Wierzbicki RMR tpx

<div id="mw-content-text" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr" lang="en">see Russo et al co-opts, TPsee TP expressnote edit bd: all rooted in anti-BO racism, white supr/nat'lgravy train<a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/inside-game-creating-pacs-and-then-spending-their-money">http://www.propublica.org/article/inside-game-creating-pacs-and-then-spending-their-money</a>

SWOur Country Deserves Better is a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Political_action_committee" title="Political action committee">political action committee</a> (PAC) formed to oppose 2008 Democratic presidential candidate <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a>. According to its website, the PAC opposes Obama for his stances on taxes, national defense, energy policy, immigration and judicial appointments. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-0">[1]</a><table id="toc" class="toc"><tbody><tr><td><div id="toctitle"><h2>Contents</h2> [<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#" class="internal" id="togglelink">hide</a>] </div><ul><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Links_to_Move_America_Forward">1 Links to Move America Forward</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Tea_Party_Express">2 Tea Party Express</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Against_climate_change_legislation.2C_June_2009">3 Against climate change legislation, June 2009</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#New_York_special_Congressional_election.2C_March_2009">4 New York special Congressional election, March 2009</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Bus_tour">5 Bus tour</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Ads">6 Ads</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Promoting_Palin.2C_post-election">7 Promoting Palin, post-election</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Website">8 Website</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Personnel">9 Personnel</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Contact_information">10 Contact information</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Articles_and_resources">11 Articles and resources</a><ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-12"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#Related_SourceWatch_articles">11.1 Related SourceWatch articles</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#References">11.2 References</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#External_resources">11.3 External resources</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#External_articles">11.4 External articles</a></li></ul></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table><h2>Links to Move America Forward</h2>The officers of the Our Country Deserves Better PAC overlap extensively with current and former leaders of the pro-war organization <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Move_America_Forward" title="Move America Forward">Move America Forward</a> (MAF). These include MAF co-founder and former chair <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Howard_Kaloogian" title="Howard Kaloogian">Howard Kaloogian</a>, who chairs the PAC; PR executive <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Sal_Russo" title="Sal Russo">Sal Russo</a>, who serves as chief strategist for both MAF and the PAC; <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Russo_Marsh%26_Rogers" title="Russo Marsh & Rogers">Russo Marsh & Rogers</a> principal <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki" title="Joe Wierzbicki">Joe Wierzbicki</a>, who serves as grassroots coordinator for MAF and coordinates the PAC; and Marine mom <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Deborah_Johns" title="Deborah Johns">Deborah Johns</a>, who is MAF's director of military relations and the PAC's spokesperson. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-who-1">[2]</a><h2>Tea Party Express</h2>Our Country Deserves Better PAC launched the Tea Party Express national bus tour on August 28th, 2009 to rally "Americans to oppose the out-of-control spending, higher taxes, bailouts, and growth in the size and power of government."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-2">[3]</a><h2>Against climate change legislation, June 2009</h2>In June 2009, Our Country Deserves Better launched a campaign called "stop cap and trade." The conservative PAC claimed that the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Waxman-Markey_Climate_Bill" title="Waxman-Markey Climate Bill">Waxman-Markey Climate Bill</a> "will saddle Americans with thousands of dollars in new taxes, fees, and and costs each year." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-3">[4]</a><h2>New York special Congressional election, March 2009</h2>In 2009, Our Country Deserves Better endorsed <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jim_Tedisco&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Jim Tedisco (page does not exist)">Jim Tedisco</a>, the Republican candidate in a special election for Congress in New York's 20th district. Tedisco's opponent is Democratic candidate <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Scott_Murphy&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Scott Murphy (page does not exist)">Scott Murphy</a>. The special election was called to replace <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Kirsten_Gillibrand" title="Kirsten Gillibrand">Kirsten Gillibrand</a>, who was appointed to fill the Senate seat left open when <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Hillary_Clinton" title="Hillary Clinton" class="mw-redirect">Hillary Clinton</a> became Secretary of State. The PAC promised "a large cash infusion" of "'hundreds of thousands' of dollars to Tedisco's cause by the March 31 special election." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-4">[5]</a> The associated <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/MAF_Freedom_PAC" title="MAF Freedom PAC">MAF Freedom PAC</a> also endorsed Tedisco, calling him "a solid conservative" whose election would "chip away at [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi's anti-military majority" and be the "first step in slowing down the Obama march to abandon the war on terror." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-5">[6]</a>According to CQ Politics, as of two weeks before the election, OCDB's spending was significantly less than "hundreds of thousands" of dollars. "The conservative Our Country Deserves Better PAC, which ran ads against Obama during the 2008 presidential election, has made a small ad buy of $17,000 attacking Murphy," it reported. "A new independent poll on the 20th District contest shows Democratic nominee Scott Murphy, a newcomer candidate, within striking distance of Republican Jim Tedisco, a state Assembly leader." