# Please, please write, or email your senators and representatives. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 17, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261 "2019-03-17T15:15:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/21 "2019-03-18T12:06:54Z")
Is there really anything we can do in Washington? If its good for the people and not for congress, which way is it going to go? Vote in, vote out…they’re all going to learn from the good ole boys that crime does pay and also shitting on constituents does as well Vote their own pay raises Has their health insurance completely paid for Take away as much money as they want from programs like Medicare, Social Security, raise taxes at there convenience…you name it, they take for their own uses, their own gain. Like I said, vote them in, vote them out-doesnt matter. I thought for sure Trump would shake that up but I guess not. Sign me disappointed, frustrated, poorer, disillusioned and flailing hopelessly thru life, nothing changes. I do blame myself but my upbringing failed me. Always a but here or there… ---
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/22 "2019-03-18T13:51:27Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > That way there is a record of those who oppose him so that he can advocate violence against us? 😉 > > I like to write, and I’ve actually sent off many letters to my congress critters long before Trump. I’ve been slightly more active in contacting them about my concerns about the direction that I feel the country is going since Trump assumed office, I only once before ever actually called a congressman, and in the last two years, I’ve got a half dozen or so calls in to not only my congressional representative (R), but to my senators as well, (R and D). > > But, I have done so based on actual policies or votes that I want to make my opinion known on. In this case, everyone already knows that Trump encourages his supporters to violence. Republicans will pretend to not notice it, and Democrats already know it and condemn it. > > I’m not sure what I would write, much less say if I called, to bring anyone attention to these concerns. Can anyone provide any cite where Trump encouraged anyone to violence? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/23 "2019-03-18T14:11:03Z")
> [@StraightTalk](#): > > Can anyone provide any cite where Trump encouraged anyone to violence? [That was easy](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-knock-the-crap-out-of-protesters-ill-pay-legal-fees). ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/24 "2019-03-18T14:12:35Z")
> **[Has Donald Trump never 'promoted or encouraged violence'?](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jul/05/sarah-huckabee-sanders/has-donald-trump-never-promoted-or-encouraged-viol/)** > > Has President Donald Trump promoted violence? At a White House briefing, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders > [@](#): > > The clearest example > > In February 2016, during his campaign for president, Trump told a crowd in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, “So I got a little notice. We have wonderful security guys. It said, ‘Mr. Trump, there may be somebody with tomatoes in the audience.’ So if you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously. Just knock the hell … I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees. I promise. I promise.” > > As a review of the video shows, Trump is not smiling or chuckling as if this was intended as a joke. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/25 "2019-03-18T14:22:35Z")
I’ve been impressed by my gf’s back-and-forth with one of our reps. Turns out she is a very good, even eloquent writer, and one of our representatives enjoys discussing the issues even if their points of view are often miles apart. He has even admitted to her that her arguments on one topic have swayed his thinking a bit. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/26 "2019-03-18T14:23:29Z")
Some more cites detailing the times Trump has implicitly or explicitly praised, encouraged, or threatened violence, including explicitly praising a Congressman’s assault of a reporter, encouraging rallyers to assault protesters, and much more: > **[One video refutes Sarah Sanders’s claim that Trump has never encouraged violence](https://www.vox.com/2019/2/22/18236512/christopher-hasson-sarah-sanders-trump-encouraging-violence)** > > Trump in fact has a long history of encouraging violence. > **[A look back at Trump comments perceived by some as inciting violence](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/back-trump-comments-perceived-encouraging-violence/story?id=48415766)** > > Here's a look back at comments by President Trump perceived by some as inciting violence, with one of his latest reading, "when the looting starts, the shooting starts." > **[Donald Trump Suggests ‘Second Amendment People’ Could Act Against Hillary...](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/10/us/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton.html?module=inline)** > > Mr. Trump, in emphasizing gun issues and the Supreme Court during a speech, issued what some saw as a threat to Mrs. Clinton. > **[Trump's endorsement of violence reaches new level: He may pay legal fees for...](https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-trump-campaign-protests-20160313-story.html)** > > When Donald Trump said Sunday that he might pay the legal fees of a man charged with hitting a protester in the face at one of his rallies, it was the latest of many occasions when the leading Republican candidate for president appeared to condone or... It can’t be said often enough – those who support Trump are supporting someone who routinely praises, encourages, and threatens violence. