(I will be on the Rob Port radio show on 970 WDAY today at 1:00 p.m. to discussing this issue! Click here to listen live.)
Have you heard Sen. Heitkamp’s (D-North Dakota) radio ad entitled, “Work with Anyone”? She states that she is proud of her record of working across the aisle to get results for North Dakota, yet her door has never been open for the leaders of largest public policy women’s organization in our state and in our nation, Concerned Women for America.
On Thursday June 7, a representative from Sen. Heitkamp’s office, encouraged anyone at our local phone company’s annual meeting, to reach out to the Senator to schedule an appointment when her mobile office comes to one of the nearby towns in our area.
I was hoping this could be the chance I have been denied many times, over many years, on numerous visits to Washington, D.C. Not only have I never been granted an appointment with the senator, or her staff, the former CWA state leader was also denied access. Though I knew it was a shot in the dark, I e-mailed her office that night.
Patrick Brende, Heitkamp’s scheduler, replied to my request the next day with, “Hello Linda, Thank you for requesting a meeting with Senator Heitkamp. Unfortunately, Heitkamp does not have any availability in the Cavalier area in the near future.” Surprise, surprise.
This sure doesn’t align with the message given at the meeting just the day before. At that event, it was announced with enthusiasm that the senator would be sending a mobile office to our region in order that constituents in this area of our state could be heard.
Sadly, Mr. Brende’s response is nearly identical to the one I received in April of 2017. I was in Washington, D.C., to attend the confirmation hearing of Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. As I have done repeatedly, I asked for an appointment weeks in advance. Washington, D.C. Scheduler, Stacy Austad, responded to my request, “Unfortunately Sen. Heitkamp’s schedule is completely booked the next few weeks and she is unable to meet. Thank you for the request.” The truly sad thing is that she had made the time to meet with the North Dakota Planned Parenthood. Their Facebook page documents the meeting, boasting “Our patients and providers just visited with Sen. Heitkamp – a true champion for women and families.” Of course I couldn’t help but to write about it, Heitkamp is ducking Concerned Women for America.
Sen. Heitkamp has no intention of listening to conservative North Dakota women. Is she that afraid to hear a view different than her own? The fact that Concerned Women for America of North Dakota has hundreds of members seems irrelevant to her. “Work with Anyone” is only rhetoric. I’m not fooled, are you?
Click here to listen to her campaign ad. Script: “This is Heidi Heitkamp, and six years ago I said I’d put partisanship aside and do what is right for North Dakota. Now, that meant finding Republicans and Democrats who wanted to get things done, which isn’t always easy. But it’s how I led the fight to open up markets for North Dakota oil, so we could compete with foreign oil. It’s how I passed the law giving first responders training and equipment they needed after the Casselton derailment. And putting politics aside is how we shut down the largest human trafficking website, got tougher penalties for sex trafficking, and it’s how I work with President Trump, to get rid of unnecessary EPA regulations. When I agree with the President, I vote with him and that’s over half my votes. And if his policies hurt North Dakota; he knows I’ll speak up. This is Heidi Heitkamp. I’m running for Senate, and I approve this message because Washington has enough rubber stamps who vote the party line. I only answer to you.”
Take Action: If you have a minute, and feel so inclined, please contact Sen. Heitkamp’s office and simply ask them why the Senator won’t meet with the leader of the largest state women’s organization, Concerned Women for America of North Dakota. Give them my contact information, let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of North Dakota, and let them know that you look forward to their reply.
Please pray and ask the Lord to soften Sen. Heitkamp’s heart toward the unborn.
Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
director@northdakota.cwfa.org
nd.cwfa.org