Campaign to call specific Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members

[obviously]

for your kind words about my response. truth of the matter is, i was pretty upset and seething in anger for a good part of saturday. finally i decided it was better to "lose" this contact for good, than put up with the outright insult. we have nothing to be afraid, ashamed or apologetic about our cause.

thanks again for your kind words. i did get a positive reply from a dean at my alma mater, a leading pvt university, that fully supports these positions. possibly an indication that we should be reaching out to US university deans to get their active support?

please feel free to edit / copy+paste both the chain email and the racism-response ... to meet any of your respective outreach needs

also, we have almost as many folks that have not called as those that did. why? oh why? just pick up the phone and leave at least 1 VM today!
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WELLBUTRIN SETTLEMENT INFO

[conchshell]

Originally Posted by obviously

we have almost as many folks that have not called as those that did. why? oh why? just pick up the phone and leave at least 1 VM today!

Various reasons may be possible: some people may think that phone campaign may not be an effective method. However, all of them who decided not to participate, did not post a message and explained why do they think so. It happened initially for the flower campaign too ... however when momentum build, lots of no sayers also started sending flowers.

Second, its quite possible that anti-immigration people are creating the account and voting against the campaign. Some one should take a look at the accounts who voted against, and see when exactly they joined IV? At the same time, some people who are EB2/EB3 ROW, think that if these bill pass, their GC will take more time.

Another aspect is: majority of people still do not realize how grave the situation is. I was talking to one of my good friend (EB3 India), I am chasing him from last one year to join the fight. He nodes his head and says Yes every time I talk to him, but never comes forward. Yesterday, when I urged him to participate in CHC campaign, he told me "Don't worry, I will help you". This one sentence clarified a lot. He still doesn't see himself impacted by this situation, and still believes that some day his GC will appear magically. He is just living in a fools paradise and enjoying his EAD/AP. BTW, his PD is April 2004 EB3 India. Afterwards, I had to be a little straight with him, and convey him in bitter words that I am not asking his support for my GC, but I a asking this so that he can help himself. Hope someday he will realize this.

[needhelp!]

bump

[sunny1000]

People who have not yet called, please take a few minutes to call the CHC members on the first page. If you feel that it will consume a lot of time during week days, you can call now or after-hours and leave a voicemail. The voicemail takes only a few seconds. Every phone call counts.

Thanks.

[lost_stranger]

News from Oh Law:
05/18/2008: Frustrated Hispanic Caucus Exploded on the Door Step of Congress

Report indicates that they've held a press conference on the steps of a House office building to denounce their leadership's willingness to cater to immigration critics by holding hearings on enforcement measures proposed by endangered Democratic moderates. Rep. Joe Baca, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, was steamed. Latinos had become a political "punching bag" this year, the California Democrat complained recently, attacked by "the misinformed" and "the misguided." They've threatened to block progress on immigration proposals backed by business interests and pushed by key Democrats, such as special visas for high-tech workers or agricultural help, unless leaders also move forward with comprehensive immigration legislation. Lawmakers in the 20-member Hispanic Caucus know they are not going to get their political wish this year: another shot at comprehensive immigration legislation, something that died in the Senate last year. But they are frustrated that their party has not been aggressive at pushing back against the heated rhetoric of the Right. If alienated Latinos stay home from the polls in November, it could cost Democrats dearly in closely contested local elections in Texas, Arizona and other states. And if Hispanics conclude that their party is no different on immigration than Republican presidential candidate John McCain — a longtime supporter of comprehensive reform— it could tip the balance to the GOP in presidential contests in swing states such as New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado.

The CHC has a single point agenda and that is amnesty for illegals. They feel that if they have the issues for legal immigrants tied along with this, they can try to obtain this amnesty in the guise of "comprehensively reforming the entire US immigration system". They are single minded and will not waver because of repeated communication from us legal immigrants. We are not a consideration for them and they will do their best to torpedo our bill. I think a better plan would be to target all the other legislators and let them know how we feel and how important this bill is for us future citizens. This is just my opinion and is not intended to demoralise anyone or hamper this campaign.

[sanju]

Oh is paraphrasing the news article:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/5786850.html
Nothing new about that, he is copying news from here and there most of the time. But he provides good service to the community by keep an eye on whatever is going on.

These developments indicate the things are progressing well and we are on the right track. That's why, as a last measure, CHC had to do a press conference on the steps of the Congress to put pressure on the House Leadership/Speaker. It shows that CHC and House leadership are on opposing side of the issue and that is why CHC had to openly show this difference of opinion. It indicates that the House leadership have made a decision about moving forward the Lofgren bills. This news item indicates an excellent development.

