Conservative activists who are coming to Washington, D.C., this week have been told to leave the colonial costumes and protest signs at home.

Tea party groups are working with the system this week, hosting a lobby day that seems to be a departure from last year's anti-government protests. Some of the activists, at least, are finding it useful to work with elected lawmakers to block President Obama's health care plan.

Tea Party Patriots, the biggest union among the activists, and conservative advocacy group FreedomWorks are leading Tuesday's lobby day.

Activists should "dress in normal clothes," the organizers wrote, reminding them to be polite and professional   when meeting with lawmakers.

"We will treat them with the respect they have not (yet) shown us," they added.

They plan to offer lobbying tips and send the activists off to meet with Democratic lawmakers who are still undecided on whether to vote for the overhaul.

At the same time, Tea Party Express and the American Grassroots Coalition are launching a more familiar tactic. They are organizing a rally on Capitol Hill with Republican supporters   like Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.) to blast "Obamacare."

-- Ambreen Ali, Congress.org