V
irginia
C
apitol
C
onnections
, S
pring
2013
6
Grassroots
Lobbying
in the General Assembly
By Michael E. Belefski
Political campaigns today for the most part have abandoned the traditional celluloid button
for the easy on and off temporary sticker. These ‘stick-on’ lapel stickers are the most frequently
used medium of personal support in political campaigns.
Since the beginning of the 20th Century, delegates, alternate delegates, guests and media
attending national, state or local Democratic, Republican, or Third Party nominating conventions
and general election campaigns have worn celluloid ‘pinback’ buttons of all different colors,
designs and shapes to communicate their enthusiastic support for favorite political candidates
and for critical issues and personal causes that they believe in attached on their clothing lapel or
decorative hats.
But year after year, from January to March, political celluloid buttons remain alive and well
on many citizen volunteers and lobbyists who wear their buttons when the Virginia General
Assembly, the oldest continuous legislative body, is in session.
Each session, various citizen groups come from different areas of the Commonwealth with
enthusiastic volunteers to lobby on the nine floors of the General Assembly Building. These
volunteers frequently sport their unique buttons of choice to show their grassroots support.
