Unity08
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/Unity08_logo.png)
Unity08 was an American political reform movement that sought to offer all voters an opportunity to directly engage in politics by ranking the most crucial issues facing the country, discussing them with the candidates and engaging in an online, secure vote to nominate a
In January 2008, Unity08 organizers announced that the group had suspended operations due to funding problems.[3] Americans Elect 2012 is an organization that was formed by many of the individuals that were responsible for Unity 08, and had substantially identical goals for the 2012 presidential election cycle. Americans Elect also failed to nominate a candidate.
History
The political reform movement was founded as a
The group's status as a
However, the decision was appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. On March 2, 2010, the appeals court reversed the lower court and allowed Unity08 (or any entity like it) to operate without having to register with the FEC.[6]
Unity08’s spokesperson was actor Sam Waterston.[7] Waterston discussed the organization on programs such as The O'Reilly Factor and Hardball with Chris Matthews. On June 28, 2007, Doug Bailey, the co-founder of Unity08, appeared on Stephen Colbert's The Colbert Report and spoke about the organization. Shortly after announcing a poll to the "Colbert Nation" about whether Colbert should run for president, the web site servers crashed due to the overwhelming traffic.[citation needed]
Suspension of activities
In January 2008, Bailey and Rafshoon announced that they were leaving the organization and were planning to launch a national effort to draft New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to run for president.[8] Shortly thereafter, representatives for Unity08 announced that the organization was scaling back operations and suspending activities, citing lack of adequate funding and disputes with the Federal Election Commission.[9] Unity08 was unable to resume operations prior to the 2008 presidential election.
Grassroots presence
Prior to the organization's suspension of activities, Unity08's web site was a community for members to communicate and participate via
The movement also had a presence on
Unity08 had leveraged the online event tools of
However, Unity08 was also characterized, by critics, as an example of astroturfing.[10]
Goals
Unity08 had four major goals:
- Enable Americans to rank America’s most crucial issues.
- Empower Americans to draft or evaluate Unity08 candidates and actively engage them in debate about the crucial issues.
- Empower Americans to nominate a bipartisan Unity ticket via an online convention and secure voting process.
- Elect the Unity08 presidential ticket to national office.
The Unity08 presidential ticket was to consist of two candidates that come from different political parties. This bipartisan team was to propose a bipartisan cabinet in an effort to end paralysis in government. Co-founder Doug Bailey explained "What we are trying to do is to create a forum for people who are in the middle who have been left out of politics."[1]
Speculated candidates
Actor and spokesperson
Neither Bloomberg nor Hagel chose to run for president. Former
Criticism
Campaign watchdog groups such as The Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21 criticized the group's initial classification as a non-profit organization, "because Unity08 makes clear that its principal purpose is to influence the 2008 presidential election".[5]
The group also came under criticism by
References
- ^ a b c VandeHei, Jim (2006-05-31). "From the Internet to the White House". The Washington Post. p. A04. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
- ^ Alter, Jonathan (2006-06-05). "A New Open-Source Politics". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2006-10-15. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
- ^ Group suspends ballot access project for bipartisan ticket, Newsday.com Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
- ^ "Online NewsHour: Unity Party Eyes 2008 election". PBS. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
- ^ a b Ackley, Kate (2006-07-16). "Roll Call: FEC Counsel Skeptical of Unity08 Request". Campaign Legal Center. Archived from the original on 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
- ^ Unity08 v. Federal Election Commission (D.C. Cir. March 2, 2010) ("The judgment of the district court is Reversed."), Text.
- ^ Unity08.org: "Actor Sam Waterston Calls on Americans to Join Growing 2008 Political Movement, Unity08" Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ^ Danis, Kirsten (2008-01-11). "Two from presidential reform group quit to draft Mayor Bloomberg for 2008 bid". NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
- ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth (2008-01-10). "Unity08 Scales Back, Co-Founders Split For Draft Bloomberg Committee". NYDailyNews.com. Archived from the original on 2008-01-13. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
- ^ See Criticism
- Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- ^ "Bloomberg: 'I Intend To Be Mayor For 925 Days'". Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- ^ Joyner, James (2007-08-20). "Sam Nunn Mulls Presidential Bid on Unity08 Ticket". OutsidetheBeltway.com. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2008-04-18.
- ^ Harsanyi, David (31 May 2006). "Unity08 should stick to Kumbaya". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
- ^ Bowers, Chris. "Unity08 has no grassroots support at all". MyDD. Retrieved 2006-12-04.
- ^ "Lobbyists and Unity08". Retrieved 2007-02-02.