Contact the Presidential candidates NOW

From Amnesty International USA:

Urge the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates to lead their political parties to include Reject Torture planks in their party platforms.

Contact the presidential candidates NOW—time is of the essence. INSIST: "No Torture. No Exceptions."

CALL

Senator John McCain
Phone: (202) 224-2235 • Fax: (202) 228-2862

Senator Barack Obama
Phone: (202) 224-2854 • Fax: (202) 228-4260

WRITE

Senator John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Fax: (202) 228-2862

Senator Barack Obama
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Fax: (202) 228-4260

TIPS

• Be bipartisan in spirit. AIUSA does not favor or oppose any candidate for public office.
• Limit yourself to the issue of torture and its rejection
• Keep in mind it is your own concern you are voicing, rejecting torture matters to you

FOR CALLS

• Expect a staffer to answer your call. (You are calling the candidate's Senatorial office, which is better equipped than campaign headquarters to receive comment on public issues.)
• Be respectful, courteous, and to the point. Ask: “Are you the person I should speak to in order to convey a message to Senator [Name]?”
  -If “Yes” (or you are connected you to another person): introduce yourself and say where you are from.
  -If asked 'is it a campaign or legislative issue?' say 'legislative' (your concern about torture is more than a campaign matter): introduce yourself and say where you are from.
• Say you are calling:
  -to tell him that halting the U.S. government’s use of torture is a priority concern for you
  -to urge Senator [Name] to lead his party at the [name Party] Convention to adopt a party platform plank that rejects torture absolutely. "No Torture. No Exceptions."
  [Prior to the general election each political party at its convention adopts a program/platform with policies/planks it pledges to uphold.]
• If you can, add why this is important. Here are good points to choose from: -torture is immoral -torture is illegal under U.S. and international law -torture is contrary to the best of American values -military and intelligence experts have said torture is ineffective

FOR LETTERS

• Address your letter or fax: Dear Senator McCain, Dear Senator Obama
• Be respectful and polite in what you write.
• Let Senator [Name] know why you are writing him: to urge a Reject Torture plank in the [name] Party platform
• Why torture is an important issue to you:
  -torture is immoral
  -torture is illegal under U.S. and international law
  -torture is contrary to the best of American values
  -military and intelligence experts have said torture is ineffective
• Conclude by urging Senator [Name] to lead the [name] Party to adopt a platform plank that says “No Torture. No Exceptions.”
• Under your signature, print your name and home address