Stories from the week of September 23, 2011

COP on the Hill

Your Voice in the United States Congress

How to start your day:  On the train Thursday morning a woman sat down across from me and said I would like to write you a check.  Seems that last week she had seen me in my COP t-shirt en route to my ‘fun’ day in Congress, she asked why, I gave her a card and she had gone to the website.  She ordered a t-shirt for herself and her husband + membership fee = she wrote a 100 dollar check.  We had an excellent 30 minute chat & the shirts will arrive in about 10 days.   COP must be doing something right.

Drug Reformers = Let’s only whip slaves on Sundays between noon and two:* The bulk of the week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) were spent at the annual Congressional Black Caucus conference.  One panel talked  about essentially a kinder, gentler, more equitable drug war.  I was first up at Q & A and challenged the panel sharply with my analogy about slavery and reform. 

I was in my black preacher mode (as much as a white guy can do), as I thundered that the evil in America was prohibition and its bastard child was the war on drugs.  I urged the crowd the kill both of them and called for the legalization and regulation of all drugs.   Of the 150 in the room a solid 30-40 clapped and cheered. 

At another breakout session I focused like a laser on how children were hurt by policy.  900,000 teens selling drugs and  several  are shot every day + pedophiles are not arrested because we are flying around in helicopters, chase Snoop Dog and Charlie Sheen.  After that session 3 persons with radio shows asked me to be on their show.  Moreover, that session called for the legalization of all drugs.   Such a panel had never been allowed at the C B C conference.  The tide is turning.

Two minute drill:* A Georgia Congressman whom I had met before allowed me two minutes to make the pitch* for HR 2306. 

We love radio:   I did two programs this week and the promise of three more. 

*LEAP speaker Peter Christ gave me this phrase

*two minute drill = in American football the last two minutes of any game

*pitch = Verkaufstechnik

Stats for COP’s third year, started on August 1, 2011:

142 presentations to Congressional staffers:  3 this week

2 Letter to the Editor:  this week

2 Other media (blogs, cable TV, etc)

2 radio shows: 2 this week

5 (Member of Congress) contacts:   1 this week

Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.   Law Enforcement’s voice in opposition to current policy is vital on the Hill to achieve a repeal of federal prohibition.  COP provides that voice.   If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow.  Go to: www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to: 

COP

POB 772

Buckeystown, MD  21717

If you have questions or comments, please send an email to: howard@citizensopposingprohibition.org

COP total stats in first two years:  August 1, 2009 thru July 31, 2011)

649 Presentations to Congressional staffers

22 Appearances on major TV networks

10 published interviews in newspapers

12 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, etc

57 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $56,000)

19 brief chats with Members of Congress

13 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, etc.

6 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)

Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 140 conservative VIPs.