Tomorrow night, thanks to your help and contributions, the Yacht Party video will air on cable TV  in Sacramento - specifically CNN, MSNBC, The Daily Show, and the Colbert Report. And our success has been getting attention. Lisa Vorderbrueggen at the Contra Costa Times writes:

The ad has gotten quite a bit of attention. It’s a clever poke at Assembly Republicans who refused to close a tax that allows purchasers of boats, RVs and other recreational toys to keep them out-of-state for 90 days and and avoid paying sales taxes....

But at a time when the state may have to lay off thousands of teachers and cut services to the poor, the symbolism of allowing a yacht buyer to sit in Mexico for three months to avoid paying taxes is hitting a nerve. 

This is a fantastic development - and as noted below, in the email we sent out to our members, it can get much better.

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Wow. We've got some wonderful news for you.

On Thursday, we asked you to help us raise $10,000 by noon today to get our 30-second "Yacht Party" TV ad on the air in Sacramento, taking the budget fight to head-in-the-sand Republicans in Sacramento. With California facing a massive $16 billion deficit and teachers being laid off by the thousands, Republicans are supporting a shocking tax loophole for, get this: yacht purchases.

Californians have had enough. That's why our TV ad compelled 335 donors to raise $11,023 combined on ActBlue and our web site, surpassing our first goal. Now, because of your generosity, we just bought time on Sacramento cable to air "Yacht Party" this Wednesday on CNN, MSNBC, the Daily Show and Colbert Report -- an action that has attracted media attention across California.

The good news gets even better:

Your people-powered response to our re-framing of the Republicans has inspired our good friends -- United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez -- to get on board.

But there's a catch. It's a match. If the Courage Campaign community can raise $5,000 more in the next 48 hours, Speaker Nunez and SEIU-UHW will each donate $5,000 as well, tripling the power of your donation.

Can you help us make this match by Thursday at 12 p.m. by contributing $25, $50, $75, $100 or $150 on ActBlue right now?

http://www.actblue.com/page/YachtPartyMatch

What will it mean for our community to meet this $5,000 match by SEIU-UHW and Speaker Nunez? It means extending our ad buy in Sacramento to Thursday AND expanding it to air the ad in specific districts where California Republican "Yacht Party" Assembly members are most vulnerable.

It also means moving one step closer to making 2008 a new era for progressive politics in California. It's so exciting to see progressives working together in common cause, from the netroots and the Courage Campaign to our friends in organized labor and the Assembly.

If you can help us make this $5,000 match, we can make history. Together.

Will you take 30 seconds to watch "Yacht Party" and then contribute $25, $50, $75, $100, $150 or more on ActBlue to match Speaker Nunez and SEIU-UHW's challenge before Thursday's deadline?

http://www.actblue.com/page/YachtPartyMatch

We can't afford to close this disastrous deficit with devastating cuts. Common sense dictates that California bring in new revenue by ending these unbelievable tax loopholes for the rich. The sooner you take action either by contributing or forwarding this message to your friends, the sooner we can pressure the Republicans to stop destroying our social safety net.

Together, we helped kill the GOP's electoral college "dirty trick," count the "double bubble" votes in Los Angeles County, and block Blackwater's base on the California border. And now, SEIU-UHW and Speaker Nunez are joining you to re-frame the Republicans and end this appalling yacht tax loophole for the super-wealthy.

With 30 seconds of your time and a few dollars, we can change the conversation inside Sacramento, help fix our gaping $16 billion state budget deficit, and rebuild the California dream.

Please watch "Yacht Party" and help us make the $5,000 match before Thursday:

http://www.actblue.com/page/YachtPartyMatch

And yes, thank you again for making this amazing news possible.

Rick Jacobs
Chair

P.S. Do you own a yacht? Or do you know someone who does? This campaign has gone so well, we want to film another "Yacht Party" TV ad. But this time we need an actual yacht, not just an animated version. If you know someone, preferably in Southern California, who wouldn't mind having the Courage Campaign film a commercial on their yacht, please email us at "info@couragecampaign.org". Thanks!