This August, just prior to a Tea Party march in Washington, DC, a blogger who claimed to be affiliated with the Tea Party published the DC home addresses of some Members of Congress. The posting was part of a 'Visitors Guide' to Washington. Last summer it was people bringing firearms to congressional town hall meetings. This summer it's an open invitation to conduct a demonstration at elected officials' homes. 'Feel free to protest,' the blogger added.

The last few years have seen an explosion in interest in advocacy, and that is generally a good thing. A CMF survey of citizens found that 44% of adult Americans had contacted Congress within the last five years. While this increased interest in exercising constitutional rights has value, one must keep in mind there is such a thing as 'bad advocacy.'

CMF firmly believes that good advocacy results in good public policy. Citizen advocates who can passionately and thoughtfully articulate how a pending policy will affect them as individuals or a group have a constructive effect on legislative outcomes. One House Democrat said it to me this way: ''The most effective way to influence a lawmaker is for a constituent to talk to a legislator about how the policy will affect the person or a particular group.'

For years, some groups and individuals have relished the act of interfering with the process of government or otherwise offending elected officials. Shutting down the Senate phone system and protesting at the congressman's home were viewed by the groups who used these tactics as victories in advocacy. But what did they really accomplish? Shouting at a Representative's kids does little to curry favor or influence the legislator to support the group's issue. In fact, it is more likely to result in the legislator's long-lived disdain for the group which organized the protest.

CMF strongly supports the right of citizens to 'petition their government for a redress of grievances.' That is why we created the Partnership for a More Perfect Union, which seeks to enrich relationships between Congress and citizens. The right to 'petition' Congress has very few limits (a Colorado court recently ruled that it is a constitutional right for a citizen to leave a pile of doggie doo with a letter to a Member of Congress). But that doesn't mean extreme measures are effective or wise.

Civility in advocacy is more effective than annoyance. Public officials respect those who respect them and the process they represent. We encourage groups who seek to influence legislative outcomes to employ reasonable and proven method, advocates to politely and persistently persuade legislators, and to refrain from tactics that appear malicious or violent.

President John F. Kennedy said, 'So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof.' That advice is not just about politeness, it's more likely to yield results.