Arianna Huffington, Courage Campaign, California Nurses Association team up for "Yacht Party 2" TV ad
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2008
CONTACT:
Rick Jacobs, Chair, Courage Campaign:, 323-969-0160 office
Shum Preston, Communications Department, California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee: 510-273-2276 office
Arianna Huffington, Courage Campaign, California Nurses Association team up for “Yacht Party 2” TV ad
TV ad re-brands California Republican Party as the “Yacht Party” for supporting “yacht tax” loophole
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Courage Campaign has released a new ad branding the California Republican Party as the “Yacht Party” for its continued support of a tax loophole that allows buyers of yachts and private jets to avoid paying sales tax in California. The ad, titled “Yacht Party 2,” will air tonight in Sacramento the day before Governor Schwarzenegger presents his revised budget cuts to reduce what he estimates is a $20 billion state budget deficit. The ad is being aired two days ahead of schedule, due to substantial support from an online fundraising campaign launched to Courage Campaign members on Monday.
The “yacht tax” — so-called because it allows purchasers of large boats and private jets to avoid paying sales tax as long as the yacht or plane is kept out of California for 90 days — was kept in place by Republicans in the State Assembly on February 19, who either voted against closing the loophole or did not appear to vote. By a 47-18 vote, the California Assembly narrowly rejected SB 8xxx, as it failed to muster the 2/3rds majority necessary on tax legislation.
Funded by the California Nurses Association and online donations from members of the Courage Campaign, the ad is intended to demonstrate the absurdity of the California Republican Party’s commitment to protecting the lifestyles of the wealthiest Californians while school teachers and healthcare providers are losing their jobs.
The ad was distributed online Monday morning to Courage Campaign members in an email from Arianna Huffington, author of a new book entitled “Right is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution and Made Us All Less Safe”. The original email sent by Huffington to members of the Courage Campaign is appended below.
The Courage Campaign’s “Yacht Party 2” ad can be viewed on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4QARWWmMLg
“Because Democrats do not hold a two-thirds majority in our state legislature, a small minority of Republicans is able to hold Californians hostage to a $20 billion state budget deficit, refusing to raise taxes on the super-rich,” said Arianna Huffington. “It’s appalling that this tax cut cult is refusing to close a tax loophole for yacht and private jet owners.”
Deborah Burger, President of the California Nurses Association, said, “Our members work around the clock providing healthcare to a public when the state medical system is nearing collapse due to budget cuts. How dare the Republicans vote for yachts over sick people?”
Rick Jacobs, Chair and Founder of the Courage Campaign, connected “Yacht Party 2” to the presidential campaign:
“Marie Antoinette would be proud of the Republican Party in 2008, as they protect the lavish lifestyles of the obscenely rich while cutting education and health care for everyone else.” Jacobs said. “John McCain has not spoken out about Republicans providing yacht subsidies for the richest Californians, but I’m sure he would welcome his colleagues from California sailing their yachts right up the Potomac. After all, Mr. McCain has nine houses, but he has no plan for Americans to keep or buy even one.”
Other links related to the “Yacht Party 2” campaign:
“Yacht Party 2” campaign page:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/yachtparty2
“Yacht Party” link for viewers of TV ad:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/yachtparty
First “Yacht Party” TV ad, released March 20, 2008 and funded by Courage Campaign members, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AISA-Rj2mzc
————————EMAIL FROM ARIANNA HUFFINGTON————————
SUBJECT: Trust me, this is must-see TV
TO: Courage Campaign Members
From: Arianna Huffington
|
Dear Friend,
The tax cut cult.
That’s what I call Republicans in “Right is Wrong“, the new book I just wrote about how the right-wing lunatic fringe has hijacked America.
Unfortunately, the most extreme high priests of the tax cut cult operate right here in California. Because Democrats do not hold a two-thirds majority in our state legislature, a small minority of Republicans is able to hold Californians hostage to a $20 billion state budget deficit, refusing to raise taxes on the super-rich.
It gets worse. Much worse. While California’s future is being put in grave jeopardy, the tax cut cult is refusing to close a tax loophole for yacht and private jet owners.
Schools closing. Social services slashed to the bone. And right-wing Republicans are letting the uber-wealthy off tax-free on yacht and private jet purchases. It’s no wonder the California Republican Party has been re-branded as the “Yacht Party” by the netroots.
To increase the pressure on Republicans in Sacramento to close this yacht tax loophole, we need to make this “Yacht Party” brand stick. That’s why my friends at the Courage Campaign and California Nurses Association have just teamed up to produce a new 60-second TV ad that strips naked the shocking nature of the California Republican Party’s priorities.
http://www.couragecampaign.org/yachtparty2
In writing about how the “Right is Wrong“ on economic policy, my new book exposes how the tax cut cult greases the wheels of greed:
“We can hope that the housing and subprime mortgage crash, the credit crunch, and the recession might humble the Right a bit, since their policies have been rendered so transparently bankrupt. But as long as they have their private bubbles to live inside, bursting bubbles elsewhere will have little effect. That’s what tax cuts and deregulation do: they widen the gulf that separates the two Americas.”
Those bubbles are bursting across California, as tens of thousands of teachers receive pink slips, parks and beaches are closed, and tuition skyrockets. Meanwhile, head-in-the-sand California Republicans care more about protecting tax loopholes for the super-rich.
http://www.couragecampaign.org/yachtparty2
I know people who own yachts and private jets — and, trust me, they can afford to pay sales tax. It’s simply un-American to have to pay sales tax on a toaster but not on a yacht.
Do you feel the same? If so, please spread the word by forwarding this urgent message to at least five of your friends as soon as possible.
Thank you for supporting this spot and helping us push back against the tax cut cult and its corporate cronies.
Arianna Huffington
Editor-in-Chief
The Huffington Post
P.S. On Wednesday night from 6-7 p.m., I will be joining Rick Jacobs for a “Courage Campaign Conversation” conference call about this budget crisis as well as my new book, “Right is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution and Made Us All Less Safe (And What You Need to Know to End the Madness)”.
I’d love it if you joined us on Wednesday’s special conference call. Stay tuned for an email announcement in your in-box on Tuesday.
http://www.couragecampaign.org/yachtparty2
…………..
The Courage Campaign is an independent political committee and online organizing network approaching 100,000 members that empowers grassroots and netroots activists to build a progressive California. In 2008, the Courage Campaign will catalyze action to increase California’s importance in the race for the White House, hold our elected officials accountable, and block Blackwater’s second attempt to build a base of operations on the Mexican border.
Please consider making a contribution to the Courage Campaign:
###
Courage Campaign is an independent political committee and online organizing network empowering grassroots and netroots activists to build a progressive California. In 2008, the Courage Campaign will catalyze action to increase California’s importance in the race for the White House, hold our elected officials accountable, and block Blackwater from building a base on our border.
Rick Jacobs is the founder and chair of the Courage Campaign. He chaired Howard Dean’s presidential campaign in California. He is also the co-founder and chair of Brave New Films and a featured contributor to Arianna Huffington’s Huffingtonpost.com. Rick has a long background as an investor and senior executive. Rick Jacobs is available for interviews by calling 310-860-1307.
The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee is the nation’s largest RN union, representing 80,000 RN in every state. Read more at www.CalNurses.org.
###