People For the American Way Foundation has launched a new phase of our emergency campaign to save the filibuster. We’re sounding the alarm and mobilizing Americans to stop far-right leaders in their tracks.

Senator Frist’s “nuclear option” scheme relies on a bogus procedure that would need the backing of 50 senators. We need at least six Republican senators to stand up for checks and balances. Fortunately, many Republicans have deep misgivings about the nuclear option. They know it would damage the Senate and violate basic principles of American democracy.

The vote is too close to call. We can defeat the nuclear option if we get our message out.

Our ad is designed to secure the needed Republican votes against the nuclear option. It features a clip from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, the movie classic in which the protaganist used the filibuster to stand up to corrupt forces in the Senate. The ad also features a Republican firefighter saying America works best when no one party has absolute power. Polls tell us that a huge majority of Americans agrees with this message.

Our goal is to reach and mobilize millions of common-sense constituents of key Republican senators. The first wave of ads has launched in Arizona, Nebraska, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Virginia, Indiana and Kansas, as well as on several national outlets.

Click here to buy the Frank Capra
classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Posted by: Jonathan Singer / 1:00 PM | Basie! Home