100 Calls, 100 Senators. My, Oh, My. - Democratic Underground

JFN1

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Tue Jan-24-06 04:28 PM
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100 Calls, 100 Senators. My, Oh, My.

Maybe I was just asking for it.

I found myself staring at the headline about Alito going to full vote before the Senate, and decided to do my part to shout from the rooftops Alito was not good for America. Calling Senators who do not represent my State may be a break with tradition, but hey, I'm an American, and ultimately they all work for me, and for all of us - we do pay their salaries (our tax dollars at work). So I started in.

It took about three hours to go through the entire list. And it took me a bit to get my banter down to what I considered a brief, respectful, and meaningful message. Of course, some Senate staffers had their own ideas...

My message was simple. To Democrats, I said:

Hi, I have a brief message I'd like to pass along to the Senator, if it's possible. I am deeply troubled by the Alito nomination, and I hope the Senator will vote 'NO', even if it means a filibuster."

And to Republicans, I said:

Hi, I have a brief message I'd like to pass along to the Senator, if it's possible. I am deeply troubled by the Alito nomination, and I believe we can do much better. I hope the Senator will vote 'NO' on this nomination."

In all instances, I kept my voice friendly and energetic. And I don't know if it means anything, but I received very different responses from Democrats and Republicans.

All of the staffers I spoke with today started out friendly. With only one exception, all of the Democratic staffers I spoke with stayed friendly. The exception, not surprisingly, was Senator Lieberman's office. But more on that in a minute.

Republicans answered the phone with bright cheer. But as soon as I said my piece, the iron began to filter into their voices, and it was clear my call was not welcome. Did these Republican staffers know I was calling from out of state? Did they know I was a Democrat? Did they know I was not a constituent? Nope. They knew none of this going in, for I gave them no such details, nor did they ask for any. It was as if being opposed to a decision by King George was enough to make me an enemy. And the Republicans, with apparent gusto, treated me as such.

Of the Democrats I called, 40 of them asked for my name, my zip code, or my address. 37 of them asked if I would like a response from the Senator (which I declined, they're busy enough). And all but one, wished me well as we ended the brief call, and all but one treated me as if I were from their state. The exception, again, was Senator Lieberman's office. Lieberman's staffer snorted when I told him where I was calling from, so I reminded him that the Senate, as a body, answered to all Americans, to which he mumbled, "I'll pass it along," and promptly hung up the phone.

Of the Republicans I called, only 2 of them asked for my name, and only one of them, Conrad Burns' office, asked where I was calling from, but did not ask me my name.

And the only Independent, Senator Jefford's office, was kind, attentive, and asked my name and location, and treated me like a constituent; like an American.

I find it telling that of all Democrats, Senator Lieberman's staff response was most like the Republican's, though Biden's office was just a touch snooty when they realized I wasn't from Deleware.

So what exactly did I learn today?

The lesson that we are ALL Americans, thus we are ALL responsible, and Senators and Congressmen are answerable to each and every one of us, no matter what state we are from. As a body, the Senate has specific duties to perform, regardless of what state they are representing, and so we too, as American citizens, have a responsibility to speak truth to power, perhaps especially to those who demonstrate no sense of responsibility to the rest of us.

And one final note. You would think that coming away from contact with all 100 of our Senator's offices would make me feel empowered, patriotic, and flowing with confidence. But the exact opposite is true - I feel like I need a shower. I am not discouraged, but I am tempted to despair. WE, the PEOPLE, are the government, yet for the majority of our Senate body, this does not come across at the lowest levels. I hope in 2006 we are able to remind them of this FACT..