pins to McDermott’s office. “They certainly knew about Grassfire,” says Elliott, who notes that the staff did politely accept the pins.

Now, Grassfire is launching a nationwide commemorative campaign honoring the 50 year anniversary of the words ‘Under God” being added to the Pledge, which takes place on June 15.

Help honor “Under God At 50” by ordering a lapel pin today!

STATEMENT FOLLOWING U.S. SUPREME COURT ORAL ARGUMENTS IN ELK GROVE V. NEWDOW
Grassfire.org Supreme Court Brief to Accommodate Voice of the People

Washington, DC –  Having just heard the oral arguments presented before the US Supreme Court in Elk Grove v. Newdow, I am confident that the eight Supreme Court Justices will overturn the 9th Circuit’s outrageous decision to strip “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Justices left open the possibility of reversing the 9th Circuit on the issue of Dr. Newdow’s standing and questioned him strongly on the merits of the case. Justice Ginsburg even referenced the Court’s longstanding tradition of opening each session with the words “God save this honorable court” in questioning Dr. Newdow’s position.

However, if this Court rules in any way to limit the rights of Americans to say “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, they will ignite a grassroots protest unlike any this nation has seen in decades.

Citizens across this nation have joined Grassfire.org and have rallied in support of the Pledge by the hundreds of thousands. Grassfire.org has seen nearly 600,000 Americans sign our petitions in support of the Pledge. In addition, more than 174,000 citizens co-signed our Amicus Brief, and today, more than 400,000 citizens will recite the Pledge of Allegiance as a statement of solidarity.

The public acknowledgement of God – by American citizens and by our Government – is fundamental to the American experience. Let’s pray this Court keeps it this way.

– Steve Elliott, President, Grassfire.org

GRASSFIRE.ORG APPLAUDS HOUSE ACTION ON INDECENCY FINES
Grassfire.org Supreme Court Brief to Accommodate Voice of the People

Washington, DC – Since October of 2003, Grassfire.org, an online conservative issues advocacy organization, has been leading the fight to return decency to the airwaves. Last Friday, the efforts of Grassfire.org and its supporters were reciprocated as the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004 (HR3717) that will increase fines for broadcast indecency 18-fold to $500,000 per violation.

“We applaud those in Congress who have listened to the citizens of this nation and are moving so forcefully to bring decency standards back to the airwaves,” said Steve Elliott, president of Grassfire.org.

On March 24, 2004, Grassfire.org will deliver more than 200,000 petitions to both Representative Fred Upton (R-MI) and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) who introduced these bills (HR 3717, S2056). “Most of our petition deliveries are intended to call attention to an issue that needs attention,” said Elliott. “This petition presentation represents a massive show of citizen support and is our way of saying ‘thank you’ for taking action and putting this issue on the fast-track.”

Since the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) October decision to excuse Irish rocker Bono’s F-word utterance during a live broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards, Grassfire.org has spearheaded efforts to rally support for stronger broadcast decency standards. In doing so, more than 10,000 letters were sent to the each of the FCC commissioners and members of Congress and thousands of phone calls were made in support of the legislation.

“When Grassfire initiated this campaign, we took a lot of heat for insinuating that Bono’s remark was opening the door for more obscenity,” said Elliott. “Since then, the Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, and Nicole Ritchie incidents have proven us right and further underscoring the need to take action.
To this end, we are grateful for all of the support we received and the response from both the citizens and the Government.”

Grassfire.org is an online grassroots organization that provides tools to individuals and organizations seeking to expand their impact on many of today’s most important issues. By providing services to more than 1.5 million citizens and dozens of organizations, Grassfire.org is one of the largest online grassroots networks in the nation.

174,000 Citizens Join Grassfire’s Supreme Court Brief Supporting the Pledge of Allegiance
Grassfire.org Supreme Court Brief to Accommodate Voice of the People

Washington, DC – Today, Grassfire.org, an online conservative issues advocacy organization, has announced that more than 174,000 citizens have joined its Amicus brief (or “friend of the court” brief) filed with the Supreme Court in support of keeping “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Brief, originally filed by Grassfire.org in December and now amended to include over 174,000 citizen co-signers, will be submitted to the Supreme Court prior to oral arguments in Newdow v. U.S. Congress on March 24.

Grassfire.org has been at the epicenter of the Pledge debate since the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, CA ruled it unconstitutional in 2002 saying the phrase “under God” associated the Pledge with a form public prayer.

“With more than 174,000 signatures, this is one of the largest citizen-sponsored briefs to be presented to the nation’s highest court,” said Grassfire.org President Steve Elliot. “This Amicus brief sends a strong message to the Supreme Court that American citizens want to keep ‘under God’ in the Pledge and faith in our public lives.”

In addition to their Amicus Brief, Grassfire.org has spearheaded letter-writing campaigns and collected nearly 600,000 signatures on petitions that were delivered to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the U.S. Supreme Court, , President George W. Bush, and other key elected officials.

Also on March 23 – the eve of the Court’s oral arguments -- Grassfire.org will hold a news conference in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. Grassfire.org President Steve Elliot will be taking questions from members of the media and will be available for interview immediately following the press conference.

Grassfire.org is an online grassroots organization that provides tools to individuals and organizations seeking to expand their impact on many of today’s most important issues. By providing services to more than 1.5 million citizens and dozens of organizations, Grassfire.org is one of the largest online grassroots networks in the nation.

WHO’S MORE LIBERAL THAN TED KENNEDY?
New Advertising Campaign Penetrates Kerry’s Rhetoric and Exposes a Liberal Record Rivaling Ted Kennedy

WASHINGTON DC –– Today, Grassfire.org, an online conservative issues advocacy organization, launched a new awareness campaign intended to reach more than one million citizens with an eye-opening comparison of Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA).

