Yup — that time again, the time when I get to nag y’all about calling your representatives about the Iran deal.
Here’s the menu: if they’ve already said they support the deal, thank them. I’m just about to do that for Senator Markey.
If they’ve already declared against the deal, tell them, politely, that you disagree, and that you’ll remember this at the next relevant November. Even if your senators and/or congressperson are utterly safe seat types, they and their staffs hate hearing from a constituent directly that they’re doing a bad job. Think of it as a long game: they’re on the wrong side of this one. But it doesn’t take many calls — shockingly few — to make them just a touch gunshy, which softens them up next time. That matters, articularly on matters that you may care deeply about, but that haven’t risen to the level of automatic partisan division.
Most important: if they are still undeclared, tell ’em what you think and emphasize how much this means to you. I told my peeps that everyone has a make or break issue, and this one is mine. YMMV — but make sure your representatives know you care. Joe Kennedy is about to hear — again — from me.
Speaking of which — it’s OK to call a second time if your folks are still in play. That shows you mean it — and that’s what your representatives need to hear.
It really does make a difference. They keep records of these calls. The anti-deal folks are funded, out in numbers, and very, very dangerous. This is your chance to punch back.
House of Representatives numbers.
You know what to do.
ETA: A reminder — please be polite to the twenty-somethings you’ll be speaking to. Even if they’re totally on the wrong side. The message will come through louder and clearer — and they’re kids. Partly — you’re socializing them.
Image: Julius Kronberg, Mushrooms, 1908
ExurbanMom
I just wanted to tell you that I called my congresscritters the last time you exhorted us to. The Dem in my state is for the deal, the R is against, but I politely told both how worried I was about nuclear proliferation and the future and that I want them to vote yes on the deal. Thank you for lighting a fire under our butts. We need to get this done. My child needs to grow up in a world where nuclear war becomes less and less of a possibility, not more and more of a risk.
p.a.
Tell them you’ll remember their position the next relevant September– primary season.
Tom Levenson
@p.a.: Yup.
Tom Levenson
@ExurbanMom: Thanks for calling. Agree entirely re our kids.
TaMara (BHF)
Sigh. Cory Gardner is a lying ass I’ve dealt with personally, but I’ll do it. grumble, grumble. I’ll call Bennett first and warm up with a thank you.
cursorial
Thanks for the reminder. I checked after your last post about this, and although my rep (McDermott) is on board, both of my Senators (Cantwell and Murray) are inexplicably, inexcusably, still on the fence. No reason stated, other than they are still making up their august senatorial minds. Will call today.
TaMara (BHF)
Sorry if this is a duplicate, BJ ate my comment.
Gardner is STRONGLY opposed to the deal. I said that I felt that I was strongly for it and if the Senator is committed to voting no he really needed to come up with an alternative plan and share it with his constituents.
I was super nice, Pretending “Jared” was some poor underfed intern instead of a Young Republican stooge
ETA: And what is up with Bennett still on the fence? He was frickin’ hand picked by Obama for the Senate.
Kelly
I called my local offices and left messages on the answering services. Should I try to get thru to a live person? Schrader is hard to figure. If it’s doomed in the House he may consider it a free vote and attempt appease our substantial wing nut minority by voting against. Merkley is talking like he’s uncertain. I think he will support the agreement in the end. Wyden is against with talk of his relatives killed in the Holocaust. I think this agreement reduces the odds of death and destruction but can’t think of how to get that across. The message I left was don’t let the hope for a perfect agreement get in the way of a good agreement.
Gin & Tonic
@cursorial: WaPo is saying that Murray has lined up in favor.
gvg
where is a list of how they are leaning or committed? thanks
Sloegin
Cantwell voted in favor of Iraq, probably worth reminding her of that mistake when you lean on her for this vote.
the Conster
@cursorial:
Twitter tells me Murray is a “yes”.
Gin & Tonic
@gvg: Here’s one.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@TaMara (BHF): ETA: And what is up with Bennett still on the fence? He was frickin’ hand picked by Obama for the Senate.
But “conservative Christian” oil man Papa Anschutz picked him first
I don’t know really what a “pro-parent trigger film” is, but I vaguely recall that was the movie that was gonna win the charter school debate. I didn’t know Anschutz had bought the Weekly Standard. Talk about having more money than you know what to do with….
cckids
I called after your last reminder; Reid has since come out as for it (sure, I’ll take credit).
Heller, of course, as one of the asshat signatories of that vile Cotton letter, doesn’t even want to talk about it, but I politely but firmly told his intern that, as he is a senator from Nevada, not Israel, the opinions of Bibi & co. don’t matter to me.
Tom Levenson
@Kelly: Do try to talk to a live person. Re Wyden — you are absolutely right: the choice is a nuclear armed Iran within a short period of time – and/or the prospect of a war launched soon to stop it –or one in which Iran’s nuclear ambition is under real constraint for a long time. The call for an agreement that permanently forstalls an Iranian nuke is a call for a unicorn. No such compact exists in the real world (and forever is damn long time.)
As for the Holocaust? The longer Israel lives in a permanent state of conflict the more it risks increasingly deadly terrorism. The greatest danger to Israel lies with nuclear proliferation and a suitcase bomb — perhaps just a dirty bomb rather than a thermonuclear device — in Tel Aviv. This deal helps reduce that danger. That it doesn’t eliminate it isn’t the point. See unicorns above.
Nellie
I called my three and sounded like a nice little old lady worried about the effects of military conflict. It is true – I grew up with a father who grew up in a war zone (Russian Civil War into the 20’s where he was) and then North Africa and Italy, including Anzio in WWII. A wonderful and calm man during the day, but he screamed through the nights with nightmares. Then I married a man who spent three years in combat in Vietnam (thanks stop loss and Nixon). Nothing like waking up to him throwing himself over me, screaming “Incoming, Incoming.” I asked that my representatives nurture diplomacy rather than conflict, but I was kind in my insistence.
Unfortunately, I live in Brownbackistan. But the aides were gentle. They didn’t cut me off and said that they would pass my message on to their bosses. Riiiiight.
cursorial
@Gin & Tonic: Just saw that. Clearly even the prospect of my telephonic wrath had its desired effect…
Will have to call and thank her now. A little positive reinforcement, right?
Omnes Omnibus
@cursorial: Murray came out in support today.
Omnes Omnibus
@TL: Thank you for continuing to beat this drum. It is a big fucking deal, and we can’t afford to get complacent.
navarro
ted cruz’s office hung up on me as soon as i said i supported the deal. john cornyn’s office told me they appreciated my call but encouraged me to rethink that position because of the grave danger to this country and to israel should iran gain a nuclear weapon.
SG
Whaddya do when your senator is Chuck Schumer and your representative is Peter King?
King really doesn’t give a rat’s ass if you don’t agree with him and he’s never been shy about telling voters just that. He’ll vote for the Iran deal when pixies and leprechauns sing “God Save the Queen.”
As for Schumer, I’ve called him at least three times and written actual pen-and-ink letters telling him how I’ll never vote for him again because of his stand on [fill in the blank]. Another unscary threat from me would be laughable. Total waste of time. He’s deaf to all but the siren songs of AIPAC and Bibi.
I guess a “thank-you” to Gillibrand would be good.
Rusty
I can’t believe how blue New Mexico has become. Both of my Senators were right on top of the “yes” position right away. Both offices thanked me for calling with my support.
SiubhanDuinne
@navarro:
Woah, seriously?? Way to win friends and influence people, Ted.
pb
Thanks for the reminder. Just made my second appeal to Sen. Warner. Thanks, Tim Kaine, for being up front on this.