D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h
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Dear DC Downsizers,
In this message:
* An update on the FCC censorship campaign
* A report on our next campaign - stopping federal
funding of political conventions
The House and Senate passed the new FCC censorship
law late last week.
* Many broadcasters now live under the fear of
immediate bankruptcy from massive FCC fines.
* In the months leading up to the passage of this
law, some had already chosen to give up their most
profitable programs in order to protect themselves.
* And the situation is likely to get worse as this
new law goes into effect.
Does this mean our campaign against the FCC
censorship law is over?
Not hardly! Instead, we are moving from the defensive
(trying to stop a law), to the offensive - promoting
new legislation to repeal all FCC fines against
speech.
Why are we doing this? Because it's the right thing
to do. And, it's also part of our strategic plan.
Allow me to explain.
Our online lobbying mechanism is not only a way to
influence Congress, it's also a recruitment
mechanism. When people come to our site and register
to use our system they become DC Downsizers. And we
grow stronger. Our voice grows louder. And our
influence on Congress grows. But the question is...
How do we get more people to come to our site and
become DC Downsizers? YOU are an important part of
the answer, by sending emails to friends and
family asking them to participate in our campaigns.
But there's more.
We will also grow through advertising that creates
brand awareness for Downsize DC and drives people to
our website. There is a synergistic component to the
kind of advertising we want to do...
I want to forge an alliance between Downsize DC and
specific radio stations and talk show hosts around
the country. Over the next year I want to become a
regular guest on talk shows all over America. I want
Downsize DC to become the source talk show hosts turn
to for news about Congress. I want talk show hosts to
use Downsize DC as a way to focus the anger of their
listeners at the ever growing weight of the federal
government. But how do we make this happen? We make
it happen by...
* Appearing on their shows and doing a good job
* Advertising on their shows
* Fighting for their rights
I'm happy to say that the initial results have
encouraged me that these goals can be achieved. In
this morning's message, I was _planning_ to tell you,
* Two more stations in West Virginia will be airing
our ads - 610 AM WELD, which can be heard during a
clear day in Pittsburgh, and also on WELD FM.
* The Greaseman Show with four stations in
Hagerstown, Maryland; Washington, DC; Harrisburg, VA,
and Keyser, WV - with several thousand people who
seek the show on the Internet besides - has offered
to air our spots as well.
* Thanks to two generous supporters, we're going to
be able to keep our spots on the air at least one
additional week on the six stations that have been
airing our ads for more than 10 days each.
* That's a total of 11 stations, broadcasting our
ads. But it gets even better!
* A national network has approved the spots for
airing ROS (which means Run Of Schedule - filling in
unsold holes in the commercial line-up). We don't
have the specifics on this yet, but as soon as we do,
we'll let you know.
As you see, I had some pretty good news to report to
you this morning. We're making the most of our
resources. In fact, we're being pretty resourceful.
Will all of this progress be lost because Congress
has now voted to approve the law we were fighting?
No. Because we will now campaign to have the law
repealed.
Our experience with the campaign finance law taught
us something. People are now living under the new
campaign finance laws. As they do so, they are waking
up to find that they like don't these laws very much.
Some, who supported it, are now having second
thoughts. Others, who didn't pay much attention, are
now becoming vehemently opposed. Just last week I was
told of a national television ministry that was
thinking about a new angle to challenge this law.
It may seem like too little, too late, but some in
the radio community will wake up to how bad this law
is only after living under it - and they will want
change. They will look around to see if anyone is
speaking for them.
We want to stand ready with radio ads that they can
broadcast. I would like to be available to appear on
their shows. Continuing to spread this message is the
smart thing to do.
But only if we have partners, committed to building a
force for change in Washington - dedicated to
Downsizing DC. Please join us,
www.DownsizeDC.org/contribute.shtml
But we will do more than that. In order to forge a
successful alliance with radio stations and talk show
host we also need to do things that tie into current
events. For instance...
The Democrats are holding their convention THIS WEEK.
The Republicans will hold their convention in
September. These conventions are funded with income
tax money to the tune of $14.6 million each - $29.2
million total. There is a bill in Congress that would
remove this funding. But it's stuck in committee and
has only four co-sponsors. We want to support this
bill, secure additional co-sponsors, and try to get
it passed out of committee.
Our effort on this front could give us a natural tie-
in for appearances on radio talk shows this week, and
in September, where I can also mention what we're
doing to protect the rights of radio broadcasters.
These are the first steps in a process that can
build, and build and build.
* Imagine our radio ads running on shows all across
America.
* Imagine having me appear on those shows on a
regular basis.
* And imagine having talk show hosts talk about
Downsize DC even when I'm not appearing on their
shows.
It will take persistence and patient focus on our
objectives. But we can make this happen, step-by-
relentless-step. And it can have a big payoff. That's
why I hope you'll invest a contribution in Downsize
DC today
www.DownsizeDC.org/contribute.shtml
We are too small today to influence which legislation
passes and which fails. But that need not remain true
for very long. MoveOn.org grew from a hundred
supporters to 2 million in the space of a few short
years through the viral power of the Internet. And
the LP's "Defend Your Privacy" campaign against the
"Know Your Customer regulation" grew to 140,000
supporters in just a few weeks through the same type
of mechanism. It is only a matter of time before we
hit the right issue, or combination of issues, that
cause Downsize DC to grow in the same explosive way.
And then we will have real influence. Libertarians
will have influence. YOU will have influence. And the
more we do, and the faster we do it, the sooner that
day will come. Do you want that day to come sooner,
rather than later?
www.DownsizeDC.org/contribute.shtml
There are millions of Americans who want less
government, who want to Downsize DC, and all we have
to do is find them and convince them to use Downsize
DC to petition their government. Everything we do
aims at making that happen, sooner rather than later.
And now it's time to take the next step.
We are going to reconfigure our campaign against the
FCC censorship law, to aim it at repealing the law
that was just passed. And we are working to quickly
install our new campaign to support the law that
would remove tax funding from the national political
conventions.
On Friday we raised almost half of the money we NEED
to launch this new campaign. We really need to raise
the rest TODAY so we can get our new radio ads out
the door.
www.DownsizeDC.org/contribute.shtml
You see, the Democratic convention is already
underway. I would prefer to be on air today, but the
funds available won't allow that.
Still, we are determined. Today, we will move forward
confident of your support. I'm headed into the studio
to record the spots. Our team worked over the weekend
to build the website.
* Can we finish producing the ads?
* Can we get them on the air?
* Can we contact the media?
* Can I spend my time doing interviews, or do I need
to dial-for-dollars?
The time to do this is now. I hope you can help with
an immediate contribution to launch this new
campaign.
www.DownsizeDC.org/contribute.shtml
Thank you.
Jim Babka
President
Downsize DC
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D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h
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VISIT the Foundation's web site at
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