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-6">[7]</a>The nonpartisan campaign watchdog group <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/FactCheck.org" title="FactCheck.org">FactCheck.org</a> criticized OCDB's ads against Murphy. Its analysis of an OCDB ad claiming Murphy is against the U.S. military stated:<dl><dd>Whether he "smeared" the military then is a judgment call we won't address. But we will say that a strongly worded editorial penned 20 years in college is flimsy evidence for a "shameful record of attacking our military." We called Our Country Deserves Better PAC to ask whether the group had any other support for its claim; no one has returned our calls.</dd></dl>FactCheck deemed "misleading" another OCDB ad, which claimed "Murphy's company failed to pay taxes after three liens were placed against it." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-7">[8]</a><h2>Bus tour</h2>In mid to late October 2008, Our Country Deserves Better held a cross-country "Stop Obama" bus tour. At a stop in Nevada, tour participant and talk radio host <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mark_Williams&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mark Williams (page does not exist)">Mark Williams</a> accused Obama of "rigging" the election. "I'm from Boston," he said. "I know world-class crooks, and I know how to rig an election. And I can tell you that Barack Obama is rigging this election." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-NevRally-8">[9]</a>At the same rally, the group's director, Deborah Johns, claimed, "Obama would rather eat a box of nails than acknowledge our troops for a job well done. ... My son could have went to college, but he chose to give that up to serve his country, and I'm proud of him. When the call to action came, Barack Obama [did not respond]. He doesn't deserve the title of 'commander-in-chief.'" <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-NevRally-8">[9]</a>At the bus tour's stop in Troy, Michigan, Williams said, "I'm afraid for my country because if Obama wins, we all become chattel. ... But Obama is not going to win." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-9">[10]</a><h2>Ads</h2>The nonpartisan campaign watchdog group <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/FactCheck.org" title="FactCheck.org">FactCheck.org</a> has faulted Our Country Deserves Better's ads. In October 2008, FactCheck noted that the PAC's ads against <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a> were based on "charges that fueled months' worth of misleading and false chain e-mails." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-10">[11]</a>In September 2008, Our Country Deserves Better "hit the airwaves with a new ad attacking Barack Obama for not placing his hand over his heart during the pledge of allegiance, showing posters of Che Guevarra [sic] in one of his campaign offices, and digging up footage one of Rev. Jerimiah [sic] Wright’s famously inflamatory [sic] sermons," reported the California Capitol Weekly. "A release from the PAC said the ad will air in several swing states." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-11">[12]</a>In an interview, PAC coordinator Joe Wierzbicki said his group hopes to "raise in excess of $1 million by Election Day," and run ads in "ten states." In regards to the PAC's ad that questions Obama's statements on religion, Wierzbicki asked, "Is Barack Obama's faith the Muslim registration listed by his family when he was a student growing up in Indonesia? Or is it the black liberation theology espoused by Reverend <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Jeremiah_Wright" title="Jeremiah Wright">Jeremiah Wright</a>...? Or is it the mainstream Christianity he identified with in the forum hosted by Pastor <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Rick_Warren" title="Rick Warren" class="mw-redirect">Rick Warren</a>?" <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-Wint-12">[13]</a>Wierzbicki claimed Our Country Deserves Better isn't "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Swiftboating" title="Swiftboating">Swiftboating</a>" Obama, because, for example, "We've not used the photographs of Barack Obama in what some call 'Muslim garb' because the photos by themselves are inconclusive." They also decided, "despite the controversy that her words created," not to "use <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michelle_Obama&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Michelle Obama (page does not exist)">Michelle Obama</a>'s comments about this being the first time in her adult life that she was proud to be an American." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-Wint-12">[13]</a><h2>Promoting Palin, post-election</h2>Following the election of Barack Obama on November 4, 2008, the PAC put an poll on its website, asking supporters to weigh in on the group's future. The poll asked the question, "Should we fight on for victory in 2010 and 2012?" and the possible responses were "YES - We must fight for victory!," "NO - We should accept defeat and move on," or "UNDECIDED/UNSURE." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-13">[14]</a>In response to a blogger's question, "What will the Our Country Deserves Better organization focus on now that Obama has won?," Deborah Johns replied: "We do plan to be a watchdog for what happens in the Obama Administration, especially when it comes to matters concerning our military and national defense. We are also going to look at Congressional and Senate issues and hold them accountable as well." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-14">[15]</a>In mid-November, the PAC announced plans to run television ads thanking former Republican vice-presidential candidate <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Sarah_Palin" title="Sarah Palin">Sarah Palin</a>, around Thanksgiving. "Over the past few days, about 1,000 people have donated tens of thousands of dollars to Our Country Deserves Better," reported the New York Times election blog on November 11. The PAC's Wierzbicki told the Times that his group felt "there has been 'an absence of a pro-Palin cohort. ... This woman’s reputation is going to be so damaged that she can never be a national political figure,' he added. So the goal of the ad is to 'preserve her options.'" <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-15">[16]</a>A local CBS report on the Palin Thanksgiving ad said one of the spot's aims was "to urge her to run for President" in 2012. