Moveon.org spinoff group opposes Bernanke reappointment

By Kyle-Anne Shiver and Lee Cary

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) is soliciting support to oppose the reappointment of Ben Bernanke as Fed Chair.

PCCC does its name: It supports the campaigns of progressive Democrats and the progressive causes for which they stand. An organization consisting of "a group of progressive operatives from MoveOn.org and labor circles," its co-founder, Adam Green, was formerly MoveOn.org's Director of Strategic Campaigns.

Last Friday, Green sent an e-blast aiming to raise money to influence-target Sen. Joe Lieberman and Blue Dogs in the House. Now PCCC is going after Bernanke.

Here's the relevant content from today's e-blast from PCCC:

This Thursday, the Senate Banking Committee will hold hearings on whether to confirm Ben Bernanke -- who was first appointed by George W. Bush -- to another six-year term as Chair of the Federal Reserve.

Who is Ben Bernanke? Under his watch, the Federal Reserve turned over trillions of dollars in bailouts to big Wall Street banks and didn't demand accountability in return. And Bernanke still refuses to tell Congress how those trillions of dollars were used.

This week, we have an opportunity that we won't have again for another six years: to replace Ben Bernanke with someone who will help average Americans, not giant banks. But we urgently need your help.

Click here and tell the Senate to vote no on "Bailout Ben."

We'll give every petition signer a phone number to call to help make a difference right away -- and we'll deliver these signatures to key senators before the vote.

Just yesterday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) went on national TV to announce his "no" vote -- saying Bernanke was "part of the problem" facing our economy.

But many senators are on the fence. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), the head of the Senate Banking Committee, called the Federal Reserve an "abysmal failure" but said he was "waiting to see how members react" before deciding whether to support Ben Bernanke's reappointment.

We need to show these senators right now that it's unacceptable for Democrats to continue George W. Bush's failed policy of putting Wall Street first. The Federal Reserve's job is to promote "maximum employment." But 15 million Americans are out of work -- and the Federal Reserve is doing nothing to help. Can you help by signing our petition, and then telling your friends?

Click here to take action right away.

Thanks, as always, for being a bold progressive,

--Aaron Swartz, Stephanie Taylor, Adam Green, and the PCCC team