Speaker Pelosi solicited and accepted $$$ from me for her campaign but her staff won't

[peacebird]

take my comments because I am not her constituent.
:wtf:
Her campaign sent letters to me at my home (CLEARLY ON THE OPPOSITE COAST FROM HER "CONSTITUENTS") asking for donations. And yet she will not direct her staff to take comments from all who call?

Sen. Harry Reids staff is quite politely willing to accept comments from any who call, don't so much as ask for zipcode, and I didn't even send him hundreds in donations! Yes - they can tell by caller ID that my phone call doesn't come from Nevada but they still take my comments.

What I am saying here is that the Speaker *could* handle this matter much better. Why not take all messages? We are all her constituents now.

I just told her staff that I had donated generously to her campaign and that I was personally affronted that she is willing to take my money with no questions as to my state of residence but unwilling to direct her staff to take comments from all citizens.

on edit: I called all my reps today to say that over 100 dead and 12 billion $$$ a MONTH in Iraq and Afghanistan is way too much American blood and treasure. We need to pull out and use that money to rebuild the Gulf Coast, help the VA cope with the influx of wounded, and replenish equipment for the National Guard, Army, Marine, Air Force, and Navy.

[MidwestTransplant]

1. What did her staffer say?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. For whom was she asking you for money?

I'm sure if you called up THAT organization, which is most likely the DNC or DCCC, they'll take your comments.

Staff time SHOULD only be for constituents. You know, the people who hire you. The people for whom its your job to represent. We are NOT "all her constituents now." Last I checked, only people in her congressional district vote for her.

If you have comments for Pelosi, channel them through the proper offices, such as the office of Majority Leader, DNC, or DCCC.

[roguevalley]

5. I respectfully disagree about only constituents being taken because

they pay for the office, etc. She's a national figure and has power over all of us. She should listen to all of us or move on. I expect that she will take my comments when I call, if I do, because her actions affect me.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. All of Congress' action affect you.

The power of being an actual constituent of Rep. Pelosi's should not be abridged simply because she is acting as a leader. They have rights as a constituent that transcend yours, as you receive that attention from YOUR representative.

Why in the world can't you call the office of the Majority Leader or DNC instead? Is it so much to ask?

[roguevalley]

16. No. I write and call and email each regularly. I also expect Pelosi's

office to speak to me too. She affects me.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Is there a separate phone for Speaker and one for her district?

How much of her staff is beyond what she had before becoming Speaker?

[peacebird]

6. it was for the campaign of Pelosi herself

I don't call the DNC or DCCC when I want to leave a message for the Speaker. I have ALWAYS called the Speakers office (whether it a Repub or a Dem who held the position) and never before Speaker Pelosi has any staffer refused to take my comments.

[quinnox]

3. there could be several reasons

Maybe right now she only wants to hear feedback from Californians or San Fransiscoans and later on they will open the phones to other parts of the country.

[babylonsister]

4. Good for you, peacebird, for communicating with her staff, and very

good point. She can solicit funds but can't even listen?

[davidwparker]

9. I believe there is a Speaker number. It's separate from her congressional

office. If you have the toll-free number, ask the operator for that number.

[peacebird]

11. [phone] is the official SPeaker number - same response as her regular office number

Where are you calling from - and if not her part of California you are shunted off to a tape recording. It matters not if you call her office number (202-225-4965) or the official "Speaker" number.

Sad but true - and she is the first Speaker to ever do this - at least in the 25 years I have called.....

[davidwparker]

12. I stand corrected. Yes, that is bad. In the role of Speaker, majority/minority

leader, they should be open to calls from anybody. I can see a particular congressman/senator needing to give priority to their constituents since they represent them, but if you are in a leadership position mentioned above or a committee leader, then you should be open to all.

peacebird, good for you for calling for 25 years. I didn't become politically aware until 2000. It took the coup d'etat to wake me up.

[peacebird]

14. I've voted in every election for 32 years. My folks said "You can't complain unless you vote"

and they also taught me that you have to pay attention and understand who (& what) you are voting for or against. They did not believe in "Party" primarily - but in voting for the best candidate. It's just that the best candidate was usually a democrat.

:hi:

[BlooInBloo]

10. I slowed my car down to let her cross the street...

... And she won't take my calls! Impeach her!

:rofl:

[AndyA]

13. As Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi represents ALL OF US,

not just her constituents in her home district. She has an obligation and a duty to take calls from everyone. It comes with the job. If you don't live in her district, contact her through the Speakers office in Washington, not her office in California.

[leftofthedial]

15. I wonder what they say when lobbyists come calling.

or corporate donors from outside her district