MoveOn.org Chief: Ready to Help President, but Not ‘Obama’s Army’
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Justin Ruben, the new director of MoveOn.org, spoke with me and ABC Political Director David Chalian today on ABC NewsNOW’s "Politics Live" about his group’s mission in the Obama era.
He offered clear support for President Obama, and vowed to put his 5 million members to work on his behalf. But Ruben made clear that his members won’t be a force that can be put into service however Team Obama wishes.
"Obama shares our values and that’s why we got engaged," he said. "I would think of us not so much as Obama’s army, but as an army of American of all stripes who are pushing for the change that this country desperately needs in a tough time."
On Iraq, Ruben praised Obama for offering a plan aimed at "bringing our troops home" — though he sounded less than enamored by the fact that the president’s plan would still leave a force of up to 50,000 troops in Iraq in late 2010.
"We’re concerned about every day that our troops are in harm’s way in Iraq," Ruben said. "That’s a matter of concern for MoveOn members, so we’re . . . I think it’s great that Speaker Pelosi and others are pushing to make sure that we bring our troops home as quickly and safely as possible, and to look at exactly how many troops we need to make that transition happen. But overall we finally — you know, the most important thing is, we have a president who has set a date certain for our troops to come home. . . . It’s been a long time coming, and MoveOn members fought for that for years."
He also offered a warning to moderate Democrats who are resisting aspects of the president’s budget:
"Our members I think see this budget as a really important document, because what it says is, we’re gonna invest in energy and health care and education and the things that it’s gonna take to make America strong again, and that we’re gonna actually take on some of the powerful interests that stand in the way, make the economy more fair and defend the middle class so that we can make America strong again," he said.
"I think our members feel that really strongly that that’s something that has to happen, [and] are concerned about anyone including moderate or conservative Democrats who are standing in the way or echoing Republican talking points," Ruben added. "And so we’re working to make sure that those folks hear from our members, that this is a budget that we need to get passed to make America — to get America moving again."
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Spoken like a true Leninist “You will do it our way comrade or we will turn on you!”. Ha – he and Pelosi both could care less about our troops, they are just lily livered cowards hiding behind our troops. And you just gotta love people who use the word “invest” meaning “with someone else’s money”. See ya in Stalingrad, Ruben!
Posted by: bruce | March 4, 2009, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
Bruce, isn’t that a Rush quote, “You will do it our way comrade or we will turn on you.”
Posted by: Liz | March 4, 2009, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
‘make the economy more fair’
So, to take from those who produce and give to those who do not is ‘fair?’
Posted by: stdntDrvr | March 4, 2009, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
I would like you to debate Rush…he will clean your clock!!!! By the time he is done with you, you would be lucky to have the job to shine his work boots.
Posted by: Nolan | March 4, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
Rush is just all words. He is just a big bubble waiting to be burst. His Ego is also as big as he is. Like someone said, “He is a Big, Fat, Idiot.” No doubt he is. All he wants is to fight. He has no moral grounds. Absolutely NOT. He is, without his money – JUST WHITE TRASH!!!.
Posted by: Sunderan Moses | March 4, 2009, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
Hey, I would love to see Sunbeam Moses actually come up with something besides insults. He should know all about white trash, looking in his mirror.
Posted by: Tom Anderson | March 4, 2009, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
No matter who or what Rush is, he really seems to bother Obama and company. Yet, they say he is of no import!!!!!
I just left another blog here on the Note that was opened at 4:06pm. At last count there was a total of 841 posts on it, mostly from Obama’s supporters.
WT…?????
If Rush was really as unimportant as they say he is, there would be nothing on that blog page.
Hmmmm, kinda make you wonder, doesn’t it?
Posted by: ceeLeelee | March 4, 2009, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm
THE UNITED STATES SHOULD NEVER HAVE SENT
TROOPS TO IRAQ……. IT WAS STUPID
THEN ITS STUPID TODAY!
ANY OF YOU WANT TO FLY THEIR AND HELP
OUT GO FOR IT …. maybe you can find
the WMDS …. LOL
Posted by: Anita Yova | March 4, 2009, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
Ready to help Obama? What else have they been doing for over a year?
Posted by: ken | March 5, 2009, 12:16 am 12:16 am
No your George Soros’ army, and George Soros recruited Obama to be another footsoldier for his warped ideas of how he preceives the world should be run.
George Soros funded Obama, George Soros is a tax cheat with his main money (billions) offshore (i’d love to see all the Dems outrage at this?), George Soros loves to see the depression of nations so he can make money off the growth.
Posted by: D | March 5, 2009, 8:04 am 8:04 am
TO: All the Limbraugh followers….what don’t you get….middle class workers have been “producing” for years. This is America, and we don’t have One class of people, we are from different backgrounds….some of us are not well-connected to get high profile positions to Cook the Books..or was not born with a “silver spoon” in our mouths. So am I less worthy of the American dream with all it’s fairness?. We think NOT!!! My parents instilled in Us that if you worked hard, love God and raise your family with principals and values, it would pay off. Not! These pincipals and values went out the window with those that “Self-Served” their country, and started to “hammer” away these same principals out of greed!. These people that are being talked about as self made, Producers wouldn’t be producers without the back-breaking work of the middle class. Because these principals has been dilated, these so-called producers are producing for no other that themselves. So, one without the other does not exist. This is evident by the shape of America today. Mr.Limbraugh is still using the lower class of people to keep his private jet’s tanks full, his many mansions at the expense of anger and ignorance of his listeners who raise his ratings for a bigger pay check and has never produced anything for you or me. And there’s plenty others like him…look no further than the Obstructionist in our government, that will be paid well by the taxpayers doing their “Self-Serving” and for the rest of their lives. Again, they’re be rich, but what did they produce? “We” produced their wealth.
Posted by: sngeorgia | March 5, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Sorry dude, but you are involved with Obama. Please do not try to step back out of the pile of you know what his presidency has become so soon. No way, take pride in assisting the destruction of our economy and our businesses. No jobs – that is OK, who needs jobs. Everyone should be consultant or make workers comp pay their way through life.
Sorry moveon but I will never forget how you have wrecked our country!!!
Posted by: Steve | March 5, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am
9/11 investigations must be on the agenda at all times. America is losing it’s Constitution and Bill of Rights because the elites don’t want the public to know the truth behind the event of 9/11 and the Patriot Act which followed. This paved the way the worlds largest criminal hit on our markets and pension funds. We must act like adults and American Patriots and demand the truth of these events. Unplug your cable/dish TV and show your intent.
Posted by: StandswithFists | April 15, 2009, 10:27 am 10:27 am