Thank-N-Spank Accountability Toolkit:

We offer this combination of tools to respectfully create a dynamic relationship between representative and constituent. Download these FREE tools to add creativity to your citizen lobbying efforts.

For EXTRA fun and effect consider staging a Backbone Patrol visit to the office or event of your elected official. Our Backbone Patrol Action on January 29, 2007 was featured in the March 2007 episode of LibertyNewsTV (minute 9-28). Don't miss the especially entertaining song and dance routing dedicated to Senator Joseph Lieberman found below.

"Thank" = Spine "Thank You" Cards Download Options: One page Faxable form Spine Postcards (2-per page) mail or hand deliver. Bi-fold Spine Cards (2-per page) Large Format Spine Cards for office visits and special occasions. Use Spine Cards to encourage and thank your representatives. It is often most effective to thank them for one action/vote, and follow that with a request. Print Spine Cards on cardstock or normal paper then mail, fax, email or hand deliver them to your elected representatives. Urge them to demonstrate the strength of their backbone and their commitment to progressive values. Remember These are the "Carrot," and the Spineless Citations the stick, so please keep these positive. You can look up the address for your current member of Congress at Project Vote Smart: http://www.vote-smart.org/. Be sure to send all "snail mail" to their LOCAL OFFICES due to the (still unsolved???) Anthrax scare, mail to DC can take a VERRRY long time to arrive. This Backbone Campaign "Spine" cards are a reproduction of a linoleum print by Vashon Island, WA artist Kim Newall. Thank you Kim!

"Spank" = Spineless Citations See other side Download Options: One page Faxable form Emailable Word.doc form 2-per page postcard for reprinting on cardstock front and back. Directions for Issuing "Spineless Citations": The Backbone Campaign and progressives around the country work hard to get progressive language into local, state, and national platforms and candidates often run as progressives to get grassroots support. The Spineless Citation is a tool to help citizens hold elected officials accountable to their platforms and promises. Amplify Your Voice by providing us with the information necessary to fill out the form and we'll try to include your suggestions, along with those from others around the country in our periodic alerts. Anyone can send suggestions for Spineless Citations or Spine Cards to: info@backbonecampaign.org. Also, please encourage your friends and the progressive organizations you belong to use our creative accountability tools as well. The Backbone Campaign would like to thank Shanna and Jason Sawatzki for the Spineless Citation idea and design and Cathy Fulton for her many alterations. These citations are fun, attention-getting, and demonstrate the creative expansion of citizenship that we hope to foster through the Backbone Campaign.

Full Show Widows Media version Full Show Real Media version

Another Model Action: ALOHA! Help the Backbone Campaign Hit the Airwaves in Hawai'i! Hold Senators Akaka & Inouye accountable for their Spineless Vote to Drill in ANWR Listen to the Backbone Patrol Radio Ad for Hawai'i These two senators disregarded the platform resolution of the Hawaiian State Democratic Party, and undermined an important amendment to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. That's not O.K. We've thanked Senator Cantwell for her efforts, now it's time to spank these guys for putting big oil and Alaska Republicans ahead of the wishes of the rank and file in their state. We want to flood their offices with Spineless Citations from constituents and get them to reverse the damage they've done. PLEASE TAKE ACTION: Hit the donate button to help us run this ad on stations in Hawai'i (Cost is $25-$45 per spot, during Air America programing in Hawai'i) Click here to download the Spineless Citation. FYI, Democratic Party of Hawai'i State Convention, May 2004 Resolution The Backbone Patrol Heads to Dinner attended by Inouye & Stevens (R-AK) in Seattle

CAFTA CITATIONS  
Backbone Patrols says, "It's Time for Some more Spankin'& Thankin'"

On June 30th, S.1307 CAFTA or the "Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement." was approved by the U.S. Senate. On July 28th it passed in the House. Both required the support of Democrats who ingnored the urgings of progressives of many stripes, (labor, environment, anti-poverty and others). 10 Democratic Senators, including both Washington Democratic Senators* voted with the President, for this deeply flawed trade agreement. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (NV) actually co-sponsored the bill. See the chart below for all the Senate votes divided by Yeahs and Nays.