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-16">[17]</a><h2>Website</h2>The domain name for the Our Country Deserves Better website was registered by Sal Russo on July 22, 2008.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-17">[18]</a>From August 2008 until October 2009, the website itself was designed by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Eusatrix_Corporation" title="Eusatrix Corporation">Eusatrix Corporation</a>, the company founded by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Kelly_S.Eustis" title="Kelly S. Eustis">Kelly S. Eustis</a> who is listed on the group's website as its Political Director, and formerly the eCampaign Coordinator.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-18">[19]</a> It is now under control of another individual.<h2>Personnel</h2>From the Our Country Deserves Better website: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_note-who-1">[2]</a><ul><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Howard_Kaloogian" title="Howard Kaloogian">Howard Kaloogian</a> - Co-Chairman</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Amy_Kremer" title="Amy Kremer">Amy Kremer</a> - Chairman of the Tea Party Express</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Sal_Russo" title="Sal Russo">Sal Russo</a> - Chief Strategist</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lloyd_Marcus&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lloyd Marcus (page does not exist)">Lloyd Marcus</a> - Spokesperson</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki" title="Joe Wierzbicki">Joe Wierzbicki</a> - PAC Coordinator</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tiffiny_Ruegner&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tiffiny Ruegner (page does not exist)">Tiffiny Ruegner</a> - Director, Field Operations</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Levi_Russell&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Levi Russell (page does not exist)">Levi Russell</a> - Communications Director</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Betty_Presley&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Betty Presley (page does not exist)">Betty Presley</a> - Treasurer</li></ul>Former staff:<ul><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mark_Williams&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mark Williams (page does not exist)">Mark Williams</a> - Spokesperson and Chairman of the Tea Party Express</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Kelly_S.Eustis" title="Kelly S. Eustis">Kelly S. Eustis</a> - Political Director / eCampaign Coordinator</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Deborah_Johns" title="Deborah Johns">Deborah Johns</a> - Spokesperson and Vice Chairman of the Tea Party Express</li></ul><h2>Contact information</h2>Our Country Deserves Better PAC
8795 Folsom Blvd, Suite 103
Sacramento, CA 95826Website: <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/">http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com</a><h2>Articles and resources</h2><h3>Related SourceWatch articles</h3><ul><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Eusatrix_Corporation" title="Eusatrix Corporation">Eusatrix Corporation</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Move_America_Forward" title="Move America Forward">Move America Forward</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Political_action_committee" title="Political action committee">Political action committee</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Russo_Marsh%26_Rogers" title="Russo Marsh & Rogers">Russo Marsh & Rogers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Sarah_Palin" title="Sarah Palin">Sarah Palin</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/National_Republican_Trust_PAC" title="National Republican Trust PAC">National Republican Trust PAC</a></li></ul><h3>References</h3><ol class="references"><li id="cite_note-0"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-0">↑</a> "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/ourbeliefs/index.html">Our beliefs</a>," Our Country Deserves Better PAC website, accessed September 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-who-1">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-who_1-0">2.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-who_1-1">2.1</a> "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/about/boardandstaff.html">About Us - Board and Staff</a>," Our Country Deserves Better PAC website, accessed September 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-2">↑</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/news/pr081009.html">"Tea Party Express to Air TV Ads Across America Opposing "ObamaCare"</a>, Media release, August 10, 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-3">↑</a> "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/campaigns/stopcapandtrade.html">Campaigns: Stop cap and trade</a>," Our Country Deserves Better website, accessed June 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-4"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-4">↑</a> Roy Edroso, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/03/upstate_electio.php">Upstate Election Draws Big PAC Money, Giuliani</a>," Village Voice blog, March 3, 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-5">↑</a> "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mafpac.org/">Homepage</a>," MAF Freedom PAC website, accessed March 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-6"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-6">↑</a> Emily Cadei, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003073580">Democrat May Be Closing Gap In Special House Election</a>," CQ Politics, March 12, 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-7"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-7">↑</a> Justin Bank, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wire.factcheck.org/2009/03/12/upstate-insults-continue/">Upstate Insults Continue...</a>," The FactCheck.org Wire, March 12, 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-NevRally-8">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-NevRally_8-0">9.