Organizing for America has come up with a great idea.  Because the Congressional town hall meetings are getting a bit dicey, what with Republican Party handlers roboting bunches of fringe elements, why not go have a sit-down with your Congressman in his local office and tell him what you think?

Capital idea!

OFA even provides you with a convenient link for finding the local offices of your Congressman and Senators — click here.  Once you find the office, the OFA program can take you to a form to schedule a visit . . . but I suspect that non-supporters will be weeded out.  Instead of the form, call directly — the locator program provides a telephone number, an address, and a handy map.

According to the Web site, “After you sign up, we’ll provide you with all the materials and guidance you’ll need for a successful visit.” Gosh, no concerted effort here! The e-mail that went out today claims, “special interest attack groups are stirring up partisan mobs with lies about health reform.” (Actually, what is stirring people up is the truth about such things as the incredible costs involved.)  It continues, “We can’t let extremists hijack this debate, or confuse Congress about where the people stand.” Let’s not let that happen — it is important to let your representatives know that the majority of American voters now OPPOSE the Obamacare plan.

The Democratic Party’s call to pack town meetings with supporters backfired — the meetings have been packed, all right, but with opponents and ex-supporters of Obamacare.  Now they want office visits?

Spread the word.

Here’s the text of the OFA e-mail that went out today:

* * *

All throughout August, our members of Congress are back in town. Insurance companies and partisan attack groups are stirring up fear with false rumors about the President’s plan, and it’s extremely important that folks like you speak up now.

So we’ve cooked up an easy, powerful way for you to make a big impression: Office Visits for Health Reform.

This week, OFA members like you will be stopping by local congressional offices to show our support for insurance reform. You can have a quick conversation with the local staff, tell your personal story, or even just drop off a customized flyer and say that reform matters to you.

And as a small business owner, it’s especially important for members of Congress to hear from you. They know you’re a pillar of the local economy, and your support matters a lot.

We’ll provide everything you need: the address, phone number, and open hours for the office, information about how the health care crisis affects your state for you to drop off (with the option of adding your personal story), and a step-by-step guide for your visit. . . .

As you’ve probably seen in the news, special interest attack groups are stirring up partisan mobs with lies about health reform, and it’s getting ugly. Across the country, members of Congress who support reform are being shouted down, physically assaulted, hung in effigy, and receiving death threats. We can’t let extremists hijack this debate, or confuse Congress about where the people stand.

Office Visits for Health Reform are our chance to show that the vast majority of American voters know that the cost of inaction is too high to bear, and strongly support passing health reform in 2009.

Don’t worry if you’ve never done anything like this before. The congressional staff is there to listen, and your opinion as a constituent matters a lot. And if you bring a friend, you’ll have more fun and make an even greater impact. . . .

Wherever you live, these visits matter: Many representatives are pushing hard toward reform, and they are taking a lot of heat from special interests. They deserve our thanks and need our support to continue the fight. But those who are still putting insurance companies and partisan point-scoring ahead of their constituents must know that voters are watching — and that we expect better.

Earlier this week, the President wrote that “this is the moment our movement was built for” and asked us all to commit to join at least one event this month. This is the way to answer that call, and rise to the challenge of this moment together.

Thank you for going the extra mile when it matters the most,

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America