Writing Congress

WP, TH, ANO

OK. I am a shock and awe kind of person. I go on rants. I have been known to well, go over board. Oh well. Here is how to be more…acceptable. I might try it some time:

Hugh Hewitt turned me on to Frank Luntz with his recent book “Words That Work.” Luntz talks about the importance of crafting a message to your audience. I think as a group we need to construct a careful and effective message. Right now the 17 Republican members of the House that voted for the Non-Binding Resolution are our audience.

To craft this message we need to think like they do. We don’t want to just communicate that we are unhappy. That’s easy enough. We need to communicate personal consequences to them. We need to touch them personally and make them stop and think.

1. Explain the importance of the war as an issue. For members of the Victory Caucus there is one issue victory. There are many issues that can be compromised on but the war is not one of them. Remind them that they get elected to do important things. An elected official can get so focused on getting elected that they forget to do important things. It is unacceptable to be so focused on being elected that they don’t do the most important thing.

2. Thank them for their past service.Be sincere don’t forget that these are Republicans. Many of them have done many good things and served their constituents well. Let them know how much you appreciate the good things that they have done.

3. Lay out the consequences for them.Don’t just tell them you are angry. Let them know there are consequences to follow. Let them know that they will not have your time, money or support in the future. Also let them know that you will be working to see that they face good primary challengers who are extremely well funded and supported.

4. Don’t be angry.Take more of a somber tone; almost a tone of condolence. Think of the scene in the Godfather where Michael tells Tom Hagen that he will no longer be consigliere. Michael wasn’t mad at Tom. He didn’t think Tom did a bad job, he just wasn’t a wartime consigliere. But Michael’s decision was final. The same goes for your wayward members of Congress.