What do DUers know about the "Patriot Majority" movement?

[TygrBright]

The "Patriot Majority West" is running a hilarious attack ad on Steve Pearce here in New Mexico. When it first came on we thought it was a GOPpie ad, because it had all the stereotypical stigmata-- flag fluttering behind the shot, the phrases "Patriotic Duty" and "hate America"... and we weren't paying attention that closely.

Then at the end we realized something was funny and we paid attention the next time. What they were really saying was "The Choice... depend on foreign oil from countries that hate America... or develop clean, renewable energy sources right here in New Mexico." Then it went on to lambaste Pearce for opposing renewable energy development incentives and "siding with George Bush to give billions in tax breaks to big oil companies," and finishes by saying "It's our patriotic duty to stop sending money to the MidEast."

It was so GOPpie-looking that at first I wondered if it wasn't a super-covert little revenge move from Heather "Skanky Cow" Wilson, who gave up her Congressional seat when she ran against Pearce in the primaries... and then lost out to him.

Now I look online and it appears that the "Patriot Majority West" is part of a larger "Patriot Majority" front, including something called "Patriot Majority Midwest," which is gearing up in Ohio. Anyone have a clue whose $$$ is behind this?

curiously,
Bright

[canetoad]

1. Found this.

Other active Democratic organizations include the Campaign for America's Future, a non-profit that calls itself the "strategy center for the progressive movement"; MoveOn.org, the liberal activist group that reportedly plans to spend $30 million this year; and Patriot Majority for a Stronger America, a 501(c)4 that is an offshoot of a 527 that ran ads to help Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts win election in 2006. The latter group launched a new website, patriotmajoritytoday.com, to attack Bush and McCain on military readiness and other issues, and its leaders say they may run TV ads.

"We've had policies for the last seven years that have weakened America," said Craig Varoga, president of the Patriot Majority group. "We will all be poor patriots if we don't talk about that, but also about ways to fix it."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/04/06/soft_money_battle_brewing/

[TygrBright]

3. Thanks. Interesting to see them turning GOPpie buzzwords and images...

...against the very creeps who wrapped themselves in the flag and spouted jingoist claptrap to get into office.

Also funny.

But I'm not really comfortable with it.

ambivalently,
Bright

[Change has come]

2. They appear to be associated with AFSCME

Snip

The group's first foray into the 2008 campaign, which is entirely funded by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, comes in the southern Michigan seat that Walberg, a conservative former state representative, won in 2006 by ousting Rep. Joe Schwarz in the Republican primary. Walberg faces a stiff challenge in the fall from highly regarded state Sen. Mark Schauer (D).

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/07/patriot_majority_wades_into_ho.html