My letter to my congressman.

[knitter4democracy]

I am so angry at how that jerk's minion treated me today on the phone today. Here's my letter to him:

Dear Mr. Congressman:

I am deeply saddened by the treatment I received today from one of your administrative assistants. I did not catch his name, as he said it rather quickly when he answered the phone, but he apparently was the one who authored the dismissive letter I received in regards to my recent phone calls asking you to consider Congressman Conyers's bill to investigate impeachment. The other staffers I have talked with have been cordial, refined, and exceedingly polite; this gentleman, an Air Force veteran, was not. He was rude, dismissive, and clearly of the opinion that he was better than any "simple" voter could possibly be. If he is the kind of person you surround yourself with, I fear you are being led in the wrong direction.

My husband and I are new to Battle Creek, and we are still learning about local people and politics. I am sure you could teach us much about the local medical community and the state of our community in general. My husband, Dr. XXXXXX, is a new internist in town, having joined XXXXXXX two years ago this July after his residency at . We have heard stories from when you were in practice, and many in the area still respect you as a physician. That said, there are some I have spoken with who consider you arrogant and unapproachable as a politician. You are in a difficult position, with attacks from all sides, and that is regrettable. I have heard over and over again, though, that you do try your best to represent Battle Creek and the 7th District well, but some are starting to question which direction you are heading in.

We are in difficult times, Sir. These are times that will end up in the history books, and the real question is what the historians will decide about those in power and the choices they made. Congressman Conyers has decided that the Constitution of the United States is too important to just wait for yet another election or perhaps another terrorist attack. He has a deep love for our country and a real fear of where we are headed as a nation if we ignore the Constitution as our founding fathers and mothers wrote it. His staff prepared a lengthy report before even considering the bill to investigate impeachment, and I highly encourage you to read it. Consider where your real loyalty lies, Sir: are you more concerned with the GOP or the Constitution you swore an oath to uphold and defend?

Our president and the entire administration have flouted the law and common decency on many, many occasions. They purposely lied to the American people, manipulating us and our allies to get us in a war that PNAC wanted in the 1990's. Our own flesh and blood children of this great nation are paying that price with horrible wounds and even their lives. If that war is truly based on a lie, how can we just let them get away with that?

How can you stand idly by and watch that happen, Sir? You are a doctor, one who has seen horrible things happen to people and done his best to help them. You may be a Republican congressman, but you will always have M.D. after your name. The Hippocratic Oath should still mean something in your heart of hearts.

This administration, according to FOIA'd NSA documents, was spying on the American people, perhaps your own constituents, without your knowledge or permission. They bypassed the FISA court, the easiest court in the country to obtain a warrant from; the only reason that could be is that they knew they wouldn't get the warrants. In bypassing that court, Sir, they showed their real contempt for our system of laws and the Constitution it is based on.

Read the Conyers report, Sir, I beg of you. A good doctor reads all good studies and does his own research; he doesn't just rely on the drug reps giving him gifts, money, and free samples. Please be the good doctor everyone in Battle Creek knows you to be, and look into the allegations, doing your own research, reading the report for yourself, and make the right decision for the "patient" you represent.

Sincerely,
K4D

Does this sound good? Should I send it?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. Who's your congressman?

Chances are an intern answered the phone and the exact same intern will read your letter.

[knitter4democracy]

3. It's Joe Schwartz.

They gave me to an administrative assistant since I've been calling at least once a week for the last month and a half. The receptionist told me that he was the one who wrote the letter I was so angry about and passed me on to him. Of course, it could all have been lies, but from that man's arrogance, I don't think so.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. Check out this list

If you don't recognize the guy you spoke to on this list, chances are he's just an intern:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/staff/?id=141721

I'm inclined to believe that's the case. It wouldn't surprise me, per se, if it was a staffer, but Schwartz is a first termer. Even though he won with 58%, it's hard to believe such they would be so stupid in constituent relations. They're fighting for their own jobs, not just their boss', after all.

[TexasProgresive]

2. I think it is good-

you put a lot of effort into it which may not give much return. Your doctor congressman may respond-with luck this letter will actually fall into his hands. Send it.

[knitter4democracy]

4. I'm going to have Hubby read it.

He might not like my mention of him, but he might not mind, either. He has to be careful, as he's the new doc in town, but given how he sold out a talk at the senior center yesterday (never been done before, apparently), I think he'd be fine. ;)