Is it the fact that this is such an historic election that the turnout is so great; or is there something else going on? I voted for the first time 44 years ago and I have never seen the same sort of feeling that people are expressing across the country. No doubt, the young voters are turning out in mass and that is maybe the most positive sign of all, for these voters are the future, not only of this country but also of the world. After the last sad, corrupt, and depressing 8 years, people are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Not for a minute do I believe that the hopeful election of Barack Obama will solve the many problems we are facing, but at least perhaps the healing can begin. Healing our economy but also healing us, and at the same time contributing to the health of the rest of the world. Tomorrow this election is over, and regardless of the outcome, history will have been written. The ads will be over, the debates, signs will come down, campaign offices across the country will shut down, and people will return to their more normal routines. The economy will still be bad, troops will still be in Iraq and Afghanistan, and people will still be dealing with job loss and no health care. There is a lot of work ahead and if the Obama Administration is to be successful, it will take us all to be part of the solutions. We are going to have to take a new approach to things, in that we are going to have to begin to solve problems on the local level, and not always expect “them” to do it. We are going to have to begin giving our time to local needs, without expectation of “what is in it for me”. We are going to have to work on helping those on the bottom, to find a way out of poverty and thus become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Young people will need to think anew about public service, and instead of a rush to get to Wall Street, work on main street a few years giving back.
Even though our country has been severely injured from the last miserable 8 years, there is a sign of change that is sweeping the country, a sign of hope, a belief once again that America can still be great. There are those that are frightened by the election of Obama and those people must be made to feel comfortable in an Obama Administration, for if they are not, we are leaving out and losing a very important part of our society. Just like those on the bottom, the people that vote for John McCain, need to know that their security is just as important as anyone else’s, and they will not be asked to do anything that will destroy their peace and happiness. We have to face some highly divisive issues, and we must make sure that all voices are heard and that everyone’s position is acknowledged. If we can come together, realizing that it is ok to disagree on some issues, but in the end, as Obama has so eloquently put, “we are not just Republicans, or Democrats, black, white, urban, or rural but we are all Americans and together we can accomplish anything. There will be people over the next weeks that will damn either candidate, feed on negativism, offer nothing other than some absurd position that will be completely irrelevant. These people will be like the flu, in that they will be out there but like the flu will also disappear. As Barack Obama has said, “now is our time” and it is our choice what we do with it.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Two days on the ground with the Obama campaign
TWO DAYS ON THE GROUND WITH THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN:
Like many Obama supporters, I have been receiving emails with information, requests for support etc., for many months. Living in Alabama, where McCain has more support than any other southern state, the outcome is fairly certain, so other than a few dollars I felt my contributions were limited. Then, last week I got an email asking if I could come to Florida, and seeing that I live less than an hour from Pensacola I answered in the affirmative. A national person called me and asked if it would be possible for me to go to Destin, a high-end resort town about 2.5 hours to the east, as they really needed some more people there. Going to Pensacola is easy but Destin would require over night, packing, and of course the expense of spending a night or two away. But, I thought, how many times have I told my grown children that, “democracy is not a spectator sport” and therefore maybe I should get off by butt and do something besides talk. So I did. The following is a short replay of my two days.
I got to the campaign headquarters and it looked just like I would expect a Democratic “job sight” to look like. An older vacant real estate office, maybe 25 years old, basic all the way, no frills at all. The young man in charge was a 26-year-old Iraq veteran, tired looking, nursing a broken tooth that obviously was in need of a root canal. The rest, mostly women in their 50’s and 60’s, made me feel right and home, gave me a phone and voter list and said today was the last day for early voting, and start calling. After 130 calls, the poll was soon closing, so I started collating my calls. Just about what you would have guessed, working from a list of supposedly Democrats, and independents, in that some wrong numbers, some McCain supporters, some already voted, some that did not want to talk. In the end, my Obama supporters were probably 3 to 1. I guess it was around 7 that the conference call from Barack came through. I was told that there were 20,000 people on the call, which I guess in my case in a room of maybe 20, there were at least 400,000 people listening. Quite a ground game it seemed to me.
