What is MVP? A wonky primer

MIDWEST VALUES PAC
Al Franken, founder

ABOUT MIDWEST VALUES PAC

Midwest Values PAC (MVP) was founded by political satirist, author, and Air America Radio host Al Franken in the fall of 2005. Its goal is to provide financial and organizational support to progressive candidates, activists, and causes – in his home state of Minnesota, throughout the Midwest, and around the country – in 2006 and beyond.

Al Franken plans for MVP to provide this support through the following initiatives:

Support of progressive campaigns. MVP will provide financial support to candidates sharing the values Al Franken learned growing up in Minnesota: strong communities; healthy and secure families; equal opportunity for all; honesty and common sense in government; and most of all, the belief that these, our progressive values, are worth fighting for. MVP will not restrict itself to supporting candidates on a geographic basis. Rather, MVP will stand up for candidates who stand up for our values.

Support of national progressive infrastructure. MVP will provide financial and organizational support to individuals and groups working to encourage participation, train activists, recruit candidates, and perform other services valuable to the progressive movement. In addition to helping established organizations expand their successful and vital work, MVP will provide “seed money” through a grant program to allow progressive activists to spark change in their communities. Through MVP’s focus on these efforts, Al Franken hopes to highlight effective models of organizing, encourage innovation, and create wide awareness of opportunities for progressive-minded citizens to get involved.

MidwestValuesPAC.org. MVP will devote significant resources to establishing and maintaining an active online presence designed to build a passionate, knowledgeable, and well-organized community of progressives in the Upper Midwest. By working with innovative thinkers in the field of web design, political organization, and community leadership, MVP’s website will provide opportunities for users to learn about candidates and issues, share information and resources, develop political skills and relationships with their neighbors, and eventually work together to bring about progressive victories. In short, MVP’s online presence is designed to help Al Franken’s millions of passionate and interested fans become engaged and effective activists.

Through 1) supporting candidates, 2) building progressive infrastructure, and 3) encouraging direct and effective participation by its broad membership base, Al Franken’s Midwest Values PAC will help to bring about progressive victories in 2006, as well as a stronger progressive community into the future.