Subject: Press Statement
From: "Debbie Fine" <[email-masked]>
To: "Tom Mattzie" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "John Podesta" <[email-masked]>, "Alex DeMots" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:44:55 -0500

hey tom,

hope all is well with you.  john asked me to take a look at the current
press statement for the progressive media "launch" -- and while i know
you may feel
over-lawyered at this point, i wanted to raise a few issues -- including
a proposed revision from john for you to consider.

1.  Reference to McCain:  If you include an express reference to McCain
(which I recommend not doing -- see (2) below)  -- John and I agree that
broadening the mention and linking to issues is important.  So, the
revision would be something like "showing the public where John McCain
and other conservative standard-bearers stand on key issues facing
America and the world, highlighting their record of failed economic and
national security policies."  something like that.  

2.  Not referencing McCain:  I am concerned about the reference to
McCain at all -- I recognize that the org is an MCFL, but by mentioning
him as the 2008 focus for the organization and as part of your very
first press release, I think you send a message at the get-go to the IRS
and the FEC that in my view complicates major purpose(FEC)/primary
purpose (IRS) showings.   

3.  Founders:  In terms of primary purpose test concerns, I wonder why
you are listing "founders" of this organization -- I thought it is
operating under CDA's c4, which would be important for increasing the
likelihood of satisfying the primary purpose test (because of the
history of social welfare work that CDA brings to the table).  If so,
then seems like they should be called something else... since it's not a
new organization really??  

thx v much.  

Debbie Fine
General Counsel
Center for American Progress
Phone:  202.741.6253
Mobile:  917.373.8308
Fax:      202.682.1867