The next day started out at 9:00 with me following Justin to the Fort Walton campaign office. Once again, looked very Democratic, a step down from the other office, and more young and more black. This office----use that term loosely, outside restroom and all----was on a busy intersection, and we began our day putting out signs on the edge of the street. I was told that the day before, a protester was standing across the street holding a sign that read “Obama a baby kiler. When he opened the office, we saw two McCain signs on the floor and Justin commented that “they should not have done that”. Seems the owner of the bait and tackle shop in the other part of the building was a McCain supporter and was displaying his signs on his part of the property. Justin immediately returned the signs to the owner apologizing and “Bubba” dressed in overalls graciously acknowledged the return. Bubba was certainly close in age to me and we shook hands and talked a bit. I was struck by his remarks that one thing was for sure, this campaign had gotten lots of new voters involved, and that was a good thing. I thought, good thinking Bubba and I bet you and I could enjoy a day of fishing together, and is not that something we need in today’s politics.
Mary, a black Air Force sergeant was my canvas buddy for the day and off we went, complete with Amiriah (I’m told princess in Arabic) her 2 yr. Old. A bonus I had not expected. This was the poor part of town. Our first stop was a housing project that had just about emptied out, as people were being moved away. A mixed area, but one thing in common was everyone was poor. Young white kids that looked like you might not want to meet on a dark street at night. Young black kids that seem a bit nicer but not many McCain supporters here. And probably not a lot that were voting at all. I have grumbled about how much we have lost in the market, but these people were more concerned about the next meal and I realized once again, it is the economy stupid and these are the ones that get kicked first and hardest. I know Barack Obama saw many of these people in his community organizing days and somehow, I don’t think he will be able to forget them. I know I cannot. But there was the occasional person that had already voted and the ones that said they were going to vote and in this neighborhood, there were not many McCain signs.
That afternoon I rode with Aaron, a retired Air Force officer who had also taught government and politics. Nice to be with someone my age and mindset. We went to the other end of the spectrum, in that on the water, the price of homes is quickly in the millions. Lots more McCain signs here but also some Obama ones as well. All and all, I would say a split between the two candidates.
On my way back home, I mulled over the past day and a half and came to several conclusions. What we have heard about the “on the ground game” that Obama has-----is exactly the facts. No matter how much money he has raised, I did not see any waste. I could imagine that was stressed more than once by him, as he came from roots that were careful not to waste. Seems the opposite of what the government does. The “hope” that he has built so much of this campaign around, was palpable with these folks. Let me be clear here, there were people working so hard, neglecting family time, tired but still going strong, and some obviously financially very well off, that it was that hope that Obama keeps talking about that was making the difference. I also felt that I should have done more, than give a few dollars and a day and half of my time and how talk is so cheap but getting off the chair is where it is. I do know this, I am a bit wiser for having spent some time with these good folk and once again, I am reminded of why I tend to cast my vote with the Democrats. They do not always get it right, but who does. I want to see a political system that sees me and Bubba both make our points and then go fishing together. If Barack wins, I would hope Republicans like Powell and Hagel step forward and take the Republican Party in a new direction. This country is facing great difficulties and no matter who is elected, those difficulties will be waiting. There has never been a time that we needed more for people of all political persuasions to come together. Tomorrow can be the first step in a very long journey and it will be time to put all party’s aside and reach out as Americans. God bless America.
Like many Obama supporters, I have been receiving emails with information, requests for support etc., for many months. Living in Alabama, where McCain has more support than any other southern state, the outcome is fairly certain, so other than a few dollars I felt my contributions were limited. Then, last week I got an email asking if I could come to Florida, and seeing that I live less than an hour from Pensacola I answered in the affirmative. A national person called me and asked if it would be possible for me to go to Destin, a high-end resort town about 2.5 hours to the east, as they really needed some more people there. Going to Pensacola is easy but Destin would require over night, packing, and of course the expense of spending a night or two away. But, I thought, how many times have I told my grown children that, “democracy is not a spectator sport” and therefore maybe I should get off by butt and do something besides talk. So I did. The following is a short replay of my two days.