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-NevRally_8-1">9.1</a> Matt Farley, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://news.rgj.com/article/20081016/NEWS19/810160340/1232">GOP group at Carson City rally claims that Obama 'rigging the election'</a>," Reno Gazette-Journal (Nevada), October 16, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-9"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-9">↑</a> Kathleen Gray, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.freep.com/article/20081025/NEWS15/81025059/1215">Conservative PAC brings Stop Obama Tour to Michigan</a>," Detroit Free Press, October 25, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-10"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-10">↑</a> Emi Kolawole, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wire.factcheck.org/2008/10/28/a-spam-metamorphosis/">A Spam Metamorphosis</a>," The FactCheck.org Wire, October 28, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-11"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-11">↑</a> "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?adctlid=v%7Cjq2q43wvsl855o%7Cxeyslwczgxdbem&issueId=xeylg4ns6ql3ki&xid=xeyqqg4ql7t963">The Skinny</a>," Capitol Weekly (Sacramento, California), September 18, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-Wint-12">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-Wint_12-0">13.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-Wint_12-1">13.1</a> Bill Berkowitz, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mediatransparency.com/story.php?storyID=247">Pac man: Our Country Deserves Better PAC aims to 'define' Obama's 'weaknesses' and make him 'an unacceptable choice to serve as our nation's next president and Commander in Chief'</a>," MediaTransparency.com, September 26, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-13"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-13">↑</a> "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/">Homepage</a>," Our Country Deserves Better website, accessed November 7, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-14"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-14">↑</a> Michael Swartz, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.redcounty.com/wicomico/2008/11/ten-questions-follow-up-blue-s/">Ten Questions follow up: Blue Star Mom Deborah Johns</a>," Red County blog: Wicomico County (Maryland), November 6, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-15"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-15">↑</a> Sarah Wheaton, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/palins-appeal-proves-durable/">Palin's Appeal Proves Durable</a>," New York Times blog "The Caucus," November 11, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-16"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-16">↑</a> Phil Matier, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://cbs5.com/video/?id=42049@kpix.dayport.com">Nor Cal Conservatives Thank Palin, Urge 2012 Run</a>," CBS-5 KPIX (San Francisco, California), November 17, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-17"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-17">↑</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://joker.com/?tool=whois&t_whois=ourcountrydeservesbetter.com&go_back_mode=order_check">"ourcountrydeservesbetter.com"</a>, Joker.com, accessed September 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-18"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Our_Country_Deserves_Better#cite_ref-18">↑</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/about/boardandstaff.html">"About Us - Board and Staff"</a>, Our Country Deserves Better website, accessed September 2008.</li></ol><h3>External resources</h3><h3>External articles</h3><ul><li>Bill Berkowitz, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mediatransparency.com/story.php?storyID=247">PAC man: Our Country Deserves Better PAC aims to 'define' Obama's 'weaknesses' and make him 'an unacceptable choice to serve as our nation's next president and Commander in Chief'</a>," MediaTransparency.org, September 26, 2008.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200810150008?f=h_latest">Echoing smear emails, Halperin falsely suggested video shows Obama during 'pledge of allegiance'</a>," Media Matters "County Fair" blog, October 15, 2008.</li><li>Ed O'Keefe, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/15/conservative_pac_tries_tying_o.html">Conservative PAC Targets Michigan with Inflammatory Obama Ad</a>," Washington Post blog "The Trail," October 15, 2008.</li><li>Mary Gilbert, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://adspotlight.nationaljournal.com/2008/10/pac-evokes.php">PAC Evokes Hamas & Wright In Obama Attack</a>," National Journal Ad Spotlight, October 15, 2008.</li><li>Dan Morain, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ads15-2008oct15,0,2660617.story">Attack ad seeks to link Obama to his former pastor: The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. is heard denouncing the U.S. in the campaign ad, created by three conservative Californians</a>," Los Angeles Times, October 15, 2008.</li><li>Mary Gilbert, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://adspotlight.nationaljournal.com/2008/10/conservative-michigan.php">Conservative PAC Picks Up Slack In Michigan</a>," National Journal Ad Spotlight, October 22, 2008.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wluctv6.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=211483">Stop-Obama tour hits UP: 'Our Country Deserves Better' group is touring the nation</a>," WLUC TV 6 (Negaunee, Michigan), October 23, 2008.</li><li>Nikki Younk, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/504062.html">GOP campaign stops in IM</a>," The Daily News (Iron Mountain, Michigan), October 24, 2008.</li><li>Cathleen, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wizardkitten.blogspot.com/2008/10/our-country-deserves-better-pac.html">'Our Country Deserves Better' PAC Stealing Copyrighted Images</a>," WizardKitten blog, October 25, 2008.</li><li>Stephenie Koehn, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mlive.com/annarbornews/news/index.ssf/2008/10/stop_obama_bus_rolls_through.html">'Stop Obama' bus rolls through Livingston County</a>," The Ann Arbor News (Michigan), October 26, 2008.</li><li>Kristin Longley, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/10/republicans_may_be_less_visibl.html">Republicans may be less visible, but remain determined in final days leading up to election</a>," The Flint Journal (Michigan), October 27, 2008.</li><li>Dan Morain, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/10/john-mccain-may.html">Update: John McCain packed up and left Michigan but Barack Obama still faces opposition there</a>," Los Angeles Times blog "Top of the Ticket," October 27, 2008.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/news/index.ssf/2008/10/nine_days_away_presidential_ca.html">Nine days away, presidential candidate not giving up Saginaw willingly</a>," The Saginaw News (Michigan), October 27, 2008.