Senators’ offices flooded with scores of anti-war messages

WASHINGTON – Organizers estimated that nearly 2,000 Maine residents called Washington on Wednesday to deliver a message to Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and to the White House – “We don’t want war on Iraq.”

Phone calls to the Maine senators were part of a nationwide “virtual march” on Washington organized by the groups Win Without War and moveon.org, in which more than 200,000 people registered to call, e-mail or fax their senators’ offices and the White House and state their opposition to war with Iraq.

When registering for the virtual march, constituents had to write what they expected to say in their calls or faxes. Among Mainers’ concerns were the potential deaths of many Iraqi civilians, the money spent on war that could be better used at home, and the fear that war with Iraq would “fuel the fire of terrorism.”

“We used to be the good guys. I am dismayed that we have turned into the country most feared by the people of the world,” read one comment.

A Boothbay resident said: “I am deeply concerned about the Bush administration’s drive to war on Iraq. They have failed to convince the American public, our allies or me.”

Hope Brogunier of Bangor talked to aides in Collins’ office in Maine and told them, “I believe that an invasion by us alone is unconscionable and would instigate more terror directed at us.”

She said she is frightened by the possibility of war and appalled that the United States would continue on a path to war without more support.

“This is a step in a direction that is egregious in terms of what this country has been. We could be associated, instead of protecting peace, with unleashing the law of the jungle,” Brogunier said. “A really strong approach is a multilateral one, and we should use that strength to contain Iraq.”

Brogunier said she took part in the virtual march because she feels the issue deserves public accountability in the Senate.

“It was just another way of trying to get attention to how seriously I feel, along with so many other people, about what this administration is doing,” she said.

With the phone lines clogged on Capitol Hill, many callers made numerous attempts and still did not get through to all the offices.

“Thank goodness I have redial on my phone,” said Linden Thigpen of South Portland.

Thigpen, a veteran peace activist who organized a women’s anti-war group in Maine and marched last month in the anti-war rally in Washington, said it’s important for the U.S. government and the world to know that many Americans are against war in Iraq.

“I think that at this point, everything that we can do is very important,” she said, adding that if the United States goes to war, there probably would be more terrorist attacks.

Peter Schurman, executive director of moveon.org, said the large number of people who registered to “march” did not surprise him.

“We expected it. We know that the majority of Americans favor giving more time for the inspections,” Schurman said.

Schurman said with 140,000 people registered to make three calls each and another 80,000 faxing messages, there would be 500,000 contacts made by constituents Wednesday.

“We’re making sure that every constituent has a chance to be heard,” Schurman said. “It’s a great way to let every senator know the depth of public opposition. … In Maine, more than 1,800 people have signed up to call.”

The phone lines at the Snowe and Collins offices were clogged during much of the day, but the offices handled it well, according to the senators’ staffs.

“We’ve been receiving a number of calls. … We listen to them, treat them with courtesy and take their point of view into consideration,” said Dave Lackey, Snowe’s spokesman.

Lackey said the steady stream of calls was normal for an organized call-in effort and that Snowe always appreciates hearing from constituents so she can sense how people in Maine feel on issues.

Collins’ Washington office had received 900 calls by the end of the workday, according to spokeswoman Megan Sowards.

Sowards said while the calls were “mildly disruptive,” there was enough staff on hand to answer them courteously.

“Senator Collins’ position has always been that the use of force in Iraq ought to be the last resort,” Sowards said. She said Collins “continues to hope that the situation can be resolved diplomatically.”