NRA vs. MoveOn: Which is the Biggest Political Kingmaker?

by PEP | September 17, 2007 at 08:53 pm

321 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Update: The understanding of MoveOn's financial and cultural clout is essential in assessing the upcoming elections. Now, Rudy Giuliani and MoveOn go into full-scale combat.

With the current furor over MoveOn's New York Times (discounted) ad calling Gen.David Patraeus a traitor to his country, it's time to take a look at MoveOn.org. If you think that Charlton Heston, Moses, and the National Rifle Association (NRA) can purchase the most political firepower, take aim instead at the power of MoveOn.org.

From a Clinton advocacy group, MoveOn has grown to be a liberal--some would say far leftist or even socialist--juggernaut. Its political clout--and control--over America's candidates and governance is certain to be a key issue in the upcoming presidential campaign as well as continuing to muscle Congressional and other elections.

Here's a pop quiz on money in politics: Who gives more money to federal candidates, the National Rifle Association or MoveOn.org?

Answer: MoveOn.

And it isn't even close.

In the last two election cycles, MoveOn.org Political Action Committee spent more than $58 million in pro-Democrat political advocacy, according to Federal Election Commission records.