“Shut Up”, They Explained

Americans have been running the Capitol’s switchboard red-hot this past week, calling by the millions to register their opposition to socialized medicine.

And it’s obvious the ruling Democrats don’t want to disturb the Master/Peasant relationship.  “Capital Confidential”, writing at Breitbart’s Big Government blog, tried calling his representative (Rep. John Garamendi (D, CA-10) .  The operator kept hanging up on him.

I called one more time. This time she said, “If you call one more time, we will notify Capital Police.” I asked why my conduct warranted involving federal law enforcement agents. She said I was “harassing” her. I tried to explain that trying to convince a representative to change his or her vote didn’t constitute “harassment.” Before I could fully explain, she hung up again.

I called back. This time, I asked to speak to her supervisor in order to report her repeated hanging up as well as the threat she made. I was placed on hold. Thinking I was holding for her supervisor, I was shocked when a Federal Agent with the Capital Police picked-up the telephone.

Fortunatey, CapCon is a former Marine – not easily intimidated…:

At first, the Agent was curt with me. He claimed I was harassing Mr. Garamendi’s staff by continually calling after being told to stop calling. I asked him when it became a federal crime to lobby a congressman. He said that it wasn’t but it was a crime to “harass” congressional members and staff pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 223.

…and a lawyer, so he can’t be BS’ed about statutes:

 I told him I was an attorney (which I am) and that I would research the statute he had cited.

After researching 47 U.S.C. 223, I called Mr. Garamendi’s office again and asked to be transferred back to the Capital Police Agent. The Agent picked up the phone and I explained to him that the statute he cited was not controlling since it only prohibits people from calling with the specific intent to harass. I further explained that I was simply trying to voice my concerns with the intent of getting Mr. Garamendi to change his mind, not to harass his staff. The Agent eventually agreed with my position and said he would call Mr. Garamendi’s office and instruct his staff that I was within my rights to call my congressman and voice my concerns.

Unfortunately, not everyone who’s calling in is a lawyer:

While I’m fortunate enough to be able to legally challenge what happened today, others aren’t. The sad part is the democrats know this. They know that Americans unfamiliar with federal jurisprudence can easily be silenced when threats to involve federal agents are made. They know that most Americans don’t want trouble and they’ll go away rather than face the possibility of having to explain themselves to federal agents. That’s why I found this tactic appalling, as a Marine, as an attorney and as a proud American.

It’s simple, really; if Americans are afraid to contact their “representatives”, there won’t be any complaints or dissent to report.

November can’t come soon enough.

3 thoughts on ““Shut Up”, They Explained

  1. You have to cut our elected officials and civil servants some slack. As noted they’re used to people going away rather than face the possibility of having to explain themselves to federal agents. They – and the federal agents – haven’t adjusted yet to the notion that they might have to explain themselves to their fellow Americans.

  2. Now does it constitute harassment for a congressional office staffer to abuse the law to avoid feedback from constituents…..???? Hmmm……at least it constitutes “classlessness.”

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