SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY MUST BE CONGRESS’ FOCUS
Americans must mobilize to prevent the GOP from turning our democracy into a fascist state.
QUICK READ: “Democracy is most likely to break down through a series of incremental actions that cumulatively undermine the electoral process, resulting in a presidential election that produces an outcome clearly at odds with the voters’ will. It is this comparatively quiet but steady subversion, rather than a violent coup or insurrection against a sitting president, that Americans today have to fear most.” Washington Post, Dec. 10, 2021.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
There is nothing more important at this time in our history than protecting the integrity of our elections–which neither the American people nor Biden and the Democratic Senate leadership appear to recognize
Thus, the Senate must do nothing else until it finds a way around the filibuster and passes all four democracy-protecting bills.
And the House must remove members who incited the January 6 insurrection.
America’s democratic experiment is on life support because of:
Trump’s propagation of the “Big Lie” and attempts to overturn election results through threats, bribery, and baseless lawsuits and the January 6 insurrection
New laws in GOP-controlled states to rig the election system
The GOP Senate’s refusal even to debate
Freedom to Vote Act,
John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act,
DC Statehood, giving DC residents an equal voice in their government,
Protecting Our Democracy Act, preventing future abuses of presidential power.
We demand that our MoCs call out the GOP perfidy, using their bully pulpit to warn all Americans of both the slow-moving GOP insurrection that’s killing our democracy and the GOP’s responsibility for many of our country’s current problems. This means alerting the millions of Independents and persuadable Republicans of the dangerousness of the GOP lies.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Drastic measures are needed to save our democracy, which is on life support. Protecting the vote is vital. We demand that you convince the Senate to ignore all other business until it finds a way to pass all 4 democracy-protecting bills–the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Protecting Our Democracy Act, and DC Statehood. More importantly, we need you to use your bully pulpit to warn all Americans, including the millions of Independents and persuadable Republicans, of both the slow-moving GOP insurrection that’s killing our democracy and the GOP’s responsibility for many of our country’s current problems.
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Drastic measures are needed to save our democracy, which is on life support. Protecting the vote is vital. We demand that you convince the Senate to ignore all other business until it finds a way to pass all 4 democracy-protecting bills–the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Protecting Our Democracy Act, and DC Statehood. More importantly, we need you to use your bully pulpit to warn all Americans, including the millions of Independents and persuadable Republicans, of both the slow-moving GOP insurrection that’s killing our democracy and the GOP’s responsibility for many of our country’s current problems.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
It is long past the time for you to recognize the grave threats to our democracy caused by your party’s behavior and to have the courage to permit the Senate to debate the House-passed democracy protecting bills.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for working so hard to protect the vote and save our democracy, but much still remains to be done. We need you to use your bully pulpit to warn all Americans, including the millions of Independents and persuadable Republicans, of both the slow-moving GOP insurrection that’s killing our democracy and the GOP’s responsibility for many of our country’s current problems. We also need you to convince the House to remove all members who aided the January 6 insurrection.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
It is long past the time for you to recognize the grave threats to our democracy caused by your party’s behavior. You must publicly repudiate Trump’s “Big Lie” that the election was stolen and vote to expel all members who aided the January 6 insurrection.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for working so hard to protect the vote and save our democracy, but much still remains to be done. We need you to use your bully pulpit to warn all Americans, including the millions of Independents and persuadable Republicans, of both the slow-moving GOP insurrection that’s killing our democracy and the GOP’s responsibility for many of our country’s current problems. We also need you to convince the House to remove all members who aided the January 6 insurrection.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for working so hard to protect the vote and save our democracy, but much still remains to be done. We need you to use your bully pulpit to warn all Americans, including the millions of Independents and persuadable Republicans, of both the slow-moving GOP insurrection that’s killing our democracy and the GOP’s responsibility for many of our country’s current problems. We also need you to convince the House to remove all members who aided the January 6 insurrection.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for working so hard to protect the vote and save our democracy, but much still remains to be done. We need you to use your bully pulpit to warn all Americans, including the millions of Independents and persuadable Republicans, of both the slow-moving GOP insurrection that’s killing our democracy and the GOP’s responsibility for many of our country’s current problems. We also need you to convince the House to remove all members who aided the January 6 insurrection.
ACTION 3:
As January 6, the first anniversary of the Insurrection at our nation’s Capital last year, approaches, groups and individuals across the country have organized vigils and actions to remember the event and remind us of the fragility of our democracy. To find one near you, check out this link. And here.
FURTHER READING:
18 Steps to a Democratic Breakdown
American democracy is tottering. It’s not clear Americans care.
How to Tell When Your Country Is Past the Point of No Return
Republicans are shamelessly working to subvert democracy. Are Democrats paying attention?
Biden talks with senators about voting rights
Schumer tees up vote on rules change if voting rights legislation is blockedOp-Ed: After 2021 tumult, here’s what it will take to protect American democracySix things we must do to save our democracy and protect our elections in 2022
