Democracy for America Starts Petition to Halt Airing of USA Next Ads

Released: Feb 25, 2005 12:11 PM

In just the past 48 hours, tens of thousands have already signed the petition

BURLINGTON, VT.—The extreme right-wing lobbying organization, USA Next, has started a smear campaign against the AARP, one of the largest opponents of private investment accounts—the centerpiece of President Bush's Social Security plan. This conservative lobbying group, which is the same hatchet group that ran the Swift Boat ads in the 2004 Presidential election, recently posted a deceptive and bigoted online advertisement featuring a photo of an American soldier being crossed out next to an image of two men in tuxedos kissing with a check mark and the ad copy reading "The Real Agenda of the AARP."

In an effort to halt the airing of this disgraceful propaganda, Democracy for America (DFA) has started an online petition drive asking television stations not to abet this type of slanderous platform and not to air any ads produced by USA Next. The petition, which has already been signed by tens of thousands of individuals, will be delivered to every television station that aired the Swift Boat ads in 2004 and intends to air ads by USA Next in 2005.

"We started this petition in an attempt to stop these dishonest, hate-inspired ads from making it beyond the online world," said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America. "It's sad that the Republicans are engaging in this type of smear campaign. If they truly supported the President's Social Security plan, they wouldn't have to resort to such disgraceful strategies, but obviously they too believe it is a bad plan."

Democracy for America, which was founded by Governor Howard Dean in March 2004, is a political action committee dedicated to building a grassroots network of socially progressive and fiscally responsible activists and candidates running for all levels of office. Through the use of grassroots tactics, coalition building strategies, activist trainings and on-line support, DFA is fighting against the right-wing's divisive policies and corporate interests. DFA is giving ordinary people the power to reform their own political system.