As many of you participating in our Super Bowl Blitz have quickly found out, not all answers to the question "Is the congressman going to the Super Bowl this year?" are equal. We've gotten a slew of inconclusive replies that demand further questions. Like: "The congressman isn't planning on attending the Super Bowl." Or: "His personal schedule is not your business." And your least favorite: "Why do you need to know?"
Save for putting the congressman on the stand and under oath, there's no surefire way to get a definite response -- and even that's not a done deal. Remember former President Bill Clinton's response, "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is"? Even so, there are a few responses that may get you closer to the answer.
Here are our suggestions for tackling the common, noncommittal replies:
Their response: "The congressman isn't planning on attending the Super Bowl."
Your response: Thank you. Would you contact me if things change, if the congressman plans to attend the Super Bowl or attends it?
Their response: "It's not currently on the schedule."
Your response: Thank you. Would you contact me if the congressman plans to attend the Super Bowl or goes?
Their response: "His personal schedule is not your business."
Your answer: We've contacted hundreds of members of Congress, and most have given us an answer.
Their response: "We don't participate in surveys."
Your answer: We've contacted hundreds of members of Congress, and most have given us an answer.
Their response: "Why do you need to know?"
Your answer: ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative newsroom, is trying to find out which members of Congress are attending the Super Bowl, and I volunteered to help out. The project is public. You can get the details on its Web site, propublica.org.
Ready to start dialing again? Pick out a member of Congress on this chart, preferably ones with a star next to their names -- those are the key members of Congress whose plans we're most eager to know. The phone numbers and further call-in instructions are also available there.
