| Dear Walter, You might have noticed there's a presidential election happening. It's kind of a big deal, but you wouldn't be able to tell that from the ABC debate last night. America wants to hear how our candidates will handle the tough issues, but evidently ABC is more interested in gotcha politics and trumped up gossip. Questions on the economy? Nope. The war? Not really. Global warming, jobs, $4 gas? Why would America want to know about that? Yesterday, Democracy for America, True Majority and Brave New Films released a smoking gun video of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice lying to Congress. We bought ad time in Philadelphia and pressured ABC to ask: Will Senators Clinton and Obama call on Secretary Rice to resign? I guess ABC couldn't be bothered with important questions. After all, it's only America's reputation in the world that's at stake. Join me in asking the question that ABC won't ask. The campaign is taking off and getting covered across the country; from newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and the Washington Post to blogs like Huffington Post and Daily Kos. Here's John Nichols writing for The Nation: "Despite the fact that it received little coverage in the media, it was revealed that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice personally presided over meetings where top administration officials reviewed, selected and then encouraged the use of specific torture techniques. To help the media and the candidates focus on Democracy for America and Brave New Films -- the people who campaigned so successfully for the removal of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and a television ad campaign demanding the resignation of secretary of state." We need Senators Clinton and Obama demanding her resignation and working to hold the Bush administration accountable. When we hit 100,000 signatures we will deliver them directly to all the presidential candidates. Am I upset with the network coverage of the presidential campaigns? Yes. In fact, you might say I'm bitter. But I'm going to do something about it. Join me and sign the petition now. Thank you for taking action, -Arshad Arshad Hasan
Executive Director P.S. In case you missed Jim's message yesterday announcing this campaign, I have included it below.
Dear Walter, You and I suspected it. Now, ABC News confirms it.¹ Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chaired repeated White House meetings approving specific torture techniques before they were used -- then lied about it to Congress. Now Brave New Films put it all together in a "smoking gun" video. That's why, Democracy for America is partnering with True Majority and Brave New Films to launch an aggressive national campaign with a simple message: Condi Must Go. Watch the video and sign the petition now. This is the first time concrete evidence shows that senior White House officials, "not only discussed specific plans and specific interrogation methods, but approved them." The torture meetings were gruesome in detail, often choreographed "down to the number of times a CIA agent could use a specific tactic" or combination of tactics. The ABC news report makes it crystal clear that torture committed in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay were not isolated incidents by a few "bad apples". In fact, these incidents were standard operating procedure dictated at the highest level of government and led by the current Secretary of State. Her directives to the CIA were unambiguous, "This is your baby, go do it." Join me in signing the "Condi Must Go" petition right now. Don't sit this petition out because you think Secretary Rice is untouchable. When we joined with Brave New Films to push for the impeachment of Alberto Gonzales last year, no one thought he would ever be forced out of office. Our critics were wrong then, and they are wrong now. That's why we're working with True Majority and Brave New Films to expose the truth about Condoleezza Rice. Today, we launch the petition. Tonight, we start a media campaign with a 30-second ad airing on ABC immediately after tonight's Presidential debate. We will not stop until Condoleezza Rice is held accountable. Sign the petition now. Working together, we move America forward. Thank you for everything you do. -Jim Jim Dean
Chair ¹ abcnews(dot)go(dot)com/print?id=4583256
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