And it appears, while CHC is putting pressure on House leadership for not doing Lofgren bills, IV is asking us all to call (and put pressure) on CHC members to support Lofgren bills. Smart move, I will call again today.

lost_stranger, I suggest we not attack the undocumented because it doesn't help us in any way, rather attacking undocumented hurts us all the way. CHC is doing some impression management to show it to their constituents saying that they did all that they could. This is a healthy development and lets look at the positive side indicating we are on the track of progress. Lets all of us call the members Admin have asked us.

Originally Posted by lost_stranger

News from Oh Law:
05/18/2008: Frustrated Hispanic Caucus Exploded on the Door Step of Congress

Report indicates that they've held a press conference on the steps of a House office building to denounce their leadership's willingness to cater to immigration critics by holding hearings on enforcement measures proposed by endangered Democratic moderates. Rep. Joe Baca, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, was steamed. Latinos had become a political "punching bag" this year, the California Democrat complained recently, attacked by "the misinformed" and "the misguided." They've threatened to block progress on immigration proposals backed by business interests and pushed by key Democrats, such as special visas for high-tech workers or agricultural help, unless leaders also move forward with comprehensive immigration legislation. Lawmakers in the 20-member Hispanic Caucus know they are not going to get their political wish this year: another shot at comprehensive immigration legislation, something that died in the Senate last year. But they are frustrated that their party has not been aggressive at pushing back against the heated rhetoric of the Right. If alienated Latinos stay home from the polls in November, it could cost Democrats dearly in closely contested local elections in Texas, Arizona and other states. And if Hispanics conclude that their party is no different on immigration than Republican presidential candidate John McCain — a longtime supporter of comprehensive reform— it could tip the balance to the GOP in presidential contests in swing states such as New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado.

The CHC has a single point agenda and that is amnesty for illegals. They feel that if they have the issues for legal immigrants tied along with this, they can try to obtain this amnesty in the guise of "comprehensively reforming the entire US immigration system". They are single minded and will not waver because of repeated communication from us legal immigrants. We are not a consideration for them and they will do their best to torpedo our bill. I think a better plan would be to target all the other legislators and let them know how we feel and how important this bill is for us future citizens. This is just my opinion and is not intended to demoralise anyone or hamper this campaign.

[tammman]

I just called all the offices mentioned.
Almost all of them seemed to know what I'm talking about and I left voice msgs for couple of the offices and some of them took the msg and mentioned will pass them on...

Thanks to IV & all the members doing this !!

[psam]

Called all of them early morning 10am eastern time
which is 7am pacific for me. No hold anywhere. All calls were
done in ten minutes.

Response from most of them was "I will pass the message".
Some took my phone number, name and current location.
Exceptions were

From office of 'Hilda Solis', staff said that congressman is already
supporting those bills.

Office of "Ciro Rodriguez" said that they respond to issues from
their constituents and encouraged me to call my representative.

Office of "Lucille Roybal-Allard" said "pass and message" and asked
if I have contacted my representative.

[nixstor]

Originally Posted by psam

From office of 'Hilda Solis', staff said that congressman is already
supporting those bills.

LOC does not show co sponsorship of any of these bills by Hilda Solis. We will keep monitoring the updates.

[swadeshi]

I just called all the offices mentioned.

Almost all of them seemed to know what I'm talking about and couple of the offices actually said they have been receiving numerous calls asking the congressman/congresswoman to support these bills and some of them knew the bill number even before i could mention them...so looks like we are getting our point across loud and clear....

[omeya]

I did call all of them today.

[nixstor]

Originally Posted by swadeshi

I just called all the offices mentioned.

Almost all of them seemed to know what I'm talking about and couple of the offices actually said they have been receiving numerous calls asking the congressman/congresswoman to support these bills and some of them knew the bill number even before i could mention them...so looks like we are getting our point across loud and clear....

Keep those calls going through

[DDash]

Just called all of them and all of the staff were really nice.

[jonty_11]

Staff is always nice...Engage them in a pleasant conversation and u will come out feeling good..


Waht is important is your phone call...Numbers matter...so please keep calling...
Dont feel shy or apprehensive.....just request them to support the bills..and thats it..if they engage in any conversation keep th mood as pleasant as possible...It takes less than 2 mins per call...

[painfulgc]

Called all of them, only Representative Ciro Rodriguez office told they will not support the bill.... others told they will pass the message...