1/14 NEW EFFORT - GET THE LEFT-BEHIND PARENTS IN FRONT OF OBAMA AND CLINTON

[Chuckles]

Hey, TEAM BSH!  YEAH, YOU!!!  

Time's arrived to take up a new EFFORT!
:cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer:

As you all no doubt know, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the US House of Representatives followed through on their promise to send letters to both the White House and SoS Clinton's office asking for a meeting with LBPs so that the president and Secretary Clinton could "discuss their cases and potential solutions to this endemic problem."  Meeting on this level will be a huge step forward in raising awareness of the issue, and will put further pressure on Obama, Clinton and Congress to take action.  BUT -

They won't move with out people moving them!

We all know the issues inside-out.  We need to STEP UP the pressure to GET THESE MEETINGS!

As Commander Paul Toland put it,

I have made my Senators and Congressmen aware of these problems with the State Department, and I raised this issue during the Question and Answer session of the testimony at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. However, it’s not enough, because State is still continuing to ignore us as was evidenced yesterday by Secretary Clinton’s remarks. I ask that you please do the following: 1) spread the word about this to your Congressmen, Senators, and anyone else who will listen to make them aware of the State Department’s apparent greater concern with Japanese citizens than with Abducted United States citizen children; 2) ask your Congressmen for a follow-up on the Letters written by the Tom Lantos Commission to President Obama and Secretary Clinton asking them to meet with Left-Behind Parents. These letters can be found at http://www.debito.org/?p=5448. It has been over a month and we still have no word from either President Obama or Secretary Clinton about these letters.

We are asking that everyone please contact the White House, SoS Clinton's office, your members of congress and media.  Sound like a lot?  It is: this is an all-out, across-the-boards BLITZ!  (Y'all have been - rightly so - asking for marching orders, here they are.  Rest assured, more will be coming, but this is where we urgently need attention at the moment!)

We know this is repetitive stuff, but remember: it is through exactly these kinds of efforts that we were able to ultimately Bring Sean Home; let's keep it going for the rest of the kids!  You guys know the drill.  If you need talking points, ask for them here... but it should be pretty straightforward: ask for these meeting to take place because you are concerned that this issue might fall under the radar now that a single, high-profile case has been resolved; remind them that there are almost 3,000 other American children out there (and thousands more from other countries) who have been ripped from the loving arms of their parents.

Use the following link to find out how to contact your Congressional representative:  http://www.house.gov/writerep/

(Writing is great, but PHONE CALLS ARE EVEN BETTER!)

White House switchboard:  202-456-1414

Secretary of State Clinton's office: 202-647-9572

A list of major meida outlets is here, but don't let that keep you from writing to your local papers!

Pertinent background information:
Links to Lantos Commission letters here.

Links to Lantos Commission testimony here.

Read Paul Toland's ugent plea for action here.

YOU ALL ARE PROS AT THIS BY NOW; LET'S GET IT DONE!  THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOU ONGOING EFFORTS AND COMMITTMENT!

[jlpoag]

Ok, off we go.......

[luvthelake]

Just got thru to the White House on to S.O.S

[lovellboys]

I am printing out all the information to work on this from home tonight. I'll make a pot of coffee and pull an all-nighter.
 
Anyone know where Herb Wife is?

[pptoland]

Here are the key room numbers and phone numbers in Secretary Clinton's office.  DON'T let them direct your call to low level offices such as the Office of Children's issues.  The letter from the Lantos Commission was TO Secretery Clinton and the action requested would be perfomed BY Secretary Clinton.  
 
Office of the Secretary (S)
Secretary Hillary Clinton 7th Floor 202-647-5291
Office Manager Claire Coleman 202-647-7098
Counselor and Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills 202-647-5548
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Huma Abedin 202-647-9572
Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Jacob Sullivan 202-647-9572
Scheduling Lona Valmoro 202-647-9071
Scheduling Linda Dewan 202-647-5733
Executive Assistant Joseph Macmanus 202-647-9572
Special Assistant Zia Syed 202-647-9573
Special Assistant Courtney Kramer Beale 202-647-6822
Staff Assistant Lauren Jiloty 202-647-5298
Staff Assistant Daniel Fogarty 202-647-9572

[Kimi]

I called the President's comment line to leave a message. When I called Secretary Clinton, the person that answered redirected me to Office of Children Affairs. I was glad I had the day off so that I could call. I'm going to e-mail my Congresswoman too. Hope it works!

[pptoland]

I called the President's comment line to leave a message. When I called Secretary Clinton, the person that answered redirected me to Office of Children Affairs. I was glad I had the day off so that I could call. I'm going to e-mail my Congresswoman too. Hope it works!