</li><li>Kristin Longley, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/10/john_mccains_stop_obama_tour_t.html">John McCain's 'Stop Obama Tour' to make stop in Grand Blanc today</a>," The Flint Journal (Michigan), October 27, 2008.</li><li>Barrie Barber, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mlive.com/news/saginawnews/index.ssf?/base/news-28/122520361426460.xml&coll=9">Supporters rally for both parties</a>," The Saginaw News (Michigan), October 28, 2008.</li><li>Nick Schirripa, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20081028/NEWS01/810280308/1002/NEWS01">Campaign isn't over</a>," The Battle Creek Enquirer (Michigan), October 28, 2008.</li><li>Mary Gilbert, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://adspotlight.nationaljournal.com/2008/10/the-blame-game.php">Wright Appears In Late Third-Party Attack</a>," NationalJournal.com "Ad Spotlight," October 28, 2008.</li><li>Jonathan Oosting, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mlive.com/elections/index.ssf/2008/10/mccain_getting_help_in_michiga.html">McCain getting help in Michigan from California-based group</a>," MLive.com, October 28, 2008.</li><li>Bill Berkowitz, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1822">Our country deserves better than the Our Country Deserves Better PAC's 'Stop Obama Tour'</a>," Buzzflash.com, October 28, 2008.</li><li>Diane Farsetta, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.prwatch.org/node/7873">Our Country Deserves Better: The Russo Marsh Crowd Bashes Obama from Coast to Coast</a>," PR Watch, October 28, 2008.</li><li>Sam Stein, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/29/at-an-anti-obama-presser_n_139027.html">At An Anti-Obama Presser Where No Attack Is Deemed Outrageous</a>," Huffington Post, October 29, 2008.</li><li>Jonathan Stein, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/10/10539_conservative_pac_accuse_obama.html">Conservative PAC Holds Press Conference, Accuses Obama of Everything Ever</a>," Mother Jones blog, October 29, 2008.</li><li>R.V. Scheide, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=875257">Hey, switch-hitters! The Republican Party is going down in flames, but it’s not too late to join the winning side</a>," Sacramento News & Review, October 30, 2008.</li><li>Mary Gilbert, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://adspotlight.nationaljournal.com/2008/10/conservative-pac.php">Conservative PAC Belittles Obama's Foreign Policy Creds</a>," NationalJournal.com "Ad Spotlight," October 30, 2008.</li><li>Steven Harmon, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics/ci_10858941?nclick_check=1">California group goes after Obama in battleground states</a>," Contra Costa Times (California), October 30, 2008.</li><li>Stephenie Koehn, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1225464156291430.xml&coll=2">Anti-Obama bus rolls into Brighton</a>," The Ann Arbor News (Michigan), October 31, 2008.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://newsblaze.com/story/20081112084026tsop.nb/topstory.html">Statement on Thanksgiving Ad Campaign Honoring Gov. Sarah Palin</a>," NewsBlaze, November 12, 2008.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.poststar.com/blogs/?p=11094&cat=259">Argyle GOP activist helping boost Palin profile</a>," The Post-Star blog "All Politics Is Local" (Glens Falls, New York), November 12, 2008.</li><li>Tony Allen-Mills, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5162538.ece">Sarah Palin's failure set to reap her $7m book deal</a>," The Sunday Times (UK), November 16, 2008.</li><li>Mary Gilbert, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/no_20081124_9457.php">Conservative PAC Thanks Palin In TV Ads: Our Country Deserves Better Offers Gratitude To Alaska Governor In Thanksgiving Day Blitz</a>," National Journal, November 26, 2008.</li><li>Kyle Hopkins, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sitnews.us/1108news/113008/113008_shns_palin_mania.html">'Palin mania' continues, with fans and foes gearing up</a>," Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), November 30, 2008.</li><li>Melanie, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.newshounds.us/2008/12/01/why_didnt_deborah_johns_scream_when_neil_cavuto_said_her_son_died_in_iraq_when_he_didnt.php">Why Didn't Deborah Johns Scream When Neil Cavuto Said Her Son Died in Iraq, When he Didn't?</a>," News Hounds, December 1, 2008.</li><li>Logan Jenkins, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/jenkins/20081201-9999-1m1jenkins.html">Local conservative pops up in daffy Palin ad</a>," San Diego Union-Tribune (California), December 1, 2008.</li><li>Steven Ertelt, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lifenews.com/nat4675.html">Group Wants Pro-Abortion Rahm Emanuel to Resign in Obama Seat Scandal</a>," LifeNews.com, December 28, 2008.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://newsblaze.com/story/20090117110321zzzz.nb/topstory.html">Obama Honeymoon Over: Conservative Group Unveils TV Ad Against Obama At Inauguration</a>," NewsBlaze, January 17, 2009.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://gorepublicans.blogspot.com/2009/02/orlando-tea-party-march-21-2009-our-own.html">Orlando Tea Party - March 21, 2009 - (Our Own) Lloyd Marcus to Sing</a>," Republican Club of SW Volusia, FL. blog, February 25, 2009.</li><li>Jimmy Vielkind, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.politickerny.com/2326/pro-palin-pac-attacks-murphy-stimulus-support">Pro-Palin PAC Attacks Murphy For Stimulus Support</a>," PolitickerNY.com, March 5, 2009.</li><li>T.J. Raphael, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.legislativegazette.com/day_item.php?item=734">Conservative PAC comes out swinging in round two</a>," Legislative Gazette (Albany, New York), March 16, 2009.</li><li>Brian Tumulty, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20090318/NEWS01/903180323">Outside money pours into House race</a>," The Ithaca Journal (New York), March 18, 2009.</li><li>Roger Green, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://blogs.timesunion.com/rogergreen/?p=310">Conservative PAC Mailings and the 20th CD Race</a>," Times Union (Albany, New York) blog "Information Without The Bun," March 20, 2009.</li><li>Salena Zito, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.postchronicle.com/commentary/article_212218555.shtml">Tea parties Get A Theme Song</a>," The Post Chronicle (Denville, New Jersey), March 28, 2009.