Too many Senate Democrats rolled over and played nice, confirming Mike Pompeo as head of the CIA.
This is not acceptable behavior. Mike Pompeo is someone who should never have been confirmed. He’s a dire threat to our civil liberties. He believes torturers are patriots. Under his leadership, the CIA will not only be at dire risk of repeating the atrocities of the Bush regime, but exceeding them.
No Democrat should have ever voted to confirm him.
My wise and angry friend A.M. has made it easy for those of you whose Senator voted yes to contact them and register your anger. Let them know that their continued employment depends on them doing their jobs and opposing Trump’s appalling appointees.
If you are living in California, North Dakota, Minnesota, New York, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Missouri, call your Senator. If you can’t call, write. Here is the information you need:
One or more of your Democratic Senators voted to confirm Mike Pompeo as head of the CIA.
Pompeo has said he considers people who have waterboarded prisoners to be “patriots,” considers Muslims in the US to be complicit in terrorism, and approves of greater surveillance of the American people.
Don’t let this slip by unnoticed.
Here is a script you can use:
“Hello, my name is _______. I’m a constituent in zipcode ______, and I’m calling to leave a comment for Senator ______. I want to tell Senator ______ that I am angry and disappointed with their vote to approve Mike Pompeo as the head of the CIA, because he supports torture and increased surveillance of American citizens. I feel that this vote is a betrayal of the voters of [state] and the American people. In the future, the Senator should vote AGAINST confirming the Trump administration’s nominees, especially Jeff Sessions, Rex Tillerson, and Betsy DeVos.”
If you can’t call, please write or email! Here’s a script you can use:
Dear Senator ______
My name is _______. I’m a constituent in zipcode ______, and I’m writing to tell you that I am angry and disappointed with your vote to approve Mike Pompeo as the head of the CIA. His support for torture, as well as increased surveillance of American citizens, makes him dangerous and unqualified. I feel that this vote is a betrayal of the voters of [state] and the American people.
Going forward, I request that you vote AGAINST confirming the Trump administration’s nominees, especially Jeff Sessions, Rex Tillerson, and Betsy DeVos.
Sincerely,
_____
[City, State]
[Contact details in alphabetical order by state]
CALIFORNIA
Dianne Feinstein
DC office (202) 224-3841
State office (310) 914-7300
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-meHAWAII
Brian Schatz
DC office (202) 224-3934
State office (808) 523-2061
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/contactINDIANA
Joe Donnelly
DC office (202) 224-4814
State office (574) 288-2780
https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/contact/email-joeMINNESOTA
Amy Klobuchar
DC office (202) 224-3244
State office (612)727-5220
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/email-amyMISSOURI
Clare McCaskill
DC office (202) 224-6154
https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/contactNEW HAMPSHIRE (2)
Maggie Hassan
DC office (202) 224-3324
State office (603) 622-2204
http://maggiehassan.com/contact/Jeanne Shaheen
DC office (202) 224-2841
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/contact/contact-jeanneNEW YORK
Chuck Schumer
DC office (202) 224-6542
https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuckNORTH DAKOTA
Heidi Heitkamp
DC office (202) 224-2043
Fargo office (701) 232-8030
Bismarck office (701) 258-4648
https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-heidiRHODE ISLAND (2)
Jack Reed
DC office (202) 224-4642
Providence office (401) 528-5200
Cranston office (401) 943-3100
https://www.reed.senate.gov/contact/emailSheldon Whitehouse
DC office (202) 224-2921
State office (401) 453-5294
https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/email-sheldonVIRGINIA (2)
Tim Kaine
DC office (202) 224-4024
https://www.kaine.senate.gov/contactMark Warner
DC office (202) 224-2023
http://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactWEST VIRGINIA
Joe Manchin
DC office (202) 224-3954
https://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form
If your Senator voted against Pompeo, they could use some positive reinforcement. Please do call or email them to let them know you support them. I’ve modified the script for that purpose:
“Hello, my name is _______. I’m a constituent in zipcode ______, and I’m calling to leave a comment for Senator ______. I want to thank Senator ______ for their vote against confirming Mike Pompeo as the head of the CIA. I’m pleased they agree that his support for torture and increased surveillance of American citizens makes him unqualified as director. I’d also like to request that the Senator vote AGAINST confirming the Trump administration’s nominees, especially Jeff Sessions, Rex Tillerson, and Betsy DeVos.”
For letters or email:
Dear Senator ______
My name is _______. I’m a constituent in zipcode ______, and I’m writing to thank you for your vote against confirming Mike Pompeo as the head of the CIA. I’m pleased you agree that his support for torture and increased surveillance of American citizens makes him unqualified as director.
I’d also like to request that you vote AGAINST confirming the Trump administration’s nominees, especially Jeff Sessions, Rex Tillerson, and Betsy DeVos.”
Sincerely,
_____
[City, State]
You can find your Senator’s contact information here.
