UKRAINE IS DEMOCRACY’S BATTLEGROUND

Daily Action
Written By Barbara Isaacman

Putin, “an implacable enemy of democracy,” is murdering self-determination in Ukraine

QUICK READ:  For decades, Putin has been fighting a shadow war to divide and destabilize free nations. In the US, his efforts have radicalized fringe Republicans. The Putin Republicans are successfully dismantling democracy’s most fundamental right, the right to vote, in many states. Before he attacked Ukraine, citizens there had rejected a Russian puppet and elected a comedian who has become democracy’s hero.



TAKE ACTION NOW:

BACKGROUND

Putin has a “deep opposition to democracy.” He has directed a global shadow war to divide and destabilize free countries. 

The war in Ukraine is a raw struggle between democracy and the tyranny of an autocrat.

 In the US, radicalized Republicans have been seduced into Putin’s war on America using Putin’s tools that the CIA identified as: 

  • Disinformation, 

  • Courting influential conservatives, 

  • Supporting extreme and destabilizing movements, and more. 

Putin’s American successes can be heard in Tucker Carlson’s and Donald Trump’s praise of Putin (rebroadcast on Russian television), and in a cacophony of conservative voices challenging and undermining President Biden’s (that’s America’s) response to the invasion. 

Radicalized Republicans have passed laws to deny Americans the right to vote, the fundamental act of democracy, while they label the violent insurrection of Jan. 6 “legitimate political discourse.”

And, just hours after the insurrection, with the halls of Congress littered with glass and blood, 147 Republicans still voted to overturn the 2020 election. 

A Fox news poll taken before Putin’s  invasion found 92% of Republicans viewed Biden more negatively than Putin, whose own election was tainted.  

This is the time for Americans to see how important defending our democracy really is. 

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].

We need to harden our democracy against Putin and his radicalized Republicans. I urge you to consider measures:

  • Restoring truth in the media
  • Expanding transparency in elections and financial transactions
  • Demanding Putin’s investigation as a war criminal
  • Hardening cyber defenses for critical infrastructure
  • Restoring Americans’ freedom to vote

SEN. WYDEN:

Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

(Messages and calls are most effective if they are personal. Scripts are here to help.)

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

We need to harden our democracy against Putin and his radicalized Republicans. I urge you to consider measures:

  • Restoring truth in the media
  • Expanding transparency in elections and financial transactions
  • Demanding Putin’s investigation as a war criminal
  • Hardening cyber defenses for critical infrastructure
  • Restoring Americans’ freedom to vote

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

We need to harden our democracy against Putin and his radicalized American extremists. I urge you to consider measures:

  • Restoring truth in the media
  • Expanding transparency in elections and financial transactions
  • Demanding Putin’s investigation as a war criminal
  • Hardening cyber defenses for critical infrastructure

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].

We need to harden our democracy against Putin and his radicalized Republicans. I urge you to consider measures:

  • Restoring truth in the media
  • Expanding transparency in elections and financial transactions
  • Demanding Putin’s investigation as a war criminal
  • Hardening cyber defenses for critical infrastructure
  • Restoring Americans’ freedom to vote

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].

We need to harden our democracy against Putin and his radicalized American extremists. I urge you to consider measures:

  • Restoring truth in the media
  • Expanding transparency in elections and financial transactions
  • Demanding Putin’s investigation as a war criminal
  • Hardening cyber defenses for critical infrastructure

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].

We need to harden our democracy against Putin and his radicalized Republicans. I urge you to consider measures:

  • Restoring truth in the media
  • Expanding transparency in elections and financial transactions
  • Demanding Putin’s investigation as a war criminal
  • Hardening cyber defenses for critical infrastructure
  • Restoring Americans’ freedom to vote

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].

We need to harden our democracy against Putin and his radicalized Republicans. I urge you to consider measures:

  • Restoring truth in the media
  • Expanding transparency in elections and financial transactions
  • Demanding Putin’s investigation as a war criminal
  • Hardening cyber defenses for critical infrastructure
  • Restoring Americans’ freedom to vote

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].

We need to harden our democracy against Putin and his radicalized Republicans. I urge you to consider measures:

  • Restoring truth in the media
  • Expanding transparency in elections and financial transactions
  • Demanding Putin’s investigation as a war criminal
  • Hardening cyber defenses for critical infrastructure
  • Restoring Americans’ freedom to vote

ACTION 3: Join the fight:

For Ukraine. Links from historian Timothy Snyder: “Everyone has different values, and so here is a range. Please do something.

For democracy: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.” 

  • Find out more about Indivisible Oregon here. 

FURTHER READING:

Hillary Clinton: The Russian Invasion Is a ‘Five-Alarm National-Security Crisis’ - The Atlantic

Putin is a war criminal and should be treated as such | Russia-Ukraine crisis | Al Jazeera

The Origins of Russia’s Broad Political Assault on the United States - Center for American Progress

Josh Hawley, others who enabled Putin have done a quick 180 | The Kansas City Star

US Far Right Adore​s Vladimir Putin’s Christian Nationalism More Than Freedom and Democracy  | Right Wing Watch

Wheat, other American food prices could rise because of Russian invasion of Ukraine - Washington Post

How Russia exploited racial tensions in America during the 2016 elections - Vox

Pro-Russian Bots Take Up the Right-Wing Cause After Charlottesville — ProPublica

What the Ukraine Crisis Reveals About American Power - The Atlantic

World Bank president warns of global financial consequences from Russia's invasion of Ukraine | TheHill

Barbara Isaacman
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