I knew State would try to do that.  Do NOT let them redirect you.  This was a letter to the Secretary from Congress.  OCI has no real access to the Secretary at all.  For everyone else who calls the Secretary's office, tell them  you are not inquiring about an abduction case (in which case a redirect to OCI would be appropriate).  You are instead inquiring about a letter from Congress sent directly to the Secretary which asked the SECRETARY to meet with parents.  If anything, the redirect should go to the Assistant Secretary of Legislative affairs, Richard Verna, since this issue is dealing with a Congressional Request.  Here are some numbers to that office:
 
Assistant Secretary Richard R. Verma 202-647-4204
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew M. Rooney 202-647-1050
Chief of Staff David M. Turk 202-647-1656
Congressional Correspondence Unit, Chief Cynthia Andrews 202-647-1882
Congressional Relations Specialist Roxanne Reed 202-647-2163
Congressional Relations Specialist Nick Psyhos 202-647-0609
Congressional Relations Analyst Amanda Harris 202-647-1882
House Affairs
Deputy Assistant Secretary of House Affairs David S. Adams 202-647-2623
Director of House Affairs Mark de la Iglesia 202-647-9379
Director of House Liaison Office Jennifer Schaming-Ronan 202-226-4644
Congressional Relations Specialist Janette Brockenborough 202-226-4640
East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Legislative) Karen Gatz 202-647-8439
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Shelia Menz 202-647-0752
 
The last person I listed should definitely be aware of the letters, since she belongs to the part of the State Department that specializes in Human Rights issues within Congress, and the letters are from the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US House of Representatives.  
 
Like I said, don't let them direct you to OCI, because this is NOT and OCI issue.  It's a legislative affairs and a Secretary of State issue.

[Chuckles]

Great info there, Paul.

I'd add that I'm sure that while I'm sure State is very busy dealing with the Haiti crisis, all of those Congressionally-oriented offices are perfect targets should they try to kick yo to OCI.  This is their job, to deal with requests from Congress and to advise SoS on such.

Okay folks, time to get busy.
:cheer:

[lisacallenwood]

Anyone know where Herb Wife is?

Very good question. When was the last time we heard from her? Please let me know if you hear anything.
 
Had many things to tend to today but will be up and running in the a.m.

[Nicole's Dad]

Why is there no traction on this effort especially from the other LBP's? This is a perfect opportunity to get in the face and bend the ears of DC. But no they would rather bitch and gripe about what the State Department is not doing instead of expending that energy to get them to do what they should be doing. People need to understand that there very well may be someone from the OCI reading these posts and reporting up. Remember this is a public forum.
 
I have been working my XXX off behind the scenes to get more people to join the effort here and to try and keep a concerted effort within this foundation. Hopefully we'll be having some new members soon. Even while I'm here in Brazil with Nicole. You know why? Because my child is worth every ounce of effort. After almost 4 years, she still wants to come back to Texas. How can I just give up? NOT!!!!!
 
As a LBP, I have to stay in their face in order for them to see my passion and remind them on what if this was your child what would you be doing? I am getting prompt responses from the OCI on all my inquiries at least for now. Example. I sent an e-mail yesterday and got three responses back today including a phone call here in Brazil. I believe it's because I put my Congressman and his staff on copy for every correspondence. If you are not getting help from your Congressman, go on a hunger strike on the steps of their local office. Whatever I have to do, I do it.
 
I am feeling good that I am very close to getting a visitation arrangement completed for my daughter. It's because I'm not ever giving up until Nicole gets a fair and equitable agreement to FREELY travel back and forth to and from the USA.
 
LET"S GET BUSY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!! New year + new effort = new children coming home.

[Audax]

Didn't get back from work until 8. Will be on it in the am.

[M.Capestro]

For those of you who have been here a long time - come on! This is what we're good at! Dust off those old habits and let's build some momentum. :cheer:
 
For our new members. Welcome! We ask that you please post to this thread, indicating your support of this effort - either through the placing of some calls, sending of some letters or emails, etc.
   1. It helps us to better understand the mass of people working the effort.
 
2. Seeing that others are supporting the effort helps to encourage others to jump in.
So far we've got...
 
1. Chuckles
2. jlpoag
3. luvthelake
4. lovellboys
5. pptoland
6. kimi
7. lisacallenwood
8. Nicole's Dad
9. Audax
10. M.Capestro
11. ENR
12. cjsavoie
13. kim in socal
14. pam.in.ny
 
Come on folks!
 
LET'S BE HEARD!!

[ENR]

Count me in!

[cjsavoie]

Had a very good conversation with one of the legislative liaisons on Paul's list.  Paul and I now have a meeting with her tentatively planned for next Friday in D.C.  She really seems supportive of us and was genuinely surprised at this oversight on the part of the secretary's speech writers.  She said she couldn't even imagine how disenfranchised this would make our families feel.  She personally knows all the congressmen and their staff that we have been working with and promised to give me a phone call today to update us on the status of the meetings requested in the Lantos letters.  Finally we may have a champion inside DOS but above the fray of the DCI and Japan Desk bickering...

[pptoland]

I have a quick question.  Is there any way to draw viewers/readers of the main forum over to the foundation forum, or at least make them aware of what is going on over on the foundation forum.  Viewership on the main forum averages 8 to 10 times the viewership on the foundation forum at any given time.  Usually this forum's viewership is in the single digits while the main forum is between 50 and 100 people.  It might help to get more people involved in making these phone calls.