First off, I just wanted to say that I have written emails and letters to my congressperson, but I have never called his office, today was the first time. I listen to CSPAN every day through my headphones at work, but somehow I missed the house session where David Wu, my representative, voted to condemn the MoveOn ad....
...But when I received my daily MoveOn email, sure enough, there was a small statement stating he had voted for the resolution to condemn the ad. I sat there for a minute. And realized. I had to call. I wanted to talk to a real person.
The receptionist was very nice. I explained that I was not really an activist, I was just a married mother of three, but that reading that my representative voted on something, that had I been on the floor would have voted FOR, not AGAINST, I felt that David Wu was not representing myself, nor my husband, nor my three children of voting age. So, I wasn't sure if he knew how this particular household felt, but I wanted to let him know. And that in the future, if he truly wasn't doing the people's business on ending this war, that he needs to either refrain from voting on stupid measures, or vote against them to make a point. That we elected him to make bold statements, but that this was a bold statement in the wrong direction.
She then took my information and thanked me.
So that's what I did today in my very small participation of this thing we call democracy. I challenge all of you to call your congressperson today to voice your opinion on ANYTHING the congressperson has done, whether criticism or praise, to make sure your voice is heard and he/she knows you are watching. It feels so much better after the call has been made.
The link to your congress directory is here for phone numbers to call.