John, more than most, you know how high the stakes are for our democracy in the next few weeks.
That’s because senators will soon be forced to decide once and for all:
● Do you care more about keeping the Jim Crow filibuster...
● ...or delivering on your promises that got you elected?
It’s in this brief period that our summer-long mobilization demanding they make the correct choice will reach its apex. Already, we’ve generated hundreds of thousands of constituent calls and emails -- and immense national pressure -- focused like a laser on those senators who matter most in this fight.
Frankly, I’m counting on your action right now to help Common Cause drive home the point that when it comes to protecting our democracy from vote-suppressing and gerrymandering politicians, failure is simply not an option.
John, this is the moment we all must act. You see, we expect essential voting rights and democracy legislation -- like the For the People Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act -- to come before the Senate in the weeks ahead.
Unless a few holdout Democrats, like Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, change their tune, these bills won’t even get an up-or-down vote.
That’s because, at least publicly, they are holding on to their defense of the filibuster -- which Mitch McConnell is abusing to shut down any debate on the future of our democracy.
But John, I can assure you that despite their public posture, they are feeling the heat of pro-democracy citizens in a major way.
Thanks to the efforts of Common Cause, their offices are receiving literally thousands of calls every single day from their own constituents. It’s no mystery why -- the pro-democracy solutions in these two bills are overwhelmingly popular, even with Republican voters.
In order to make that happen, our volunteer Action Team has made over a million calls to voters in states like West Virginia, Arizona, Maine, and Alaska -- and sent over 4 million text messages directly urging these key senators’ constituents -- their own voters -- to make their voices heard.
Meanwhile, our local organizers are on the ground mobilizing local constituencies -- civic clubs, small businesses, and faith groups -- to publicly urge these senators to act quickly and decisively in support of our democracy. [1] [2]
That’s why the dam is starting to break. We now have 50 Senate votes to move voting rights forward, and both Manchin and Sinema have co-sponsored these bills or similar ones in the past -- which means breaking through the filibuster will give us a clear path to victory. [3]
And, each day, the anti-democracy, pro-filibuster position of these senators gets more and more difficult to hold.
It’s ironic and hypocritical that these senators are crying crocodile tears over voter suppression bills in states like Georgia and Texas -- while at the same time ignoring peoples’ pleas for federal action that will block anti-voter schemes pouring forth from reactionary state legislatures.
Just this month, they were shamelessly eager to be seen commemorating Rep. John Lewis’s passing -- joining millions of Americans in honoring his lifelong fight for civil and voting rights.
“Shameless” because at the very same time, they’re choosing to protect Mitch McConnell’s filibuster instead of passing the voting rights bill that bears John Lewis’ name -- or the For the People Act he helped write! [4]
In recent weeks, I’ve heard from countless Common Cause supporters like you who are losing patience -- and are ready to take bold action to break through the Senate gridlock to deliver real, lasting democracy for the American people.
I need you to know that our action right now has never been more important. Our nation is facing twin crises -- as far-right politicians respond to last year’s record voter turnout with a new wave of anti-voter laws, and soon, rigged and gerrymandered legislative maps.
The solution to those problems -- and the best way to ensure we leave a stronger democracy for the next generation -- is in the hands of the Senate right now.
And these next few weeks could make history and help save democracy, BUT ONLY IF you and I live up to this momentous test with the action it demands.
Your immediate and urgently needed contribution of $3 or more will help fuel our Emergency Mobilization to put even more pressure on Sen. Manchin, Sen. Sinema, and others who are hesitant to save our democracy.
Remember, the filibuster isn’t even in the Constitution. Its principal use throughout history has been to block civil rights bills. [5] Defending it today -- after years of misuse and abuse-- just plain doesn’t make sense.
If we let the filibuster stand in the way of our work today... it will have the effect of turning the 2022 elections -- and beyond -- over to those who would happily silence voters and rig legislative maps for their own partisan gain.
I’m not necessarily asking you to give up your evenings or weekends or even your summer vacation as thousands of volunteers (maybe even you) are doing. But I am counting on you, and special Common Cause members like you, to enable us to do all we can to end the filibuster.
Thank you for doing your part,
Karen Hobert Flynn, President
and the team at Common Cause
[1] https://www.azmirror.com/2021/07/22/small-business-owners-join-pressure-campaign-against-sinema-over-filibuster/
[2] https://www.commoncause.org/press-release/maine-local-business-and-community-leaders-support-the-for-the-people-act/
[3] https://www.commoncause.org/press-release/50-senators-vote-to-advance-boldest-democracy-package-in-nearly-50-years-but-republican-senators-block-it-with-a-filibuster-and-refuse-to-even-allow-a-debate/
[4] https://www.pfaw.org/blog-posts/john-lewis-left-his-mark-on-the-for-the-people-act-lets-honor-him-by-passing-it/
[5] https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/senate-filibuster-monument-white-supremacy/613579/
