Bird-dogging is a tactic used to directly engage policy makers when they make public appearances at campaign events, town meetings, or speeches. The aim is to put tough questions to elected officials or candidates and force them to answer when they are in front of their constituents, voters, and the media. To promote bird-dogging as a strategy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the 08.Stop.AIDS campaign developed a guide for its partners Birddogging 101. Although the guide centers on the issue of HIV/ AIDS policy, it is a helpful how-to manual for all issue advocates on using bird-dogging as an effective advocacy strategy. Here is a summary and some examples:

As 08.stop.AIDS puts it, bird-dogging seeks answers from policymakers when they are "outside of the protective bubble of Washington." The objective of the 08stopAIDS campaign, a partnership of HIV/ AIDS advocacy groups, is to prioritize the issue of HIV/ AIDS on the presidential campaign agenda. The campaign has a comprehensive strategy that involves diverse tactics, and bird-dogging is a primary one. The coalition believes their efforts will place pressure on the next president to enact the policies necessary to help those currently living with HIV/ AIDS and to prevent more people from being infected.

This tactic can also be used to influence legislators at the state and local level, mayors, governors and members of Congress when legislation important to your organization is being considered. The key steps are listed below, followed by some examples of successful bird-dogging efforts.

Key steps to successful birddogging outing, as outlined in the 08.stop.AIDS guide, are:

1. Get an event Find out where candidates and elected officials are planning to make appearances by monitoring campaign websites and email lists, calling staff members, and checking local media.

2. Get a posse Having a group of advocates attend an event, rather than just one individual, will minimize any intimidation you might feel and will also increase the chances you will be able to ask questions of the policymakers.

3. Get a plan together with your crew Plan and practice your strategy in advance with your fellow birddoggers. Write down the questions you intend to ask. Strategize on value of signs, chants, and other materials, as necessitated by the type of event.

4. Get good seats, which means arriving early! Get seats as close to where the policymaker will speak as possible. Have your fellow birddoggers spread out: it will increase the number of questions you will be able to ask.

5. Get your hand up first, fast, and high Putting your hand up first is critical to being called on during a Q&A session. Do so even before the speaker or moderator asks for questions.

6. Get a handshake and a photo, and an autograph and AN ANSWER! Handshake lines and photo opportunities present opportunities to ask politicians questions, and force them to give answers.

7. Get quoted Speak to the press with ready statements and your thoughts on how the policymaker addressed your issue of concern.

8. Get a report out Publicize your efforts and the results among other advocates. Let them know what you did and said and how the policymaker responded.

9. Repeat!

Examples

Kaytee Riek of Health GAP (Global Access Project), a 08.Stop.AIDS partner, cited three examples of how bird-dogging has been used successfully in the area of HIV/AIDS policy:

• 1999/2000: Birddogging forced Vice-President Al Gore to support generic competition for medicine in South Africa, which he had adamantly opposed before people protested Gore on the campaign trail. This policy change effectively lowered the price of AIDS drugs worldwide from $15,000 to $350 in 10 months.

• 2003/2004: Questions from birddoggers compelled all 8 Democratic Party candidates for President to support a bold global AIDS plan based directly on the strategy promoted by 04.stop.AIDS plan. As the nominee, Senator John Kerry was a leading champion of global AIDS funding and regularly called attention to President Bush's failures on AIDS.

• 2007/ 2008: Birddogging tactics obliged Senators John Edwards and Barack Obama to release plans modeled on the 08.Stop.AIDS platform and successfully pushed Governor Bill Richardson and Senator Joe Biden to support the concepts of the platform. The Republicans have become increasingly less resistant to funding for global AIDS initiatives.