There are two key opportunities to bird-dog Rep. Nadler this coming weekend, but before I go into details, I would like to let you know that an open letter, written by a group of concerned citizens working under the banner AskNadler2Impeach.org to Rep. Nadler urging him to support Rep. Wexler’s call for impeachment hearings in the House Judiciary Committee was sent yesterday. We wanted it to reach him this week while he is still in the city on recess and chose to send it yesterday with 133 signers although it is clear that there are many others who would still like to cosign. AskNadler2Impeach.org is currently being constructed and as soon as it is up and running the site will host the letter and a petition to Rep. Nadler asking him to support impeachment. You will be first to know when it is operational (hopefully next week).
And now on to bird-dogging…
For those who are not familiar with the term bird-dogging, the PDA website Progressive Challenge 2008 offers a link to What is “Bird-Dogging” and How to Do It. Bird-dogging is defined as:
bird-dog also bird·dog (bûrddôg, -dg)
v. bird-dogged, bird-dog·ging, bird-dogs Informal v.intr.
To follow a subject of interest, such as a person or trend, with persistent attention.
Bird-dogging is one of PDA’s Progressive Challenge 2008 recommended courses of activism and a special blog page has been set up for PDAers across the country to share their experiences bird-dogging. Back in November a group organized to bird-dog Rep. Nadler at a Citizens Action New York event. Bob Fertik from Democrats.com joined us that evening on the “inside” while we flyered on the outside. Bob wrote about his conversation with Congressman Nadler on impeachment in Jerrold Nadler Whistles Past the Impeachment Graveyard.
Bird-dogging is best practiced at a Town Hall meeting or other forum where an elected official will be appearing. Specific tips and techniques from the PDA link are:
1. Do your homework.
a. Find out from the local office when and where your representative or senator will be speaking or holding a candidate forum.2. Prepare questions ahead of time. Rehearse reading the question or comment.
a. Use the EPIC format (engage them, state the problem, illustrate the solution, call them to action) to craft your questions.
b. Be confident, considerate and persistent about getting an answer to your question.3. Get familiar with your Congressman.
a. Here is where you can find info on current representatives and senators.4. Work in teams.
a. Sit in different areas of the room to maximize your impact.
b. Designate a note taker to jot down all info and promises made by the Congressperson.
c. Designate a videographer, as You-Tube, Google video and other methods are an excellent way to amplify your message.
d. Seek out media after the meeting to talk about our issues if they were not covered.
e. Seek out the speakers after the meeting to introduce yourself and follow up on your question, or ask it if you were not able to ask the question during the meeting.
f. Leave the event with a clear plan to follow up with their staff.5. Stay on message.
a. Don’t get distracted or angry if your question is blown over. Be forceful in repeating the question and asking for an appropriate response.
Item #5 is key: Don’t get angry – it is critically important that we remain respectful if we are to be considered credible in our questions.
In this case, we have the answer to #1 – the venues where Rep. Nadler will be speaking – however, in the future, if you know that the Congressman will be speaking at a Democratic Club meeting or elsewhere in the city, please pass on the info and we will help to organize it into a bird-dogging opportunity.
This Sunday Rep. Nadler will be participating in two events. The first is in Chelsea, a Presidential Candidates Forum hosted by the Chelsea Reform Democrats:
Decision 08:
The Hon Ronnie Eldridge, Moderator
The Hon Jerrold Nadler (for Hillary Clinton)
The Hon Bill Perkins (for Barack Obama)
Representatives of the campaigns of:
John Edwards
Dennis Kucinich
Mike GravelSunday, January 13, 2008, 1 – 3 pm
Hudson Guild Fulton Center
119 Ninth Avenue (btw 17th and 18th Streets)
Free Admission
Later in the day, he will participate in a NOW-NYC event on
How Critical is the Women’s Vote?
Featuring
Jerrold Nadler, Congressman
Elizabeth Holtzman,
Former Congresswoman and Bklyn D.A. & NYC Comptroller, and
Sheryl McCarthy,
USA Today & Newsday Columnist, Distinguished Lecturer in Journalism at CUNYNational Arts Club
15 Gramercy Park South
Sunday, January 13, 2008, 4 PM to 6 PMWine & Cheese Served Sponsored by NOW-New York City Chapter
Space is limited. Please reserve with a $10 contribution/$5 for NOW-NYC members.
Charge to credit card by phone, 212.627.9895 or online at www.nownyc.org by clicking “Buy Ticket” or “Donate.”
You may also send check payable to: NOW-NYC, 150 W.28th St. #304, NYC 10001.
Both events look like excellent opportunities to become better informed and to bird-dog Rep. Nadler. I haven’t decided which I will attend yet, but am leaning towards the NOW event if only because I am a great admirer of Elizabeth Holtzman, have deeply appreciated her advocacy of impeachment, and have long wondered what would happen if she and Rep. Nadler were asked together publicly about impeachment. If you are interested in attending either as part of a team effort please email me and I will put you in touch with people who are planning to attend – to both learn and to bird-dog.
A final and most important suggestion: the groups sponsoring these events have gone to considerable trouble to make them happen. Please respect their efforts and do not disrupt the events. Our goal is to work together to ask questions and get answers not to disrupt or be disrespectful and interfere with the participation of others in these events.
Hope to see you this weekend. If you can’t make it to either event, please
Call Rep. Nadler’s office
Ask/Urge/Demand that he support hearings on impeachment in the House Judiciary CommitteeNew York: 212-367-7350
Washington, DC: 202-225-5635
You might also tell Rep. Nadler what you think about him having four women arrested and put in jail overnight for engaging in a sit in at his Brooklyn office. I heard from one of the women this week, Elaine Brower, and in her words: “we spent the entire night in jail, no food, no water, terrible conditions, just to make sure the Congressman and the media knew we meant business.” Elaine was also part of the group that was arrested with Cindy Sheehan during the sit in at his office this summer. In that case, the grassroots activists spent only five hours in jail. Shame on Congressman Nadler for forcing four women to spend a full night in jail for engaging in a sit in at his office.
If you haven’t yet signed Rep. Wexler’s petition callling for impeachment hearings in the HJC, please sign it now and pass it on to colleagues, friends, and family. Thanks for all you do.