I know that I’m on a vast mailing list – after all with 1.2 million petition signatures at least SOME of those e-mails have to be good – but someone needs to tell the folks at American Solutions a little bit about Wayne Gilchrest. This is what they wrote to me yesterday:
Thank you for joining nearly 1.2 million of your fellow Americans in signing the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” petition.
Congress has heard the message loud and clear, but your Member of Congress, Wayne Gilchrest, has not signed the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” petition. This is why we need your help to declare this July 4th Energy Independence Day!
Today, Friday, June 27, Congress is scheduled to recess for the Fourth of July and will return to Washington, DC on July 7. During the 10-day recess, your Representative, Wayne Gilchrest will be holding townhall meetings, attending parades, and talking with constituents in your area.
We encourage you to attend any one of these meetings to ask Representative Gilchrest why they haven’t signed the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” petition. If possible, bring a video camera along to capture their answer. If you’re unable to attend these meetings, be sure to either call or write Representative Gilchrest’s office instead.
You can call Representative Gilchrest at (202) 225-5311 to learn where they will be holding a public meeting in your district.
Here are a few more steps you can take to make this July 4th Energy Independence Day:
- Tell 5 friends about the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” petition
- Call your local talk radio show to urge Representative Gilchrest to sign the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” petition
- Write a letter to the editor to urge Representative Gilchrest to sign the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” petition
- Download and print this handout to distribute at your townhall meeting or parade
You can find sample talking points, letter to the editor, and other action-oriented materials to guide you at www.americansolutions.com/EnergyDay .
This list is by no means exhaustive. In addition to getting Representative Gilchrest on record, we encourage you to create your own activities surrounding Energy Independence Day. Your Fourth of July parties, BBQ’s, and neighborhood gatherings would be great opportunities to talk to your friends and family about the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” petition and ask them to sign it at www.AmericanSolutions.com/DrillNow.
Finally, after Energy Independence Day, email us your stories, photos, or videos to drillnow@americansolutions.com so we can highlight all of your hard work.
With your help, this Independence Day we will declare our energy independence. And we give our elected officials this choice:
Either take action to drill here and drill now for American oil or the American people will take action this fall.
Thanks again for joining the nearly 1.2 million Americans of the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” movement. (All emphasis in original.)
First of all, I’d be completely shocked if Wayne Gilchrest showed up at any parade or held a townhall meeting during his recess – why should he? It’s not like he’s going to be re-elected!
But I think it’s very ironic (and maybe moronic on their part) to send this to us here knowing that at every turn Wayne Gilchrest voted against securing domestic oil supplies. Maybe Newt missed that little detail when he decided to endorse Wayne Gilchrest before the primary election.
While I’m not going to hold my breath waiting on our Congressman to sign on to the petition, it might be a good idea to ask our Congressional candidates if they have. I did send a note to Dave Ryan asking so perhaps I’ll find out.
So we have about 0.4% of the American public engaged – now if we can get another 49.7% we might get some real action.