The time is now, to send a Spine Card to those who spoke against CAFTA (like Rep. Adam Smith & Inslee) and Spineless Citations to those who sided with Bush Incrorporated (In WA: Dicks, Cantwell & Murray*). Click here to read the David Sirota article that clearly outlines a pattern of behavior exhibited by 9 of the 15 on this and related legislation. Here are the 15 House Democrats who voted for CAFTA:

Melissa Bean (IL)
Jim Cooper (TN)
Henry Cuellar (TX)
Norm Dicks (WA)
Ruben Hinojosa (TX)
William Jefferson (LA)
Jim Matheson (UT)
Greg Meeks (NY)
Dennis Moore (KS)
Jim Moran (VA)
Solomon Ortiz (TX)
Ike Skelton (MO)
Vic Snyder (AR)
John Tanner (TN)
Ed Towns (NY)



And here are theb Senators, June 30th, 2005 S. 1307 (Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act )

*Washington State:
Both Washington State Democratic Senators chose to ignore the sentiments of their progressive base and voted in defiance of the spirit if not letter of a Platform resolution approved at the Washington State 2004 Democratic Party Convention, which states:

"WTO and NAFTA, as now written, undermine constitutional power of Federal and State government and fail to promote human rights, labor rights, environmental protection worldwide, and therefore the U.S. should re-negotiate said treaties or exercise its right to withdraw."

Though our resolution does not specifically name CAFTA, as a virtual carbon copy of the disastrous NAFTA. ( NAFTA being responsible for the loss of 900,000 American jobs, 1.5 million Mexican farmers displaced unable to compete with American Agribusiness) the inference was clear and any other reading disingenuous. Washington State Democrats (not to mention those Perot Republicans) as a whole oppose CAFTA. WE THRERFORE CITE SENATORS CANTWELL AND MURRAY, AND REPRESENTATIVE NORM DICKS for their Spineless Vote and Invite all of you to Join us, by sending Spineless Vote Citations.

Alito Filibuster Action  

Alito filibuster "Thank and Spank"

Thanks to your activism, there was a fight to resist Alito's confirmation. We now have a clearer understanding of who are our allies and are not. We want to reward the TWENTY-FIVE DEMOCRATS WHO STOOD UP against cloture, as well as to "spank" the NINETEEN DEMOCRATS IN THE HALL OF SHAME who voted for cloture.


Click here to download our new easy-to-use faxable/mailable Spineless Citation form, customized for the recent Alito filibuster effort.

Click here for the lists of those who deserve a "thank you" and those who deserve a "spank you."

H. Res. 505  
2 Democrats are "No Shows" on H. Res. 505

Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA, 28th) and Eni Faleomavaega (American Samoa) both failed to attend the Nov. 9th House International Relations Committee meeting and squandered their chance, or should we say privilege to vote for H. Res 505. Rep. Berman's office made clear that he would not attend and did not support the resolution. This begs the question: What kind of Democrat would stifle investigation into this corrupt administration and deny the American people the opportunity to wrench the writing of history away from these traitorous ideologues? Representative Berman should at least allow us to confirm or deny whether that label is appropriate through adequate investigation, or show up to air his views for all to witness. As for Rep. Faleomavaega, what is his office hiding by not being willing to even confirm or deny that he is in D.C. or not? If you decide to send either of these members Spineless Citations, consider letting the office of Rep. Tom Lantos, the Ranking member of the H.I.R.C of you action. For best results print out PDF and copy onto cardstock.

Featured Citation  
ALOHA!
Hit the Airwaves in Hawai'i!!
Hold Senators Akaka & Inouye
Accountable for their spineless vote to drill in ANWR
Listen to the Backbone Patrol Radio Ad for Hawai'i

1. Click the donate button to help us run this ad on stations in Hawai'i (Cost is $25-$45 per spot, during Air America programing)
2. Click here to download the Spineless Citation.