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/27 "2019-03-18T14:42:27Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > There’s no “advocating violence” there. Somebody deleted a @realDonaldTrump tweet about “tough people” early Friday morning. Right around the time the same account tweeted about the violence in New Zealand. [cite](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/15/donald-trump-white-house-condemn-mass-killing-new-zealand/3172166002/) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/28 "2019-03-18T14:43:08Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > “just like” what? Are we talking about this quote: > > There’s no “advocating violence” there. Of _course_ there isn’t. He didn’t actually say the words “I am advocating violence”, did he? And even if he _did_ say those exact words, nobody could prove to your satisfaction that he wasn’t just joking, right? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/29 "2019-03-18T15:28:36Z")
And in the same way, it is not possible to prove to the satisfaction of much of the SDMB that he didn’t advocate violence, right? Because an opinion writer who hates Trump told you he did. [del]The Bible[/del] CNN said it, I believe it, that settles it, as William Jennings Bryant never said. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/30 "2019-03-18T15:34:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > And in the same way, it is not possible to prove to the satisfaction of much of the SDMB that he didn’t advocate violence, right? Let’s just say it might take a bit more than you saying “Nuh _Uh!_” ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/31 "2019-03-18T15:46:38Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > And in the same way, it is not possible to prove to the satisfaction of much of the SDMB that he didn’t advocate violence, right? Because an opinion writer who hates Trump told you he did. > > [del]The Bible[/del] CNN said it, I believe it, that settles it, as William Jennings Bryant never said. > > Regards, > Shodan Bullshit. Trump told us with his own words. He was quoted in the opinion piece, has nothing to do with the writers opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/32 "2019-03-18T17:03:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Because an opinion writer who hates Trump told you he did. You know these rallies are filmed, right? It’s not as though everyone is just taking the word of some random guy – there’s footage of him saying these things. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/33 "2019-03-18T17:06:37Z")
Has anyone asked the White House about what he supposedly said? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/34 "2019-03-18T17:33:34Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > And in the same way, it is not possible to prove to the satisfaction of much of the SDMB that he didn’t advocate violence, right? Because an opinion writer who hates Trump told you he did. Actually, Trump himself was the one who praised a congressman’s assault of a reporter, and exhorted rallygoers to assault protesters, and encouraged cops to allow suspects to be injured, and much more. Were you unaware of these facts? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/35 "2019-03-18T17:45:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Has anyone asked the White House about what he supposedly said? Why would you need to do that? CNN has already told you that he advocated violence, therefore it must be true, no matter what he said. Likewise Jim Acosta didn’t put his hands on the intern no matter what the video showed, the CNN news reader didn’t say “this is America in 2019” after reporting on the Jussie Smollett hoax no matter what the video showed, etc. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/36 "2019-03-18T17:47:08Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Why would you need to do that? CNN has already told you that he advocated violence, therefore it must be true, no matter what he said. Likewise Jim Acosta didn’t put his hands on the intern no matter what the video showed, the CNN news reader didn’t say “this is America in 2019” after reporting on the Jussie Smollett hoax no matter what the video showed, etc. > > Regards, > Shodan Why do you keep talking about CNN? Trump told us he advocates violence. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/37 "2019-03-18T17:52:02Z")
I don’t fucking watch CNN, let alone take instructions from them. That said, _of course_ Trump wasn’t threatening violence. And “nice family you got there - be a real shame if something happened to them” is merely an offhand comment on the vagaries of fate. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/38 "2019-03-18T17:52:31Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Why would you need to do that? CNN has already told you that he advocated violence, therefore it must be true, no matter what he said. Likewise Jim Acosta didn’t put his hands on the intern no matter what the video showed, the CNN news reader didn’t say “this is America in 2019” after reporting on the Jussie Smollett hoax no matter what the video showed, etc. > > Regards, > Shodan This isn’t a thread about CNN, y’know. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/39 "2019-03-18T17:55:37Z")
If we send letters through the US mail wouldn’t that flag us as opponents of Trump and we might get attacked? Nice try, but I am not letting myself get attacked. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261/40 "2019-03-18T17:57:54Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > If we send letters through the US mail wouldn’t that flag us as opponents of Trump and we might get attacked? > Nice try, but I am not letting myself get attacked. WTF? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-please-write-or-email-your-senators-and-representatives/831261.md?page=3)