Bird-dogging

Bird-dogging is a tactic that many organizations and concerned citizens, use to pressure candidates or elected representatives to take a public stance on an issue, or to question a stance that they have already taken. It usually consists of one or more bird-doggers who go to a public event where a candidate or elected representative, such as a Member of Congress or a U.S. Senator, will appear. The bird-doggers ask pointed questions about issues they care about in order to elicit a response and educate the media and voters.  Because members of the media often attend these events, bird-dogging plays an important role in getting candidates’ positions “on record.”  We all know that politicians don’t always keep their promises once they’re elected, so this is a vital part of holding them accountable to their constituents.

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Download Document: Bird-Dog Manual.doc