Last week, I wrote my Democrat senators from California regarding the flagburning amendment that came narrowly close to passing recently. I wrote Senator Feinstein concerning my displeasure in her voting for the amendment, then wrote Senator Boxer concerning my approval of her voting against the amendment. Since then, Senator Boxer has responded promptly to my email whereas Senator Feinstein hasn't. Why does one senator do the right thing by responding to her constituency in the proper, prompt matter, while the other doesn't? And is it true that Senator Feinstein is known for not responding to letters sent to her by her constituents?
First off, here is the reply I received from Senator Boxer:
*
Thank you for contacting me regarding S.J.Res.12, which would amend the U.S. Constitution to outlaw the desecration of the American flag. I appreciate hearing from you, and I share your opposition to this proposal.
You will be pleased to know that on June 27, 2006, S.J.Res.12 failed to pass the Senate. I am proud of my vote to defeat this proposal and defend the Constitution.
I believe the flag is a beautiful symbol of the freedom and liberty on which this proud nation has been built. But we can honor the flag and all that it stands for without having to amend the Constitution, which has only been amended 16 times since the Bill of Rights was passed in 1791.
During the debate on S.J.Res.12, some of my colleagues suggested that this amendment was necessary to honor our veterans. I think we can best honor these brave men and women by making sure they have adequate health care and mental health coverage. We can honor our troops in the field by making sure they have the equipment they need. These are the ways we honor our service members and our veterans.
We love the flag and we love our veterans. But I believe that we can do both without having to amend our Constitution.
Again, thank you for sharing your views on this important issue. Please feel free to contact me again about any issues of importance to you.
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
Please visit my website at http://boxer.senate.gov
*
In the email I sent to Senator Boxer, I specifically said there was no need to reply, yet she replied anyway. In the email I sent to Senator Feinstein, I specifically said I wanted a response before I would feel comfortable voting for her again (I'm an independent voter who has voted for her in the past). I think it speaks volumes about Barbara Boxer that she replies to her constituents even when she doesn't have to, whereas Dianne Feinstein ignores her constituents even when they tell her it is a matter in which she may lose their vote over. Both senators have pretty safe seats in California, yet one seems to be taking that for granted while the other isn't resting on her laurels. The flagburning amendment missed passing in the Senate by one vote... as far as I'm concerned, it was Barbara Boxer's vote that stopped the amendment, and Dianne Feinstein's vote that got the amendment dangerously close to passing. Had it passed, the Republicans would have been handed a weapon to use in their fight to remain in control of Congress this year, and I don't see how any Democrat could have supported such.
Needless to say, I may yet hear back from Senator Feinstein, but it should be obvious from this diary that I do not expect that to be the outcome. From talking to my family and doing a little investigation of my own, it seems that Ms. Feinstein has somewhat of a rep for not replying to letters written to her. In our representative democracy, such conduct is deplorable, especially from anybody who belongs to a party that's supposedly populist like the Democrats are. In time, such conduct may cost Senator Feinstein the seat she is currently taking for granted when she doesn't respond promptly to potential voters. Perhaps when Lieberman loses in Connecticut, senators such as Diane Feinstein will learn to straighten up and fly right when it comes to being a responsive representative to her constituency.
On a closing note, I notice there is a lot of loyalty on this site from bloggers for their own Democrat senators. I would urge any such loyal voters to write their own Senator on any pet issues they may have, if only to see that the politicians you are so dedicated to are equally dedicated to you. Unless your Senator responds to you, you are merely casting pearls unto swine.