CALL TO ACTION #975: Get the Word to Trump’s Base: Follow Science, Not Trump (July 29, 2020)
97 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
Our Recommendations for November
What Voting Blue means to us: We Steering Committee members are pragmatic progressives with no “purity or litmus tests” for our key issues. Rather, we will support the candidate that comes closest to our positions, which means that moderate Joe Biden is much preferred to fascist Donald Trump. And, electability matters; one can’t govern from the sidelines. Sometimes that means backing someone who looks less blue than their opponent, someone who is in a better position to be elected and actually help us. Finally, some candidates might want us to maintain our distance for political reasons specific to their constituencies. We respect that, so people we would otherwise recommend may be missing from this list.
President: Joe Biden
U.S. Senate: Jeff Merkley
U.S. Congress CD2: Alex Spenser
Secretary of State: Shemia Fagan
State Treasurer: Tobias Read
State Attorney General: Ellen Rosenblum
State House District 4: Mary Middleton
State House District 5: Pam Marsh
State House District 6: Alberto Enriquez
Jackson County Commissioner: Terrie Martin
***Today’s Call To Action***
Get the Word to Trump’s Base
Follow Science, Not Trump
Fact: America could be four to six weeks away from beating C-19. That was true at the beginning of the outbreak, it’s true now and—without any behavior changes—will be true into the future. “It could have stopped quickly and easily,” Trump acknowledged last week.
What went wrong? Three things:
- Irrational “leadership” peddling false and misleading information, and not following guidance from the experts,
- The politicization of basic public health measures leading to fights over masks, “liberating” states and reopening schools,
- Decades of GOP campaigning to undermine all science, especially climate change research, eroding the public’s faith in reason.
When science gets an upper hand, Trump’s followers threaten violence.
Across the country, public health officials have been threatened, and many have resigned. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, and a Trump target, has been assigned personal security after receiving “serious threats” to him and his family.
C-19 is not a hoax or a deep state conspiracy—it’s a viral disease well understood by science. We can stop it in a matter of weeks by washing our hands, wearing masks and social distancing. That’s the easy part.
The more urgent task is restoring faith in science. Without that, we are doomed.
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We are losing the C-19 war only because Trump refuses to follow expert advice. Instead, he trades in lies and conspiracies. We need the Senator to stand up for science, for truth, and call out misinformation—especially when it’s coming from the White House.
- Pass along guidance from experts like Fauci and Tom Frieden, former CDC director.
- Call out Trump’s lies from the floor of the Senate.
- Keep stating that the only way we end this outbreak is to listen to the experts.
Please also thank the Senator for fighting for coronavirus relief funding that helps ordinary people, and for his efforts to get the federal cops out of Portland.
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].
Enough is enough! It’s time for Greg Walden to face the facts! We are losing the C-19 war only because Trump refuses to follow expert advice. Instead, he trades in lies and conspiracies. Tell Greg to stand up for science, for truth, and to call out misinformation especially when it’s coming from the White House. Is that something Greg can do? If not, can he explain what he has against truth?
Where’s Walden? History is watching; Greg’s legacy is at stake.
Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDENDC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: CALL GOVERNOR KATE BROWN**
Governor Kate Brown Phone: 503-378-4582 Trump’s militarized DHS forces who have invaded Portland are acting without restraint or accountability. They are suppressing free speech and terrorizing peaceful protesters. I want to thank the governor for calling for them to leave and speaking out against Trump’s abuse of power. But I am asking for more. Every night that the DHS continues to march on Portland streets, more people are endangered. I am asking for real action to get DHS forces out of Portland now. And action necessary, up to and including use of the Oregon National Guard, to protect all Oregonians on the streets of Portland.
**ACTION FOUR: BE AN ACTIVIST**
July 29, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
#MyORHealth Support is available for Oregon’s “helpers”
Lines for Life has created a Virtual Wellness Room to offer support to helpers, mental health professionals, first responders, social workers and anyone considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Each check-in call will have a facilitator to guide the conversation.
“We at Lines for Life want to thank you for all the work you do to keep our communities safe,” the organization said. “We are offering a place for helpers to exchange stories of hope and areas of need. We especially want to hear what things are coming up for you personally and explore how we can cheer one another on to continue the good work you are already doing. We ultimately want to create space to breathe out stress and breathe in hope.”
The meetings are held using Zoom conference calls from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://zoom.us/j/4848426773. Please share this invite with anyone in your network of Oregon helpers.
Letters to Voters Garden and Zoom Parties – Medford (And Your Homes)
August 4 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Ongoing, every Tuesday
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/letters-to-voters-garden-and-zoom-parties-medford-and-your-homes/
Ongoing Action: ORD2 Indivisible Virtual Postcard and Letter Writing Parties
Postcards to Voters:
Our postcard team is temporarily suspending the delivery of postcards to your door. However, the good news is that you will find everything you need to continue writing from home (including templates to print your own or purchase pre-printed cards) here: https://postcardstovoters.org
You can sign up through https://postcardstovoters.org/volunteer/
To avoid unnecessary trips to the post office, order stamps directly from the USPS:
https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/coral-reefs-postcard-stamp-S_745104
…and voila, you’re ready to go! Send an e-mail to with any questions.
Letters to Voters
We encourage our team of volunteers to sign up with Swing Left to start writing letters to voters in 12 swing states. It is super easy to join. Check out their website, sign up, and let’s start writing! https://swingleft.org/
Send an e-mail to if you would like more information about how to get involved.
Correction:
Virtual Letter-writing Parties
We encourage you to join virtual letter-writing parties hosted by Oregon Indivisible / Swing Left. The parties are held at noon every Saturday and on the last Tuesday of every month. Here are the links for the next two parties:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/267146/
**Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/
SOURCES:
Business Insider, July 29, 2020: Social media to blame for the spread of COVID conspiracies, Gates says
NBC News, July 28, 2020: Twitter removes tweet highlighted by Trump falsely claiming COVID-19 ‘cure’
Washington Post, July 27, 2020: Why doesn’t Trump try harder to solve the coronavirus crisis?
Andy Slavitt on Twitter, July 26, 2020: “COVID Update July 26: We can virtually eliminate the virus any time we decide to.”
Business Insider, July 24: Fauci assigned security after threats to himself and family
The Hill, July 28, 2020: Fauci responds to Trump tweet: ‘I have not been misleading the American public under any circumstances’ | TheHill
Washington Post, July 28, 2020: Twitter penalizes Donald Trump Jr. for posting misleading Stella Immanuel coronavirus video – The Washington Post
Wired, July 27, 2020: Some Countries Reopened Schools. What Did They Learn About Kids and Covid? | WIRED
Washington Post, July 25, 2020: Houston, Miami, other cities face shortage of health care workers to fight coronavirus – The Washington Post
New York Times, July 14, 2020: Why We’re Losing the Battle With Covid-19 – The New York Times