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://gorepublicans.blogspot.com/2009/04/naacpc-president-lloyd-marcus.html">NAACPC President, Lloyd Marcus, Participates in Historic Meeting with Chairman of the RNC, Michael Steele</a>," Republican Club of SW Volusia, FL, April 2, 2009. (NAACPC is the "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Association_for_the_Advancement_of_Conservative_People_of_Color&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="National Association for the Advancement of Conservative People of Color (page does not exist)">National Association for the Advancement of Conservative People of Color</a>.")</li><li>David Jacobs, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rgj.com/article/20090525/NEWS18/90525017/1321/NEWS">Conservative group launches anti-Reid campaign in Nevada</a>," Reno Gazette-Journal (Nevada), May 25, 2009.</li><li>Martin Kady II, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22949.html">Republicans invoke Ronald Reagan to fight Harry Reid</a>," Politico.com, May 26, 2009.</li><li>Amanda Grace Johnson, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/independent-gop-groups-getting-early-start-2009-05-26.html">Independent GOP groups getting early start</a>," The Hill, May 26, 2009.</li><li>Molly Ball, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lvrj.com/news/47195452.html">Reid just irks Nevada GOP: PAC raises more, but few dollars to defeat senator</a>," Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 8, 2009.</li><li>Ron Moore, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.examiner.com/x-5697-Grassroots-Politics-Examiner_{y2009m7d1-New-ad-campaign-to-launch-July-7-calling-Obama-proposals-exactly-what-Hitler-did-in-Nazi-Germany"}>New ad campaign to launch July 7 calling Obama proposals 'exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany'</a>," Examiner.com, July 1, 2009.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://mediamatters.org/research/200907290001">Not about 'parties or politics'? Fox News promotes anti-Dem 'Tea Party Express'</a>," MediaMatters.org, July 29, 2009.</li><li>Donald Lambro, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washtimes.com/news/2009/aug/11/tea-parties-reunite-to-protest-obama-health-care-p/?feat=home_headlines">Obama health plans revive tea parties</a>," The Washington Times, August 11, 2009.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://mediamatters.org/research/200908190024">Fox News hosts birther Mark Williams to promote 'how you can join' anti-Dem Tea Party Express</a>," <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Media_Matters_for_America" title="Media Matters for America">Media Matters for America</a>, August 19, 2009.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2009/08/come-hear-lloyd-marcus-and-bring-a-tea-bag.html">Come hear Lloyd Marcus -- and bring a tea bag</a>," Orlando Sentinel (Florida), August 19, 2009.</li><li>Lloyd Marcus, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/08/youre_a_racist_the_ultimate_em.html">You're A Racist! The Ultimate Emotional Intimidation</a>," American Thinker, August 20, 2009.</li><li>Lenita Powers, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rgj.com/article/20090828/NEWS/90828045/1321/NEWS">Tea Party Express visits Sparks</a>," Reno Gazette Journal (Nevada), August 28, 2009.</li><li>"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://mediamatters.org/research/200908280029">Fox News "hops" aboard Tea Party Express with rampant promotions, live coverage</a>," Media Matters for America, August 28, 2009.</li><li>Jim Spellman, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/30/tea-party-express-cruises-through-nevada/">Tea Party Express cruises through Nevada</a>," CNN blogs, August 30, 2009.</li><li>Jeff Brady, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112397743">California PAC Sponsors 'Tea Party Express'</a>," <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/NPR" title="NPR" class="mw-redirect">NPR</a>'s "Morning Edition," August 31, 2009.</li><li>Lisa Mascaro and Michael Mishak, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/sep/01/fertilized-cash-air/">Grass roots or not, Nevada tea parties had assist: Conservative activists stop in Las Vegas along cross-country tour</a>," Las Vegas Sun, September 1, 2009.</li><li>Rudy Herndon, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elynews.com/articles/2009/09/02/news/news01.txt">Ely goes to a tea party</a>," Ely Times (White Pine County, Nevada), September 2, 2009.</li><li>Tom Kacich, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2009/09/02/tea-party_tour_will_make_stop_in_bloomington">Tea-party tour will make stop in Bloomington</a>," The News-Gazette (Champaign, Illinois), September 2, 2009</li></ul></div><div id="catlinks" class="catlinks"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Categories</a>:<ul><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:Politics%28U.S.%29" title="Category:Politics (U.S.)">Politics (U.S.)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:Political_action_committees" title="Category:Political action committees">Political action committees</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:United_States" title="Category:United States">United States</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:Tea_Party_Movement" title="Category:Tea Party Movement">Tea Party Movement</a></li></ul>Wierzbicki<div id="mw-content-text" lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Joe Wierzbicki is a principal of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Republican Party</a>-associated <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Public_relations" title="Public relations" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">public relations</a> firm <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Russo_Marsh%26_Rogers" title="Russo Marsh & Rogers" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Russo Marsh & Rogers</a> (RM+R). He is also director of public relations at<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/King_Media_Group" title="King Media Group" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">King Media Group</a>, RM+R's mirror firm. In emails he describes himself as "Grassroots Coordinator for <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Move_America_Forward" title="Move America Forward" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Move America Forward</a>," a client of RM+R advocating and conducting PR for Bush's policies in Iraq in the name of supporting US troops and winning the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Global_war_on_terror" title="Global war on terror" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">global war on terror</a>.