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For Immediate Release
Contact: Drew Courtney or Josh Glasstetter,Phone: 202-467-4999,Email:,media@pfaw.org

Kathleen Turner Phone Calls Support Confirmation of Dawn Johnsen

Beginning today, residents of nine states will be receiving automated
calls featuring the voice of actress Kathleen Turner supporting the
confirmation of Dawn Johnsen. The calls urge constituents to call
targeted Senators to demand that they support Johnsen, President Obama's
nominee to lead the Office of Legal Counsel.

WASHINGTON

Beginning today, residents of nine states will be receiving automated
calls featuring the voice of actress Kathleen Turner supporting the
confirmation of Dawn Johnsen. The calls urge constituents to call
targeted Senators to demand that they support Johnsen, President Obama's
nominee to lead the Office of Legal Counsel.

"Enough is enough," said Turner. "Dawn Johnsen
is eminently qualified for this position. She has the experience, the
intellect, and the integrity to lead the OLC. Blocking Dawn
Johnsen's nomination is nothing more than petty politics.
It's shocking that Republican Senators would still place partisan
interests above the wellbeing of the country."

The calls will be in Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire,
Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee and Utah. In many of these states,
Senators made earlier statements blasting the use of the filibuster on
presidential nominees.

"Kathleen is a longtime board member of our affiliate People For
the American Way Foundation, and I'm honored that she's working
with us so closely on this," said Michael Keegan, President of People For
the American Way. "Dawn Johnsen is an exceptionally qualified
nominee for this position who has been pilloried for her principled defense of
the rule of law. It's important that the Senate know that Americans
want to clean up the mess that President Bush left behind."

The script of the message reads:

Hello,
I'm Kathleen Turner calling on behalf of People For the American Way. I'm asking you
to join me in urging the Senate to confirm Dawn Johnsen-that's
D-A-W-N Johnsen-President Obama's choice to lead the Office of Legal
Counsel.

George
Bush used this office to provide the legal justifications for torture and
illegal spying. Because of Dawn's courageous opposition to those policies, the
Right Wing wants to block her confirmation. But we can't let them.

Dawn
has the experience and integrity this position needs. Please, call your
senators and tell them to confirm Dawn Johnsen.

You can read an op-ed from Turner supporting Johnsen here.

People For the American Way works to build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. We fight against right-wing extremism and the injustice it fosters.

1 (800) 326-7329