No matter how many letters or phone calls they receive, some elected representatives or candidates will not be persuaded that your issue is important. Bird-dogging is a way to elicit and publicize a candidate's views on an issue. This process entails showing up at candidates' events repeatedly, asking them to commit to the specific policy you are advocating, and asking them questions they don't want to answer in order to get them on the record and to educate those present about your issue. This method is also useful during non-campaign years, when the incumbent representative or senator is holding a local town meeting.

Bird-dogging allows you not only to raise the issue of US policy toward Latin America (or a specific Latin America country/issue) on your own terms, but also helps strengthen your local coalition by investing members in a collective action. Below is a proposed model for a bird-dogging team or committee; roles could each be filled by one person, or shared by teams of two or more.

Bird-Dogging in the Presidential Primaries.

This can be especially effective in the early primaries, which are heavily covered by the media. A few well-thought out questions in public meetings can get reported in the national press. 

If you'd like to raise Colombia issues during the primaries, please click here to see sample questions and ideas on bird-dogging strategy on Colombia issues.

NOTE: Up-to-date information on local or state candidates ( http://capwiz.com/bread/home/ ) and primary election dates ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/elections/2004/ ) may be found by clicking on the above links. By using your ZIP code, you may also search for your local candidates.

A Bird-Dogging Team

Here's a formula for how five people can effectively and persistently raise the issue of Latin America policy with candidates or incumbents, encouraging them to take a position.

The scheduler monitors local press reports, checks with campaign offices and web sites, and calls other organizations to determine the candidates schedule of public appearances. This work should be done as far ahead of time as possible. Generally, a candidate's events are mapped out days if not weeks in advance.

The phone tree coordinator keeps a list of volunteers willing to bird-dog and calls to alert them about candidate forums and appearances where questions about US policy towards Latin America can be raised.

The researcher attempts to obtain statements the candidate has made about Latin America policy by monitoring local press. If the candidate is an incumbent, s/he can get voting records from the Latin America Working Group (www.lawg.org) or other local or national groups.

The question writer drafts questions, reviewed by the rest of the team, to be asked by bird-doggers. If several people will attend an event, determine beforehand who will be the primary question asker. Also determine which questions have priority. LAWG has proposed questions for Colombia and Cuba; click here for more information. 

Last, the tactical planner finds out the format of the event and the logistics of how to get there, the parking situation, and other essentials. This person determines whether leafleting or a protest demonstration might also be advisable.

Adapted from: Peace Action and 20/20 Vision