Our Mission
What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? -Thomas Jefferson
Our Guiding Principle
Since the birth of our nation, no belief has withstood the test of time more so than our unfaltering sense of freedom. It is a flame that burns within all our hearts; an inalienable right that we look upon with the same reverence as our forefathers did. A right that, unfortunately, is constantly threatened.
As history has shown, the attacks on our freedoms are not bursting dams but rather trickling streams, gradually eroding the foundation of our freedoms until only remnants remain. What starts as little inconveniences slowly evolve into more serious problems.
Our goal is to make sure that our rights as Americans are not impeded upon by the newest threats to our freedoms: the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 and the deceptively named Stop Online Piracy Act. These bills serve as stark reminders that the actions of the United States Congress do not always reflect the will of the people. And when a congressman or woman fails to act in accordance with this principle, it is the duty of the people to rectify the situation at the voting booth.
So we, the people, ask of our Congressional leaders the following:
1.) Explain your decision on why you support/supported the NDAA bill in its current form.
2.) Explicitly state your opposition to SOPA. No deliberating. No amending. Just an explicit opposition to a bill that does nothing but hurts the American way of life.
We ask this of any and all democratically elected representatives who have been led astray from the will of the people.
Where We Begin
Having shown a failure to demonstrate opposition to both of these bills, Congressman Paul Ryan has become the focus of our attention. Congressman Ryan failed to demonstrate leadership when he voted in support of HR 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, despite the inclusion of sections 1021 and 1022, which have received unilateral scorn from organizations both conservative and liberal, generals, and federal law enforcement officials. Congressman Ryan has, like many other politicians, made vocal his support for the Bill of Rights and so we are alarmed by his willingness to vote in favor of a bill that clearly subverts the 6th Amendment guarantees of the United States Constitution.
While it is true that Congressman Ryan was not the sponsor of SOPA, his efforts to remain neutral about the caustic piece of legislation are extremely discouraging. This, coupled with the fact that Ryan has received $288,600 from supporters of SOPA and only $39,950 from groups who oppose it, seems to suggest that is still very possible the congressman will vote in support of the legislation.
Rob Zerban, Congressman Ryan’s opponent in the coming 2012 election, has publicly stated that he is against SOPA.
It is for these reasons that we are calling on Congressman Ryan to vocally state his opposition to sections 1021 and 1022 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act and also to make a promise to us and his constituents that he will vote against the Stop Online Piracy Act. We are confident that the Congressman will do what is sensible and oppose these bills. And if not, the spirit of our resistance will serve as more than a warning come 2012.
Signed,
We the People
News
Please see our official press release.
All media inquiries should be directed to media@pullryan.com
Operation Pull Ryan in the news:
- SOPA Becoming a Liability for Backers - Politico, 1/10/2012
- Did the anti-SOPA internet defeat Paul Ryan? – The Global Post, 1/10/2012
- Paul Ryan’s SOPA Stance Changes: GOP Representative Comes Out Against Internet Piracy Bill – Huffington Post, 1/9/2012
- Paul Ryan Turns Against SOPA Following a Reddit-based Attack – CNET News, 1/9/2012
- Paul Ryan: No Way I’m Backing SOPA – Newser, 1/9/2012
- Reddit Targets Alleged SOPA Supporters – ABC News, 12/30/2011
- Reddit and Paul Ryan: Could A Model for 2012 Upstarts Emerge In Rob Zerban? – International Business Times, 12/30/2011
- Reddit Users Go After Pro-SOPA Members of Congress – PC Magazine, 12/29/2011
- SOPA Non-Opponent Paul Ryan (R-WI) to Be First Politician Brought Down by Reddit – BetaBeat, 12/29/2011
- Reddit Turns Its Attention To Politics: Seeking Supporters Of SOPA & NDAA To Unseat – TechDirt, 12/29/2011
- Reddit Forces Paul Ryan to Play Defense on SOPA – The Atlantic Wire, 12/29/2011
- Reddit Users Target Pro-SOPA Politicians – Mashable, 12/29/2011
- Reddit Users Use SOPA as Excuse to Target Paul Ryan - Game Politics, 12/29/2011
- Reddit Makes Plans to “Take Out” Republican Class War Posterboy Paul Ryan - Dangerous Minds, 12/29/2011
- Paul Ryan and SOPA: Reddit Boosts Opponent Rob Zerban for 2012 Race – International Business Times, 12/28/2011
- Reddit on the warpath: vows to take on Congress – The Next Web, 12/28/2011
- Reddit Users to Target Supporters of SOPA in Congress After Successful Boycott of GoDaddy – Forbes, 12/28/2011
How to Help
Contact your Representative
Volunteer
- Spread the word. Share PullRyan.com with your friends and family. Talk to them about SOPA/PIPA and the indefinite detention provisions of the NDAA. Take Social Media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, and Tumblr by storm.
- Head to YouTube. Have you seen any videos of politicians talking about the Bill of Rights? Our Freedom of Speech? Find a video of Paul Ryan praising American Civil Liberties? Send us links! We want these and you can help.
- Snail Mail: Hand-write a letter to Paul Ryan, or your Congressman, to tell them you do not support SOPA/PIPA or the indefinite detention provisions of the NDAA. Let them know that this sort of legislation is not okay. For a basic template, visit Reddit.
Donate
- Donate to Operation Pull Ryan – More information coming soon
Vote
- Are you registered to vote? Some states, like Wisconsin, allow you to verify your voting status. You can find relevant links for your state by visiting VoteSmart.
- Not Registered to vote? Registering to vote is simple and easy. VoteSmart will tell you how you can register to vote in your state. Voting ensures that your voice is heard; don’t get left out.
