RADAR Alert: Step 4: How to Win Friends and Influence Politicians

This is our mission: To meet with every Congressman between now and November 7 to explain how VAWA is violating civil rights and breaking up families.

Last week's Alert laid out the Talking Points for the meeting: http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20060716.php. But a successful meeting also depends on your ability to present yourself in the best possible light.

Here are a few tips how to get the Congressman or staff to become persuaded of the need to call for civil rights hearings:

1. Wear business attire. That means a jacket and tie for men. Act in a professional manner.
2. Be courteous and friendly. Comment about some of the work the Congressman has done that you appreciate. Anything to make a connection.
3. When you start your presentation, get to the point quickly: the massive civil rights violations under VAWA. Then work through the Talking Points. Practice your presentation in advance so it comes across smoothly.
4. Do not get argumentative or angry. This will only hurt your credibility. Try to find an area that you can agree on.
5. Do not mention your own case. The purpose of your visit is to avoid future VAWA abuses, not to resolve your personal legal issues.
6. Play to the Congressman's or staffer's interests:
   • If the person is a strong supporter of Constitutional
     protections, then emphasize how VAWA violates due process and civil liberties.
   • If the person believes strongly in equality, then explain how VAWA promotes sex-based discrimination.
   • If the Congressman is known to be a strong supporter of VAWA, then emphasize how VAWA addresses an important social problem, and you have suggestions to make the law better.
7. If you are asked a question that you can't answer, tell them you will get back to them later with the information.
8. At the end of the meeting, ask them what their impression is. Ask if they have any suggestions on what you should do next. Don't press your case too hard.
9. Ask if there is anything you can do for them such as getting statistics, etc. It may be as simple as keeping them updated.
10. End the meeting on a friendly, positive note.

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Date of RADAR Release: July 24, 2006

Register now for the National Family Law Reform Conference, to be held September 15-16 in Alexandria, Virginia (near Washington, DC). The conference will address the crisis of family law, including biased family courts, false allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, and much more. For more information: http://www.acfc.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=100021.

R.A.D.A.R. – Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting – is a network of concerned men and women working to assure that the problem of domestic violence is treated in a balanced and effective manner. http://www.mediaradar.org/.