My Senator, Dan Coates

Mar 2nd 2011

by F. Grey Parker

Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN)

For a quarter of a century, I have been writing to elected officials regarding issues that matter to me. Since long before I could vote, in fact, it has seemed to me not only a right but also a duty to do so.

After all, this is America. It was part of the fabric of my family to be involved, to get active, to try to make a difference or at least to insist upon being heard.



As time has marched on and I have traded pen and paper for e-mail, given up the rotary phone (yes, the rotary phone) in favor of texts and Tweets and evolved from simply watching news unfold to interacting with the media itself, one thing has remained consistent; There has always been a bare minimum level of simple issue acknowledgment that one could expect from those in power. For example, whether or not a voter supported HR 3200 last year, sending a letter to their representative about HR 3200 could reasonably be expected to result in a response mentioning HR 3200 or, at the very least, health care reform generally.

In my 25 years of engaging politically, first as a citizen activist and then as an organizer and commentator, I thought that I had received every kind of reply that there was. Some have been glad-handing while others have been dismissive. There have been actual non-form letters signed by real human beings in high places. There have been the common, cookie-cutter responses (a lot of those) when I thought I deserved better. Regardless, they all did share one common characteristic. They all, to a one, referred directly to whatever issue, bill, law or initiative had been important enough for me to have made contact in the first place.

Over time, I have developed real and pleasant relationships with some members of our government. Others, less productive but still cordial. Having moved to Indiana a little over 5 years ago, I have had numerous contacts with the state's elected leaders. Although I am a progressive liberal, I have often found Sen. Richard Lugar(R) to be more thoughtful in his dealings with me than former Sen. Evan Bayh(D) ever was. My districts congressman, Rep. Pete Visclosky has been a consistently hands on advocate for the region who demonstrates both empathy and knowledge on the issues. So impressed have I been with him that I have actively campaigned on his behalf. The point is that until the last several days, I really thought I had seen it all.

I was wrong. Meet my "new" Sen. Dan Coats (R). Having left government here in Indiana years ago to make a killing as a lobbyist, he's back! Indeed, he took advantage of the recent Tea Party wave and the accompanying failure of the rest of the electorate to participate as they should have and successfully re-branded himself as "fresh" and "new" and "anti-establishment." Which is nuts. Nevertheless, he's my Senator now. He is here to serve me. That is the way it is at least supposed to appear. Correct?

There is a problem in Indiana. Sen. Dan Coats does not even attempt to feign interest in this state's citizens. I suspect he is here to make a smaller killing as a legislator before going back to make another, even larger killing as a lobbyist. Again. I believe he is the least interested legislator I have ever encountered in a quarter of a century of active citizenship. I also believe that his elitist disregard poses a disastrous threat to this state in these difficult times.

Let me tell you show you why. I have received 13 responses from him to specific issue communications in the last 6 weeks. Here they are in their entirety.

"Thank you for taking the time to contact me on issues important to you. I look forward to reviewing your email and will provide a response in the coming weeks. If you need to reach my office, please call 202-224-5623 or 317-554-0750.

 


Sincerely,
 
Dan Coats
U.S. Senator"

Get it? This has hit my inbox 13 times. This is inexcusable. It's also what every other resident of Indiana who has tried to contact Sen. Coats has received as well. Every ordinary citizen I have spoken to, that is. My Republican friends are equally alarmed. He has not even deemed it worthy to have his staff respond with placating homilies. 

As it turns out, Indiana may be the only state in the Union which actually only has one Senator. Thank you, Sen. Lugar. Sorry to hear that the state GOP has decided NOT to back your next bid for reelection.