Comments on: Don’t Just Spam Congress: Creative Ways to Put Your Supporter List to Work http://www.kstreetcafe.com/dont-just-spam-congress-creative-ways-to-put-your-supporter-list-to-work/ News from the New K Street Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:49:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: K Street Cafe » Blog Archive http://www.kstreetcafe.com/dont-just-spam-congress-creative-ways-to-put-your-supporter-list-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-39 K Street Cafe » Blog Archive Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:26:19 +0000 http://www.kstreetcafe.com/?p=400#comment-39 [...] 24th, 2008Injecting Personality in Corporate Policy Blogs4 CommentsOctober 2nd, 2008Don't Just Spam Congress: Creative Ways to Put Your Supporter List to Work4 Comments [...] [...] 24th, 2008Injecting Personality in Corporate Policy Blogs4 CommentsOctober 2nd, 2008Don’t Just Spam Congress: Creative Ways to Put Your Supporter List to Work4 Comments [...]

]]> By: Brad Fitch http://www.kstreetcafe.com/dont-just-spam-congress-creative-ways-to-put-your-supporter-list-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Brad Fitch Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:31:29 +0000 http://www.kstreetcafe.com/?p=400#comment-38 I agree with 99% with Colin's and Jeff's statements, except one key point: what motivated House members this week. While in nearly all cases constituents drive decision-making in Members of Congress, the members who voted "nay" were motivated by ideology, not grassroots pressure. As I noted earlier this week (http://www.kstreetcafe.com/ideology-not-grassroots-pressure-perhaps-key-to-bailout-vote/), 77% of the "no" voters handily won re-election in 2006. This abstract coalition was made up of a majority of the Progressive and Black Caucuses, who just won't vote for any bill with the words "Wall Street" in it, and the conservatives in the Republican Study Committee. This was one of those rare occasions when it is difficult to influence legislators with grassroots pressure. Colin hit the nail on the head with his advice about the importance of relationships. According to interviews I'm conducting with legislators about what influences them the most, when faced with a tough decision they turn to people they trust. This is a case where "grasstops," not grassroots will drive decision-making. The reason some members are rethinking their votes is that they're hearing this week from employers in their districts who have a interest in the outcome, not just an opinion. I agree with 99% with Colin’s and Jeff’s statements, except one key point: what motivated House members this week. While in nearly all cases constituents drive decision-making in Members of Congress, the members who voted “nay” were motivated by ideology, not grassroots pressure. As I noted earlier this week (http://www.kstreetcafe.com/ideology-not-grassroots-pressure-perhaps-key-to-bailout-vote/), 77% of the “no” voters handily won re-election in 2006. This abstract coalition was made up of a majority of the Progressive and Black Caucuses, who just won’t vote for any bill with the words “Wall Street” in it, and the conservatives in the Republican Study Committee. This was one of those rare occasions when it is difficult to influence legislators with grassroots pressure.

Colin hit the nail on the head with his advice about the importance of relationships. According to interviews I’m conducting with legislators about what influences them the most, when faced with a tough decision they turn to people they trust. This is a case where “grasstops,” not grassroots will drive decision-making. The reason some members are rethinking their votes is that they’re hearing this week from employers in their districts who have a interest in the outcome, not just an opinion.

]]> By: Jeff Mascott http://www.kstreetcafe.com/dont-just-spam-congress-creative-ways-to-put-your-supporter-list-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Jeff Mascott Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:02:11 +0000 http://www.kstreetcafe.com/?p=400#comment-37 Colin - great post. Here is some additional food for thought: http://www.kstreetcafe.com/successful-advocacy-campaigns-require-quality-and-quantity/ Colin – great post. Here is some additional food for thought: http://www.kstreetcafe.com/successful-advocacy-campaigns-require-quality-and-quantity/

]]> By: K Street Cafe » Blog Archive » Successful Advocacy Campaigns Require Quality and Quantity http://www.kstreetcafe.com/dont-just-spam-congress-creative-ways-to-put-your-supporter-list-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-36 K Street Cafe » Blog Archive » Successful Advocacy Campaigns Require Quality and Quantity Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:01:06 +0000 http://www.kstreetcafe.com/?p=400#comment-36 [...] K Street Café’s Colin Delany today used the enormous surge in communications to Congress related to the bailout bill as an opportunity to provide readers with a wonderful summary of best practices for organizations who are running advocacy campaigns. [...] [...] K Street Café’s Colin Delany today used the enormous surge in communications to Congress related to the bailout bill as an opportunity to provide readers with a wonderful summary of best practices for organizations who are running advocacy campaigns. [...]

]]> By: e.politics: online advocacy tools & tactics » Don’t Just Spam Congress: Creative Ways to Put Your Supporter List to Work http://www.kstreetcafe.com/dont-just-spam-congress-creative-ways-to-put-your-supporter-list-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-35 e.politics: online advocacy tools & tactics » Don’t Just Spam Congress: Creative Ways to Put Your Supporter List to Work Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:17:40 +0000 http://www.kstreetcafe.com/?p=400#comment-35 [...] Cross-posted on K Street Cafe [...] [...] Cross-posted on K Street Cafe [...]

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