The White House Wins M.R.I.O.T.D. Award

One month after President Obama sends an email, complete with video of FLOTUS, recruiting for his Organizing For Action PAC, The White House today says they’re not part of that. It’s just an independent organization.

The spin from White House Press Secretary Jay Carney . . .

OFA, which you are asking about, is an independent organization that, as reported in the press, will engage in advocacy and grassroots mobilization activities around public policy issues. It will not be engaged in political campaign-related activities.

We’ve heard this obfuscation before; depends what “is” is. This is community organizing on a country level. And they’re wanting tax exempt status?

The fledgling Organizing for Action says it will be nonpartisan and steer clear of election activity. But the line between issue disputes and electoral politics can be a fuzzy one. The first of an expected wave of ads on gun control, for example, has targeted only Republicans. And OFA board member Jim Messina, who managed Obama’s reelection campaign, has been talking with Democratic Party leaders, including those responsible for success in the 2014 midterm elections. {emphasis added}

Non-partisan? Here’s the letter President Obama sent me just a month ago.

Ross —

Today, a new grassroots organization is being launched: Organizing for Action.

Following in the footsteps of the campaign you built, Organizing for Action will be an unparalleled force in American politics. It will work to turn our shared values into legislative action — and it’ll empower the next generation of leaders in our movement.

Our work didn’t end on Election Day.

Organizing for Action will support the legislative agenda we voted on, train the next generation of grassroots organizers and leaders, and organize around local issues in our communities.

Watch this video the First Lady recorded about the next step of this grassroots movement, and say you’re in:

So for this blatant forked-tongue politics, which wouldn’t be possible if the media did its job, The White House wins the Most Ridiculous Item Of The Day (MRIOTD) Award.

Links: Obama’s new political group to lure unlimited donations |  Obama Donors Aren’t Getting Special Access For Checks To Organizing For Action: White House