Debuting on the Internet at www.grassfire.org, the new 30-second spot identifies positions generally associated with a “Massachusetts liberal,” and then invites viewers to decide whether the description fits Senator Kerry or Senator Kennedy.

“On the key issues of concern to Grassfire.org members, it’s difficult to differentiate between Senators Kerry and Kennedy,” said Grassfire.org President Steve Elliott. “On issues including abortion, tax cuts, military spending, and the federal marriage amendment, John Kerry and Teddy Kennedy are legislative clones. In fact, these two Massachusetts liberals have voted together 94 percent of the time and, according to a recent report by the National Journal, John Kerry’s Senate voting record is the most liberal of anyone in the U.S. Senate.”

The ad begins by identifying a Massachusetts liberal who “opposed the death penalty – even for cop killers – stands against the war in Iraq, and voted seven times to cut our military.” The ad continues, “He is extreme on abortion and supports gay rights,” then asks the viewer if the person being described is Ted Kennedy or John F. Kerry. In conclusion, the ad prompts viewers to Grassfire.org to view the Kerry/Kennedy comparison and “decide for yourself who is the real Massachusetts liberal.”

“Grassfire.org is one of the largest conservative online networks and by debuting this ad on the Internet, we are hoping to generate an immediate response,” said Elliott. “We are relying on our team members to generate enough support to bring the ad to the television airwaves and into the homes of Americans nationwide.”

This campaign follows two recent ads designed to counter the overwhelming amount of anti-Bush propaganda generated by left-wing radical organizations like MoveOn.org. Each of the ads, including the newest, can be seen by visiting www.grassfire.org and is available to members of the media by request.

For more information about Grassfire.org, or to schedule an interview with Grassfire President Steve Elliott, contact Max Pulsinelli at 703-739-5920 or email pulsinelli@sbpublicaffairs.com.

MoveOn.Org's Radical Agenda Exposed

Who is MoveOn?
And why are they attacking President Bush?

This fall, MoveOn.org – a left wing online political group – announced a $10 million ad campaign with the sole purpose of attacking and undermining President Bush. A short time later, media mogul George Soros announced that he was making a $5 million gift to MoveOn toward this campaign. Coming on the heels of MoveOn’s extensive anti-war and anti-Bush “Mis-Leader” campaign earlier this year, it is now clear that this radical left organization is positioned to dramatically influence the 2004 elections.

But how did it happen? Who is MoveOn? And why are they attacking President Bush?

Background
Moveon.org is a left wing, “grassroots” internet-community founded as a response to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1998. Organized, funded and built by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, Joan Blades and Wes Boyd (of the “flying toaster” screen savers), MoveOn.org now claims 2 million “online activists” from all over the world and has become the darling of the media elite and the left.

MoveOn gets its name from their efforts urging our nation to censure then President Clinton and “move on.” But MoveOn didn’t really gain significant momentum until the last half of 2002 when they directed all their efforts against President Bush and the approaching war in Iraq. Still, at first MoveOn was one of several radical left anti-war groups that were trumpeting the anti-Bush, anti-war campaign.

Growing on the Anti-Bush Platform
With the war imminent, MoveOn launched media campaigns (beginning with newspaper ads) opposing the war and opposing President Bush’s leadership. Their efforts struck a nerve with all facets of the left because it struck a common theme – anti-Bush. Whether you opposed Bush for the war, his conservative positions or for supposedly “stealing” the 2000 election, MoveOn was there to provide a sounding board for your anger. Make no mistake: MoveOn’s rise is tied directly to cultivating this anti-Bush sentiment. And now, MoveOn is directing its resources squarely at attacking President Bush.

Is MoveOn mainstream liberal or radical left?
Is MoveOn mainstream liberal or radical left? We’ll let you decide. Here are a few of MoveOn’s positions:

•Opposed impeachment of Bill Clinton
•Promoted radical anti-war agenda in the days leading up to the Iraq War
•Anti-Second Amendment
•Opposed tax cuts; ran TV ad showing dramatization of school doing a blood drive to pay for school supplies
•This summer, opposed the California citizen recall of Gray Davis.
•After 9/11 – with thousands of Americans dead and our nation shook to the core -- MoveOn aggressively promoted “peaceful” solutions instead of supporting our President and leaders in Congress.
•Has consistently and at every turn opposed the Iraq War.
•Has launched an aggressive media campaign that labels President Bush a “Mis-Leader”
•Opposes the $87 billion in funding for Iraq despite strong bi-partisan support for the funding in Congress.
•Launched “Fire Rumsfeld” petition calling on the dismissal of the Secretary of Defense.
•December 2003, released a video documentary supposedly uncovering the “whole truth” about the war. The teaser starts, “We were lied to.”
• $10 million Anti-Bush “Mis-Leader” ad campaign under way

MoveOn is radical left, radical peace and radical anti-Bush. Now, MoveOn is investing millions of dollars in an effort to discredit our President, undermine the war effort and cast President Bush as a “mis-leader.”

See for yourself (and be sure to watch the latest “Mis-Leader” ad):
http://www.MoveOn.org

Want to do something to stop these attacks?
Watch Grassfire’s “Truth” ad.
Sign the “Support the Commander In Chief” petition
Donate to help air Grassfire’s ads

 

Grassfire Media Coverage

December 10, 2003
Grassfire President Steve Elliott was on the G. Gordon Liddy national radio show  Wednesday, December 10, 2003.  Liddy's show reaches millions each week.
 

Grassfire President Steve Elliott interviewed on the Ken Hamblin syndicated radio show.  Hamblin reaches more than 2.5 million people per week.