I got to the campaign headquarters and it looked just like I would expect a Democratic “job sight” to look like. An older vacant real estate office, maybe 25 years old, basic all the way, no frills at all. The young man in charge was a 26-year-old Iraq veteran, tired looking, nursing a broken tooth that obviously was in need of a root canal. The rest, mostly women in their 50’s and 60’s, made me feel right and home, gave me a phone and voter list and said today was the last day for early voting, and start calling. After 130 calls, the poll was soon closing, so I started collating my calls. Just about what you would have guessed, working from a list of supposedly Democrats, and independents, in that some wrong numbers, some McCain supporters, some already voted, some that did not want to talk. In the end, my Obama supporters were probably 3 to 1. I guess it was around 7 that the conference call from Barack came through. I was told that there were 20,000 people on the call, which I guess in my case in a room of maybe 20, there were at least 400,000 people listening. Quite a ground game it seemed to me.
The next day started out at 9:00 with me following Justin to the Fort Walton campaign office. Once again, looked very Democratic, a step down from the other office, and more young and more black. This office----use that term loosely, outside restroom and all----was on a busy intersection, and we began our day putting out signs on the edge of the street. I was told that the day before, a protester was standing across the street holding a sign that read “Obama a baby kiler. When he opened the office, we saw two McCain signs on the floor and Justin commented that “they should not have done that”. Seems the owner of the bait and tackle shop in the other part of the building was a McCain supporter and was displaying his signs on his part of the property. Justin immediately returned the signs to the owner apologizing and “Bubba” dressed in overalls graciously acknowledged the return. Bubba was certainly close in age to me and we shook hands and talked a bit. I was struck by his remarks that one thing was for sure, this campaign had gotten lots of new voters involved, and that was a good thing. I thought, good thinking Bubba and I bet you and I could enjoy a day of fishing together, and is not that something we need in today’s politics.
Mary, a black Air Force sergeant was my canvas buddy for the day and off we went, complete with Amiriah (I’m told princess in Arabic) her 2 yr. Old. A bonus I had not expected. This was the poor part of town. Our first stop was a housing project that had just about emptied out, as people were being moved away. A mixed area, but one thing in common was everyone was poor. Young white kids that looked like you might not want to meet on a dark street at night. Young black kids that seem a bit nicer but not many McCain supporters here. And probably not a lot that were voting at all. I have grumbled about how much we have lost in the market, but these people were more concerned about the next meal and I realized once again, it is the economy stupid and these are the ones that get kicked first and hardest. I know Barack Obama saw many of these people in his community organizing days and somehow, I don’t think he will be able to forget them. I know I cannot. But there was the occasional person that had already voted and the ones that said they were going to vote and in this neighborhood, there were not many McCain signs.
That afternoon I rode with Aaron, a retired Air Force officer who had also taught government and politics. Nice to be with someone my age and mindset. We went to the other end of the spectrum, in that on the water, the price of homes is quickly in the millions. Lots more McCain signs here but also some Obama ones as well. All and all, I would say a split between the two candidates.
On my way back home, I mulled over the past day and a half and came to several conclusions. What we have heard about the “on the ground game” that Obama has-----is exactly the facts. No matter how much money he has raised, I did not see any waste. I could imagine that was stressed more than once by him, as he came from roots that were careful not to waste. Seems the opposite of what the government does. The “hope” that he has built so much of this campaign around, was palpable with these folks. Let me be clear here, there were people working so hard, neglecting family time, tired but still going strong, and some obviously financially very well off, that it was that hope that Obama keeps talking about that was making the difference. I also felt that I should have done more, than give a few dollars and a day and half of my time and how talk is so cheap but getting off the chair is where it is. I do know this, I am a bit wiser for having spent some time with these good folk and once again, I am reminded of why I tend to cast my vote with the Democrats. They do not always get it right, but who does. I want to see a political system that sees me and Bubba both make our points and then go fishing together. If Barack wins, I would hope Republicans like Powell and Hagel step forward and take the Republican Party in a new direction. This country is facing great difficulties and no matter who is elected, those difficulties will be waiting. There has never been a time that we needed more for people of all political persuasions to come together. Tomorrow can be the first step in a very long journey and it will be time to put all party’s aside and reach out as Americans. God bless America.
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