Calling Republicans

Chuck writes of a successful phone bank on the West Side—30 Dems calling registered Republicans over 65 in the 19th District (Faso land). Mostly seniors calling seniors to say that they were worried about the future of Social Security and Medicare and urging them to call Faso (on the Budget Committee) to share their own concerns and encourage him not to cut SS or Medicare.

According to Chuck, "The elderly Republicans we called were surprisingly responsive. They were suspicious if they thought we were calling about Obamacare, but once we mentioned Social Security and Medicare, they were willing to talk... We got over 20 promises to call Faso."

Sounds like a good plan for any of several groups here in Tompkins, whether they call within the 23rd (Reed is on Ways and Means) or call Claudia Tenney's district, the 22nd (she's on Financial Services, which really isn't connected, but she ought to be getting heat from all directions, because she is one of the most vulnerable Congresspeople in NYS). Major towns in the 22nd include Binghamton, Rome, Utica; Cortland and Norwich are in there, too. Phone lists are available at boards of elections, or Citizen Action Southern Tier can probably help.

I like the idea of reaching out to Republicans. We don't do that often enough.