Post-election news reports cited exit polls claiming "we" voted the economy while "they" voted moral issues. But most Kerry voters and Nader voters define themselves as voting on moral issues. Let's learn from those on the Right. We must be vocal and visible about what moral issues matter to us, now more than ever.
- Make a list of the moral issues you voted on, from poverty to mercury poisoning to war. Be as prolific as you can. Carry the list with you so you can keep adding to it.
- Starting MONDAY November 8 or as soon as you can thereafter, compose a daily email naming one of your moral issues. The content of the email should be a single sentence: "Poverty is a moral issue." "Mercury poisoning is a moral issue." No tirades. No attacks. Just one definitive sentence.
- Send the email to as many news outlets, government officials, conservative organizations, etc. as you like. Always cc a copy to myissue@whatisamoralissue.org so we can track the campaign. Once you've got the list of issues and of recipients, the campaign should take no more than five minutes a day.
- Urge your friends to join the campaign. Over 56 million voters cast ballots for either Kerry or Nader. If only a small portion of us send daily emails, we will inundate the media and the politicians with our message of a progressive morality. And, since morality transcends age and nationality, those too young to vote and those who are not American citizens are welcome to join the campaign.
As long as only conservatives speak in terms of "morals," progressives stand no chance of persuading large numbers of moderate conservatives about the pressing moral issues that concern us. Our morality is as strong, as committed, and as life affirming as anyone's. It deserves as much press attention and social visibility.
We did an amazing job getting out the vote on November 2. But it wasn't enough. We need to keep the new voters energized and active. And we need to broaden our appeal to morally-driven Americans who voted for Bush. They need not be our enemies, or even our opposition. This campaign will affirm the importance of issues 49% of voters supported, and it will teach us how to articulate those issues in ways that speak to some of the other 51%. Let's expand the power of progressive America by reframing the morality debates.
The immediate goal is to transform the disappointment, sadness, and anger progressives are feeling over the election into an energized recommitment to action.
The intermediate goal is to find ways to make our moral issues more appealing to conservatives. For example, I'm staunchly pro-choice. If I encounter a conservative who is staunchly anti-choice, we could shout at each other or ignore each other. I'd rather say, "If you believe life begins at conception, join me by protesting government regulations that allow increased mercury poisoning (which harms fetuses) and fighting for money for pre-natal care for poor women." What if everyone who voted for Bush because he is anti-choice joined these other campaigns?
The long-term goal is to ensure the potency of progressive morality in future elections and social justice campaigns.
Here are some email addresses to get you started. As we expand this website, you will be able to add to the list.
Fox News comments@foxnews.com
CNN CNN.com/feedback
The New York Times nytnews@nytimes.com
Morning Edition morning@npr.org
All Things Considered atc@npr.org
The Washington Post letters@washpost.com
The Oregonian letters@news.oregonian.com
The Miami Herald nationalnews@herald.com
President Bush president@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Cheney vice.president@whitehouse.gov
Find Your Congressional Representative's email http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Find Your Senator's email http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Bonus 1: If you work for a news outlet or know someone who does, use your influence to secure media coverage of the campaign. To interview the creator of the campaign, request an interview .
Bonus 2: Steal this idea. Put the phrase X "is a moral issue" on anything you'd like: t-shirts, bumper stickers, whatever. Make progressive morality visible anyway you can. All I ask is that you either sell the items at cost or donate all profits from the sales to an organization that deals directly with the issue (for example, if you sell things that say "Hunger is a moral issue," donate the proceeds to America's Second Harvest). I'm trusting people to honor this request. Greed is a moral issue!
Bonus 3: Organize a "What is a moral issue?" gathering. Invite everyone you can think of and tell them to bring everyone they can think of. Brainstorm your list of moral issues together. You can give prizes (or just cheers) for the longest list, the best issue, etc. But since our campaign is collaborative, not competitive, feel free to copy from each other's lists for your emails. And why not brainstorm some more bonuses while you're at it?
Bonus 4: Nothing says "Happy Thanksgiving, Grandma" like a new yahoo account and an invitation to join our email campaign.
Bonus 5: Organize dialogues at your place of worship on "what is a moral issue?" Invite other congregations to join you. Help moderate conservatives understand that religious faith and observance transcend political parties.
As we expand this website, we will invite you to share your own Bonus ideas to the list.
I'm a writer and educator in Portland, Oregon, who's productively irate, longing for change, and lucky enough to live with a web designer. We do not make any money from this site or the campaign. We volunteer our time and pay for the cost of running the website and the campaign ourselves. We aren't asking for a donation (unless you're a wealthy individual or foundation interested in underwriting a progressive think tank). We just want you to participate in the campaign to share progressive morality.