Some state or local representatives may refuse to sign the pledge to honor the Bill of Rights. Others will sign, then later take actions that clearly violate our fundamental liberties. Watch these oathbreakers. When you verify that one of them has lied, let the media and the voters know -- in no uncertain terms. We've prepared this sample news release to give you an idea of what to say. Send your news release to all of the print, broadcast, and cable news outlets in the politician's district.
Although this sample letter mentions a politician's vote, votes aren't the only criteria for determining whether a politician is breaking a pledge to support the Bill of Rights. Has the politician spoken in favor of further unconstitutional controls on the American people? Has he promoted companies whose future lies in citizen-tracking products or universal surveillance technologies. You be the judge of whether a politician is an honest Bill of Rights supporter -- or not.
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CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION GOES HERE
DATE GOES HERE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REP. SNAKEBITE ENTERS POLITICIANS HALL OF SHAME
Rep. Sidney Snakebite (Dodge City, 4th District) has been entered into Politicians Hall of Shame maintained by the national Bill of Rights Day Committee. He earned this dubious distinction by voting for (TITLE AND NUMBER OF LEGISLATION HERE).
"Rep. Snakebite took an oath to defend the Constitution," explains (YOUR NAME AND TITLE HERE). "Not only that, he also signed a pledge to honor the Bill of Rights with every vote. His vote for (BILL NAME OR NUMBER) is in clear violation of those promises.
Alarmed by continuing expansions of government power, grassroots activists across the nation have begun holding politicians' feet to the fire, and holding representatives to their oath of office. Local activists request that state and local representatives sign a pledge distributed by the Bill of Rights Day Committee (www.yourfreedoms.org). Politicians who sign agree that they will vote for legislation only if that legislation conforms to the provisions of the Bill of Rights. Further, they agree to work for the repeal of any and all legislation that violated the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These amendments all guarantee some fundamental human right, such as free speech, freedom of religion, rights to a fair and open trial, right to own and carry firearms, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. Many activists on both the left and right have become concerned by recent laws like the Patriot Act (which violates both free speech and Fourth Amendment protections against illegal searches and seizures) and by regulations and judicial policies (like endless "detentions" without trial, and trials with secret evidence or unnamed accusers) that bypass all constitutional processes.
"The U.S. Constitution is the highest law of the land," explains (YOUR NAME). "At the time it was passed, many states refused to ratify it unless the Bill of Rights was attached to protect individual rights. So when politicians take an oath to defend the Constitution, they're also promising to follow the Bill of Rights. But in practice, most politicians simply ignore the law and pass whatever legislation some pressure group wants. In general, they do whatever makes the government more powerful than the people the government is supposed to serve."
The Bill of Rights Day Committee and grassroots activists nationwide aim to put a stop to the endless expansion of government power by monitoring what representatives do, not merely what they say.
"Rep. Snakebite signed the Bill of Rights Pledge on (DATE)," says (YOUR NAME). "For making that promise, he entered The Political Honor Roll. But the pledge is a beginning. By signing, Rep. Snakebite told us his heart was in the right place. But his votes are not. A vote for (LAW NAME OR NUMBER), with its provision to (NAME SPECIFIC BAD THING), clearly violates the (NUMBER) Amendment. It has earned him a well-deserved place in the Politicians Hall of Shame."
The Honor Roll is online at www.yourfreedoms.org/politicianshr.html. The Hall of Shame is online at www.yourfreedoms.org/politicianshos.html.