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on-line petition
``` [Here's a press release from a Senator who is running an on-line petition in support of term limits. What's most interesting about it, in my view, is the list at the end of "Events Highlighting the First Congressional On-Line Petition". My guess would be that almost all of the political benefit to be gained from this exercise is in the press coverage that these subsidiary events will stir up, using the Internet more as a symbol than as a tool. Read carefully the language in the press release, and see if you can learn to write that way. Note particularly the word "first", which explains to editors why they should regard the petition as news. This is all good basic old-school politics, and I snort derisively at the received view that such things as the Congressional "Internet Caucus" signify the Internet community's arrival as a significant political force, as opposed to the arrival of the Internet itself as a gloriously useful symbol of technology, freedom, children, education, industry, prosperity, progress, and the future. The point is not that symbols are bad but that symbols are immensely powerful and inevitably contested, and that society moves in the direction of whoever can fill those symbols with a convincing version of their own values.]
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Date: Wed, 10 Apr 96 18:13:40 EST From: John_Ashcroft@ashcroft.senate.gov Subject: TERMLIMITS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, April 10, 1996
"Ashcroft Activates On-line Democracy in U.S. Senate"
(Washington, DC) -- Calling it an "experiment in electronic democracy," Missouri Senator John Ashcroft today launched an unprecedented congressional on-line petition offering the American people an innovative opportunity to participate in their government.
"We've entered an information age which redefines the way citizens can communicate and participate in our democracy," Ashcroft said. "As Washington resists change, new technologies and the Internet are providing new avenues for people to be involved in changing government. Today, I'm inviting Americans to be a part of change, and a part of history, by signing the first ever congressional on-line petition for term limits."
As the Senate prepares to consider a term limits constitutional amendment April 22-24, Senator Ashcroft announced a special Internet address (TERMLIMITS@jashcroft.senate.gov) for citizens to send a message by E-mail expressing their opinion on term limits for members of Congress.
At the news conference, Ashcroft unveiled the first Senate issue oriented Home Page (http://www.senate.gov/~ashcroft/termlimits). He conducted a computer demonstration of the Home Page features and how to sign the term limits petition.
"The American people have demanded that we change the way Washington does business. They want to be more involved in the decisions we make in Congress and they want us to operate in ways that look to the future, not to the past. Innovative ideas and new ways of doing business will play a significant role in November's elections as people seek leaders who recognize the opportunities of tomorrow," Ashcroft emphasized.
Noting the expansion of technology in our society, Ashcroft said, "The Internet is the fastest growing communications tool in the world today. In the last two years the Internet has tripled in size. The number of people using the Internet is doubling every year. Every day, more schools, libraries, offices, and homes are gaining access to on-line services."
Ashcroft sent an E-mail to members of the U.S. Senate informing them of the TERMLIMITS on-line petition effort and encouraging their participation. Over the next two weeks, he will provide updates to Senators and the public about the on-line petition results.
As chairman of the Senate term limits working group, Ashcroft has been a leader on term limits in the U.S. Senate and has authored two proposals for a term limits constitutional amendment. Last fall, Ashcroft's determined efforts prompted the first vote on term limits in the Senate in 50 years.
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Events Highlighting the First Congressional On-Line Petition:
April 11 - Senator Ashcroft on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal," 7:30-8:30 am Eastern. C-SPAN's web site links to TERMLIMITS petition
home page.
April 11 - Internet Publishing highlights TERMLIMITS home page as "Site of the Day."
April 15 - America Online sponsors Live Chat Event with Senator Ashcroft, 9:00-10:00 pm Eastern.
April 15-20 - PoliticsUSA conducts week-long "In Focus" on term limits
including links to Ashcroft's TERMLIMITS on-line petition web site.
April 15-20 - NETSCAPE includes TERMLIMITS home page link in "What's Hot" list of web sites.
April 18 - CATO Institute hosts luncheon address by Senator Ashcroft on "Emerging Technologies and the Fight for Congressional Term Limits."
April 21 - Town Hall sponsors Live Chat Event with Senator Ashcroft on
CompuServe Forum, 9:00-10:00 pm Eastern.
For more information, contact: Doreen Denny at (202) 224-6154 or Greg Harris at greg_harris@ashcroft.senate.gov.
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