<table id="toc" class="toc" style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249); padding: 5px;"><tbody><tr><td><div id="toctitle" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center;"><h2 style="background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border: none; width: auto; display: inline;">Contents</h2>  [<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#" class="internal" id="togglelink" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">hide</a>] </div><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#Anti-Obama_PAC" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">1 Anti-Obama PAC</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#Co-opting_the_Tea_Party_movement" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">2 Co-opting the Tea Party movement</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#Profiles" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">3 Profiles</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#Articles_and_resources" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">4 Articles and resources</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#Related_SourceWatch_articles" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">4.1 Related SourceWatch articles</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#References" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">4.2 References</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#External_resources" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">4.3 External resources</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#External_articles" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">4.4 External articles</a></li></ul></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto;">Anti-Obama PAC</h2>Wierzbicki is the coordinator of a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Political_action_committee" title="Political action committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">political action committee</a> formed to oppose Democratic presidential candidate <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Barack Obama</a>, called "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Our_Country_Deserves_Better" title="Our Country Deserves Better" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Our Country Deserves Better</a>." In addition to Wierzbicki, several PAC officers are or were associated with <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Move_America_Forward" title="Move America Forward" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Move America Forward</a>, including <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Howard_Kaloogian" title="Howard Kaloogian" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Howard Kaloogian</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Russo_Marsh%26_Rogers" title="Russo Marsh & Rogers" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Russo Marsh & Rogers</a>head <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Sal_Russo" title="Sal Russo" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Sal Russo</a>, and Marine mom <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Deborah_Johns" title="Deborah Johns" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Deborah Johns</a>. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#cite_note-0" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a>In an interview about the PAC, Wierzbicki said Our Country Deserves Better hopes to "raise in excess of $1 million by Election Day," and run ads in "ten states." In regards to the PAC's ad that questions Obama's statements on religion, Wierzbicki asked, "Is Barack Obama's faith the Muslim registration listed by his family when he was a student growing up in Indonesia? Or is it the black liberation theology espoused by Reverend <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Jeremiah_Wright" title="Jeremiah Wright" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Jeremiah Wright</a>...? Or is it the mainstream Christianity he identified with in the forum hosted by Pastor <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Rick_Warren" title="Rick Warren" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Rick Warren</a>?" <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#cite_note-Wint-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a>Wierzbicki claimed Our Country Deserves Better isn't "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Swiftboating" title="Swiftboating" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Swiftboating</a>" Obama, because, for example, "We've not used the photographs of Barack Obama in what some call 'Muslim garb' because the photos by themselves are inconclusive." They also decided, "despite the controversy that her words created," not to "use<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michelle_Obama&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Michelle Obama (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Michelle Obama</a>'s comments about this being the first time in her adult life that she was proud to be an American." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#cite_note-Wint-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a><h2 style="background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto;">Co-opting the Tea Party movement</h2>In April, 2010 the web site Politico.com published a proposal written by Wierzbicki to use the Our Country Deserves Better PAC to co-opt the tea party movement by obtaining a luxury coach, painting it in Tea Party-themed images, and sending it on a multi-stop national tour with the aim of raising money by urging the defeat of prominent Democratic candidates like <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Harry_Reid" title="Harry Reid" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Harry Reid</a> (D-Nevada), Arlen Specter (D-Pennsylvania) and Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut).<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#cite_note-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[4]</a><h2 style="background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto;">Profiles</h2>Wierzbicki’s RM+R biographical note provides little detail on his work history other than that he previously worked for <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Fleishman-Hillard" title="Fleishman-Hillard" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Fleishman-Hillard</a> and "corporate clients, non-profit organizations as well as political candidates and committees." <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.rmrweb.com/Principals.asp" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[1]</a>"Businesses sometimes experience rough patches that they need help with, and Mr. Wierzbicki’s extensive experience and illustrious background enables him to assist corporations and organizations with damage-control efforts," it states. