After the Tea Party – What Can You Do? Dr. Joyce Starr Interviews Don Crist
November 13, 2009 by Dr. Joyce Starr
Filed under Economic Rights, Taxpayer Rights, Topics & Guests
Dr. Joyce Starr interviews author Don Crist on his new book: What Can I Do After the Tea Party? Crist outlines steps that can harness the passion of Town Hall and TEA Party protests. He explains why it’s critical to communicate with your senator or congressman at the precinct level and how to ensure that your letters are read. Show Date: November 12, 2009.
After the Tea Party
Don Crist has served as a small business consultant to numerous entities in 52 cities throughout North America. He’s worked for both legislative and judicial branches of local and state government and has participated in nearly every level of campaign management as a volunteer or paid staff member.
Crist explains that while “emails and petitions are not read, they are counted.” Letters, by contrast, are read and can affect an outcome. For example, if an editor receives 15 letters on the same issue, “he will likely dispatch a reporter or might even start a series on the issue.” Senators and congressmen do read a large number of hand-written or personally crafted letters.
Does the media help or hinder the political process? Says Crist, “People use the media for affirmation – not information. Most will purchase or listen to a format which already supports the position they have chosen rather than one that provokes or requires a change in position. Reporters think that ‘the public doesn’t get it.’ But they do!”
Crist argues for old-fashioned door to door canvassing to convince people to take action on a specific issue. In order to inspire neighbors to join your effort – and to attract the attention of your representative – focus on one key item, not a laundry list of items.
Americans don’t want to change that much. In Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye decides, finally, “If I bend that much, I will break.” The American people are like Tevye. They won’t bend as much as President Obama’s handlers want to bend them. They fear he will “break us” as a nation and become the “losers” we cannot tolerate. Like Tevye, we value American traditions and patriotism which strengthens us during times of turmoil.
Click the arrow to listen to the streaming audio.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
