Need help with a letter

[mart48]

I’m working on a letter to my Republican senator. I don’t think it’s very good so far. I need some input: some more or better citations, advice as to tone, etc.. Is it too strident? Input appreciated.


Dear Senator ***,

As you know:
• John Brennan, former director of the CIA, and David Laufman, former Department of Justice counterintelligence head, agree that President Trump is a "clear and present danger" to the national security of the United States
• The FBI is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian authorities.
• “[T] here should no longer be any doubt that Russia has leverage over [President Trump]”.—Michelle Goldberg, New York Times, Nov 29, 2018
• “Now we know Trump, like Flynn, was compromised by the Russians.”— Adam Schiff, USA Today, Dec 4, 2018

At present the government of the United States is shutdown. In other words, it is partially crippled. I’m sure you are aware of the hardship the shutdown is causing across the country.

Worse, the government of the United States has been shutdown by a likely tool of a foreign enemy nation.

The shutdown can only continue with the support of senators like yourself. The House would certainly overrule a Presidential veto and reopen government. Only Republican senators stand in the way of reopening the government of the United States.

Sir, does your conscience allow you to continue supporting an action which quite possibly is designed to injure or even destroy your country? Can you afford to risk unwittingly supporting Russia’s agenda? Does the hardship of government employees and, indeed, the country at large fall on a deaf ear? How will history judge you if/when irrefutable proof of President Trump’s treason is established? How will it look on your continued support of his shutdown, on your continued refusal to allow the government of the United States to function as the founders intended?

I implore you as a fellow American and patriot to immediately reopen the government of the United States.

Sincerely,

[femmedem]

1. Good for you! We need more people writing letters!

I'd put the last sentence at the top so that a staffer who reads it will know right away what the letter is asking for.

I'd send it via email as well as via snail mail. And if you haven't already done so, I'd also call his office. You don't need to be eloquent in a call, but staff keeps a tally of how many people called for or against each issue.

[mart48]

4. Good points

[brooklynite]

2. Your approach is wrong...

If your goal is to stop the Government shutdown, talking about Trump as "an agent of a foreign power" is a diversion from the issue, unless you can point to evidence (not supposition) that the two are linked. Focus on the impacts of the shutdown on you (the constituent) and people you know.

[femmedem]

3. Yes to all of this.

Assuming the readers of the OP's letter support Trump, the OP wouldn't want to write anything that will cause them to discount it on ideological grounds.

[mart48]

5. Thanks but I have to disagree

Focusing on the impact of the shutdown is an entirely different letter that anyone else can write.

Besides, I don't believe Repubs care about people. If they did they wouldn't so often side with big business against the public welfare. For example, they wouldn't have fought ACA for 8 years and be still trying to destroy it.

[brooklynite]

6. In which case, why write the letter?

Is your goal to feel virtuous, or to try to achieve change?

[mart48]

9. To achieve change

You seem to feel the way to achieve change is to appeal to a Republican senator's better nature, his concern for people.

My letter appeals to his ego (how he'll be remembered in history) and to his love of country over love of party (assuming that love exists).

[brooklynite]

10. No, my way to achieve change...

...is to avoid a message framing that will result in your letter being discarded and never brought to the Senator's attention.

Consider that your letter won't go the Senator, it'll go to a Republican staffer who will see the "Trump is a traitor" language, and immediately file it or dispose of it. All the Senator will get is a summary that "X writers opposed the shutdown". A handfult of notable letters will be given to the Senator for review, but nothing with a fringe message will.

(nb - a frined of mine was a former Hill COS; I know how these things work).

[BSdetect]

7. Not so much "collusion" as conspiracy to commit treason

[UniteFightBack]

8. I would keep it short and stick to one point. nt

[femmedem]

11. Did you finish a draft of the letter?

I hope the comments didn't confuse you more than help, or prevent you from submitting anything.
Any letter is better than no letter--and definitely call if it works for your schedule. It's a lot less effort than writing a letter, and it makes a difference.


Thanks for being an activist. And welcome to DU.