Michelle Malkin » MoveOn backs down on Google ad crackdown, but bullying of Cafe Press owners stands

MoveOn backs down on Google ad crackdown, but bullying of Cafe Press owners stands

By Michelle Malkin • October 15, 2007 05:45 PM

Via Wired (hat tip – reader Tom):

The left-leaning political advocacy group, MoveOn.org, is backing down in a flap over the use of its name in online advertisements, permitting an influential Republican senator to criticize the organization in a reelection ad on Google’s search engine.

“We don’t want to support a policy that denies people freedom of expression,” says Jennifer Lindenauer, MoveOn.org’s communications director.

Both MoveOn.org and Google late last week faced a barrage of criticism after an internet strategist for Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine complained that Google had blocked several re-election ads from the search engine’s advertising network because the ads contained the trademarked term “MoveOn.org” in the text.

“Stop Moveon.org. More MoveOn money in Maine than anywhere else. Learn how to help,” read one of the banned ads, which linked to Collins’ reelection campaign site.

Under Google’s trademark policy, owners can request that third parties’ not be allowed to use their trademarked term in the text of ads — a policy that far exceeds the requirements of trademark law. Lindenauer says that MoveOn.org withdrew from that policy on Friday after it heard about the brewing controversy over Google’s termination of Collins’ text ads using the group’s name.

“When we became aware of all the controversy around it, we opted out,” Lindenauer says. “Of course we support free speech, and the right of anyone to parody us, but what we do care about is protecting our members — we don’t want anyone using our name or logo in a way that could harm our members and mission.”

Do not forget, however, that the MoveOn thugs have stood by their bullying of Cafe Press shop owners who mocked the left-wing group on t-shirts and mugs defending Gen. David Petraeus.

So much for their support of free speech.

***

The Examiner, where Robert Cox blew the whistle on the Google ad fiasco, wonders:

Where are the big guns of the left side of the blogosphere? Perhaps we missed it, but we can find nothing about this controversy on Daily Kos, Eschaton or Talking Points Memo.

One has to wonder whether they aren’t upset because it’s a moderate Republican targeted by the Netroots for defeat who is being suppressed. Or perhaps there is fear of angering the Internet giant. As for the righties, how long will it be before they realize protecting freedom of speech must always be a top priority for them because many of their opponents have little hesitation about using any means necessary to silence them?

Oh, many of us realize it. We live it. We breathe it. We fight for it. No taking it for granted here.

Posted in: MoveOn.org

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#146436

On October 15th, 2007 at 5:57 pm, zorro said:

And yet again, more progress. There’s a long way to go, but progress is progress. Thanks Michelle.
#146442

On October 15th, 2007 at 6:05 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

Will I get you in trouble if I say bowelmove.org is the to free speach as the Rainbow Push is to equal rights?
#146448

On October 15th, 2007 at 6:13 pm, ajmontana said:

we don’t want anyone using our name or logo in a way that could harm our members and mission.”

“Faux News Alert”
Moveon.organs Mission Statement is to aid in the destruction of the United States through the Democratic party using dirty money, dirty tactics and any other means possible.
#146451

On October 15th, 2007 at 6:17 pm, ajmontana said:

“Faux News Alert” Update’
Nevermind, its true.
#146467

On October 15th, 2007 at 6:35 pm, mike volpe said:

The best way to take Moveon.org on with this group is for the blogosphere to band together. Everyone that has a blog should post about this, and let everyone know about what Moveon.org is trying to do to this tiny group. If they have the backing of the blogosphere Moveon.org will eventually be forced to back down. I took Michelle’s lead last time and posted it myself. Here is how it looked.

http://proprietornation.blogspot.com/2007/10/now-i-must-ask-is-there-difference.html
#146485

On October 15th, 2007 at 7:02 pm, AlohaGuy said:

“We don’t want to support a policy that denies people freedom of expression,” says Jennifer Lindenauer, MoveOn.org’s communications director.

