TrueMajority
{{Infobox political party
| name = TrueMajority
| logo = File:TrueMajority logo.png
| colorcode = #406ECE
| foundation = {{Start date|2002|06}}
| dissolution = {{end date and age|2007|09}}
| merged = USAction
| position = Center-left
| ideology = Progressivism
| country = the United States
| website = {{URL|http://www.truemajority.org}}
}}
TrueMajority was a left-wing advocacy group in the United States. In September 2007, TrueMajority and its related organization TrueMajorityACTION merged with USAction.[http://usaction.org/about-us/history-achievements/ USAction: History and Achievements] By 2008, the combined groups had over 700,000 members,{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/26/many_voice_anger_over_700b_outlay/|author1=Wallack,Todd |author2=Bender, Bryan |title=Many voice anger over $700b outlay|work=Boston Globe|date=Sep 26, 2008}} making it, together with MoveOn, one of the two largest liberal advocacy groups in the United States.{{cite news|url=http://i4.democracynow.org/2009/2/4/with_daschles_withdrawal_from_health_sec|title=What is the Future of Healthcare Reform Following Daschle Withdrawing Health Sec. Nomination?|work=Democracy Now!|date=Feb 4, 2009|accessdate=Feb 19, 2009|archive-date=February 11, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090211061805/http://i4.democracynow.org/2009/2/4/with_daschles_withdrawal_from_health_sec|url-status=dead}}
TrueMajorityACTION was a separate but closely related organization, which had a different status under U.S. law so that it could campaign for specific parties and politicians.
In 2007, TrueMajority merged with USAction in 2007. In 2012, Ben Cohen founded Stamp Stampede.
History
TrueMajority was founded in June 2002 by Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's.{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_13/b3876133.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405002313/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_13/b3876133.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 5, 2004|title=Web Politics: "It's Just the Beginning"|work=BusinessWeek Special Report / Online Extra|date=March 29, 2004}}{{cite news |newspaper=WIRED |date=February 16, 2004 |title=The Computer Ate My Vote |first1=Kim |last1=Zetter |url=https://www.wired.com/2004/02/the-computer-ate-my-vote/}}
TrueMajority was mentioned on The Colbert Report on March 5, 2007, when Ben and Jerry made a guest appearance. In the episode, they offered free frisbees to Colbert viewers who visited the web site, and then they signed up each viewer who visited as a member of the advocacy group.{{cite web| title=Ben and Jerry| url=http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/83216/march-05-2007/ben-and-jerry---introducing-americone-dream| date=2007-03-05| publisher=The Colbert Report}}
TrueMajority's Ten Principles were endorsed by Greenpeace USA, Rock the Vote, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Peace Action, the National Head Start Association, Global Exchange, The Interfaith Alliance, The Nation, Sojourners, Rainforest Action Network, Women's Action for New Directions, Service Employees International Union, and National Council of La Raza.{{cite web |title=Principles Explained |publisher=TrueMajority |url=http://www.truemajority.org/who/principlesex.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212211604/http://www.truemajority.org/who/principlesex.html |archive-date=2008-02-12 }}
Stances
TrueMajority organized protests of the 2008 G-20 Summit.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/feeds/prnewswire/2008/11/12/prnewswire200811121706PR_NEWS_USPR_____DC45836.html|title=Experts To Discuss G-20 Summit, Announce International Day Of Protest|work=Forbes|date=Nov 12, 2008}}{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} It also opposed the 2008 financial bailout of banks, and helped to organize protests of the bailout.
In 2004 TrueMajority ran advertisements calling for a paper trail in electronic voting.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-03-19-evote-printouts_x.htm|author=Klug, Foster|title=Paper backup for e-voting called for in ads|work=USA Today|date=Mar 19, 2004}}
= Iraq war opposition =
TrueMajority co-sponsored protests and advertisements against the Iraq war in 2003.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/anti-iraq-ad-features-leader-of-bushs-church|title=Anti-Iraq Ad Features Leader of Bush's Church|work=Fox News|date=January 31, 2003|access-date=Feb 19, 2009}} The organization published anti-war advertisements in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, but its ads were refused by television networks including CNN, Fox, MTV, and Comedy Central.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/28/1048653857413.html|author1=James, Steve |author2=Weinraub, Mark |title=Hollywood declares, hell no, this time we won't go|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=March 29, 2003}}{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030329/asp/foreign/story_1819152.asp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913021856/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030329/asp/foreign/story_1819152.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 13, 2012|title=Anti-war groups allege ad block on airwaves|work=The Telegraph|location=Calcutta, India|date=Mar 29, 2003}} TrueMajority also supported Howard Dean in the 2004 Democratic primary, mounting a letter-writing campaign and arguing for his support on the grounds of his opposition to the Iraq War.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/liberals-keep-close-watch-on-dean|title=Liberals Keep Close Watch on Dean|work=Fox News|date=February 26, 2005|access-date=Feb 19, 2009}} In 2008 TrueMajority gathered over 20,000 petitions to urge CalPERS to investigate KBR for war profiteering, including in the petitions accusations of rape and murder.{{cite news |url=http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/06/18/18508549.php|author=Bacher, Dan|title=CalPERS targeted Thursday for supporting KBR, accused of rape and murder in Iraq!|work=San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center: Central Valley|date=Jun 18, 2008|accessdate=Feb 19, 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://yubanet.com/california/20-000-petitioners-ask-CalPERS-Thursday-to-get-tough-on-KBR-now-linked-to-massive-fraud-rape-and-massacre.php|title=20,000 petitioners ask CalPERS Thursday to get tough on KBR, now linked to massive fraud, rape, and massacre|work=YubaNet.com|date=Jun 19, 2008|accessdate=Feb 19, 2009|archive-date=June 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626162456/http://yubanet.com/california/20-000-petitioners-ask-CalPERS-Thursday-to-get-tough-on-KBR-now-linked-to-massive-fraud-rape-and-massacre.php|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website |http://www.truemajority.org |TrueMajority official website}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Internet-based activism
Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States