| A source close to the show
told RAW STORY Schultz
is upset that the organization would target a "Democratic
congressman on a single vote."
MoveOn.org PAC has launched a near six-figure ad buy
against the Democrats' number two in the House, Steny
Hoyer, saying he failed progressives by not rallying
Democrats against the bankruptcy bill. MoveOn says the
bill is a giveaway to special interests such as credit
card companies.
Schultz, a source close to the program says, is furious
that MoveOn has spent money attacking a Democrat.
"Ed is completely disgusted at this process,"
the source said. "There are so many other things
that MoveOn should be focusing on right now."
The liberal radio host, carried broadly across Middle
America, tends towards the center of the party. He took
issue with MoveOn in December over an email message
about party direction. Listeners agreed with Schultz,
saying the group was "too extreme," "too
elitist" and "not inclusive enough."
Sources say Schultz is trying to line up Rep. Steny
Hoyer (D-MD), who was targeted by MoveOn's ads over
bankruptcy. They are also trying to get MoveOn PAC's
Washington director on the show.
In an interview Saturday, MoveOn Washington director
Tom Matzzie said their decision to an air an ad questioning
the Democratic leadership was sound.
“We think we need to be an opposition party,”
Matzzie told RAW STORY.
“It’s not acceptable for a Democratic leader
to take a position opposed to protecting the middle
class.”
“Mr. Hoyer has a good record on a lot of issues
and we like him,” he added. “It’s
probably okay for some Democrats to disagree with their
party… but it’s never acceptable for a leader
in the party… to disagree with the rest of the
party on an issue connected to core values like justice
for middle class values, especially when it’s
such an obvious Republican bill.”
Some on the Hill have questioned the ads' timing, as
Democrats' hone in on House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
(R-TX) over a morass of ethics scandals. None have agreed
to go on the record.
“We’re not the party,” Matzzie said,
“We are going to take positions on issues, and
we’re going to be true to our members and to America’s
middle class families before we acknowledge any sort
of notion of Democratic fealty.”
Matzzie says responses from the group's 3.1 million
members have been "all positive."
Article originally published Apr. 18, 2005. To
read the full
interview with MoveOn.org director Tom Matzzie and
other Democrats' responses, click
here. |