Unlike Google China Censorship Division.
#146501

On October 15th, 2007 at 7:39 pm, DesertLover said:

“MoveOn BacksDown” … not because it was the right thing to do … but because they got caught
#146503

On October 15th, 2007 at 7:40 pm, katieanne said:

Was just watching Fox Business Network and they were talking about the immunizations for NASCAR races flap. Someone suggested it would have better better to suggest inoculations for a Grateful Dead concert or a Moveon.org convention. That sure makes more sense! ROFLOL
#146508

On October 15th, 2007 at 8:08 pm, mngirl said:

I think this means the Google people heard from enough of us that they took a look at what they were doing and told MoveOn.org that they weren’t going to back them up.

The CafePress people are still kowtowing to the MoveOn crowd, the cowards. No balls on that Exec Team.
#146516

On October 15th, 2007 at 8:25 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

mngirl

Quite unfair. You have a few people trying to make a dollar against bowelmove.org with a great deal of moeny. It is a matter of economics not lack of balls.
#146535

On October 15th, 2007 at 9:16 pm, Ombre Rose said:

I just think it is all funny as the dickens that whenever the Right is screeching about Socialist dictatorship tactics of the Left, of the Dim Party and the Moveon.org people, etc., Susan Collins is always ready to go VOTE WITH THE LEFT for their Socialist agenda.

Now it is biting HER in the butt, and look at HER squawling.

I know my salvation is in jeopardy, because I just think it’s funny, and God expressly forbids that type of “crowing”. I’ve paid for that before and swore I never would again – the price is very steep.
God hates mockery.

Well, if I cannot enjoy it, at least I can hope she learns her lesson from it.

KJV Proverbs 24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Proverbs 24:18 Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

The Amplified Version – the truer version of THIS passage:
17Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown,
18Lest the Lord see it and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him [to expend it upon you, the worse offender].
#146545

On October 15th, 2007 at 9:37 pm, trinitytim said:

Maybe we should apply for a FISA warrant to monitor moveon.org’s left wing speech with the Google people. Nah, that would only work if the lines didn’t go through China.
#146553

On October 15th, 2007 at 10:06 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

Bowel-Moveon is the feeling that comes over me when I heard any left-wing advocacy groups’ advertisement.
#146565

On October 15th, 2007 at 10:25 pm, dartagnans_blade said:

Why is anyone surprised about those on the fringe. They being Kos, M.M. (Media Matters that is), MoveOn and the like. Fascist progresives looking for someone to hang out with, too inadequate to fend for themselves and typically too lazy to fend for others, (see, Rwanda, Cambodia, Darfur and Arabs of every nation) They are of no real consequence as is shown by the point spread Hill has opened up. They should be mocked for the liars they are and shunned…but alas we would need a conservative leader and all we have are “crazies to the left and wimps to the right“
#146590

On October 15th, 2007 at 10:48 pm, Speakup said:

WrongOn.org
Where left is always a wrong turn
#146751

On October 16th, 2007 at 8:42 am, Tennessee Dave said:

“When we became aware of all the controversy around it, we opted out,” Lindenauer says. “Of course we support free speech, and the right of anyone to parody us, but what we do care about is protecting our members — we don’t want anyone using our name or logo in a way that could harm our members and mission.”

They seem to be a good job of that on their own. It doesn’t require much of an effort to sit back and watch them self-destruct.
#146764

On October 16th, 2007 at 9:01 am, georgej said:

MorOn.org
Because we’re liberals

MoveOn.org
Because we’re stupid

MoveOn.org
Brownshirts in action

MoveOn.org
America’s traitors
#146765

On October 16th, 2007 at 9:04 am, georgej said:

MoveIt.org
Because I’m in a hurry

GoreOn.org
Because we’re eco-frauds

General Petraeus
Rated 4 stars by America
MoveOn.org
No stars, No principles
#146796

On October 16th, 2007 at 9:40 am, James Felix said:

The left-leaning political advocacy group, MoveOn.org…

Left-leaning?!?!?!
A President who favors Medicare expansion and open borders is the “extreme right” but MoveOn is only “left-leaning”. Makes me shudder to think what the extreme left must look like.
#146840

On October 16th, 2007 at 10:09 am, Tantor said:

Such suppression of the freedom of speech are not exclusive to MoveOn.Org but rather a feature of the Left which demands a monopoly on free speech. Deep down in their little black hearts, they’re fascists who want to control everything.