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.rmrweb.com/Principals.asp" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[2]</a>In 2005, RM+R helped promote <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Move_America_Forward" title="Move America Forward" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Move America Forward</a>'s recent <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/%22Truth_Tour%22" title="" truth="Truth" tour="Tour" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">"Truth Tour"</a> of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Iraq" title="Iraq" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Iraq</a> by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Right-wing" title="Right-wing" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">right-wing</a> radio hosts there and preparing a campaign for the Kurdish Regional Government. Wierzbicki told journalist Bill Berkowitz that his firm's Kurdish campaign "will thank the American people for supporting the war in Iraq, and encourage Americans to visit and invest in the Kurdish region." Wierzbicki said RM+R is "not advocating an independent Kurdistan," but "the Kurds would like the rest of the country to look at the Kurdish region and see it as a model" for Iraq. The Kurdish campaign will likely be a short-term effort, including television and print ads, that will start in late summer or early fall. "It's important to recognize that the Kurds are not hostile to the West," Wierzbicki added. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=19468" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[3]</a><h2 style="background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto;">Articles and resources</h2><h3 style="background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Related SourceWatch articles</h3><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Move_America_Forward" title="Move America Forward" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Move America Forward</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Our_Country_Deserves_Better" title="Our Country Deserves Better" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Our Country Deserves Better</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Russo_Marsh%26_Rogers" title="Russo Marsh & Rogers" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Russo Marsh & Rogers</a></li></ul><h3 style="background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">References</h3><ol class="references" style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 3.2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li id="cite_note-0" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#cite_ref-0" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">↑</a> "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/whoweare/index.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Who we are</a>," Our Country Deserves Better PAC website, accessed September 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-Wint-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#cite_ref-Wint_1-0" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">2.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#cite_ref-Wint_1-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">2.1</a> Bill Berkowitz, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mediatransparency.com/story.php?storyID=247" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Pac man: Our Country Deserves Better PAC aims to 'define' Obama's 'weaknesses' and make him 'an unacceptable choice to serve as our nation's next president and Commander in Chief'</a>," MediaTransparency.com, September 26, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#cite_ref-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">↑</a> Politico.com, Joe Weirsbicki <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/static/PPM154_teapartyexpress041709.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">The "Tea Party Express" Project Proposal Draft</a>,(PDF) undated, accessed April 15, 2010</li><li id="cite_note-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Wierzbicki#cite_ref-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">↑</a> Kenneth P. Vogel <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/35785.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">GOP operatives crash the tea party</a>, Politico.com, April 14, 2010</li></ol><h3 style="background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">External resources</h3><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rmrweb.com/Principals.asp" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Joe Wierzbicki</a>, Russo Marsh & Rogers bio.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.kingmediagroup.com/Bios/JoeWierzbicki.asp" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Joe Wierzbicki</a>, King Media Group bio.</li></ul><h3 style="background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">External articles</h3><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Bill Berkowitz, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=19468" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">The selling of brand Kurdistan</a> As the 'Truth Tour' fades into the ether, Russo Marsh & Rogers, a California-based public relations firm with close ties to the Republican Party, is now helping the Kurds prepare for the future", WorkingForChange, August 11, 2005.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Bill Berkowitz, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mediatransparency.com/story.php?storyID=247" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">PAC man: Our Country Deserves Better PAC aims to 'define' Obama's 'weaknesses' and make him 'an unacceptable choice to serve as our nation's next president and Commander in Chief'</a>," MediaTransparency.org, September 26, 2008.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Donald Lambro, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washtimes.com/news/2009/aug/11/tea-parties-reunite-to-protest-obama-health-care-p/?feat=home_headlines" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Obama health plans revive tea parties</a>," The Washington Times, August 11, 2009.</li></ul></div><div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249); padding: 5px; margin-top: 1em; clear: both; line-height: 19.2px;"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none;">Categories</a>: <ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style: none none; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><li style="margin: 0.125em 0px; 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