Obama supporters- listen up!
I think it is imperative that we talk to those undecideds in Indiana. I spoke to many good, decent folks over the weekend. Some sounded a little gruff at first, but once you cut through that, and just have a real conversation you realize that as Americans we have more in common and the same or similar concerns.
Sure some of the Wright stuff came up, but not much. One person talked about experience being an issue but said that they would consider Obama. And yes there were negative people. But overall, there are many people who just want to be reached out to.
I harped on Obama's plan to cut taxes for working and middle class folks and how that would give some relief right there. Yes, we are all being squeezed by gas prices, but having a gas-tax holiday was a temporary solution. Because then what happens to our highways? We can't leave them unattended. And what happens to those jobs? We can't afford to loose jobs.
I talked about Obama being against CAFTA, and most people don't know about CAFTA, but yes Obama was against this Central American Free Trade Agreement. He wants to protect American jobs, and remember I tell people, it was Bill Clinton that signed NAFTA into law. And Indiana lost a lot of jobs to this. I sometimes would bring up Mark Penn and how he is Clinton's head advisor who was in Colombia (where my own mother is from) trying to sell free-trade.
I mention how Obama's solutions are multi-faceted, ending price gouging, taxing oil companies, investing in alternative energy, increasing mileage standards etc. Obama is willing to tell us the hard truth at a time that we need to hear it. And that is what should matter to us as voters.
Yes one guy brought up gun control but then I asked him- well, what other issues do you care about? And I think he, just like most people care about the war and the economy. And I must say, Clinton needs to be held accountable for her war vote, it is breaking our bank and has cost 4,000 of our fellow friends and neighbors their lives. Even a former Vietnam vet and a registered GOP told me that he was also against this war from the beginning, even though he did value McCain's service. It seems like some GOPS are feeling disenchanted with the Republican party and what they've done.
It was interesting that several people were so frustrated that they didn't support anyone, but when we broke it down, realized that McCain isn't the right candidate- as a former vet he isn't even supporting the Webb Veterans Benefits bill. I mentioned that Obama very much wants to help veterans, and fund their needs. And I repeated that line Obama says, something to the effect of, these men and women in uniform have done everything we've asked of them.
One thing I see is that yes, there are many undecided people in IN, and maybe they will end up voting for Clinton, but believe me that have an interest in Obama, they are just afraid to vote for him, afraid to change their mind, or have a change of heart. Change is not easy to come by, anywhere, for anyone.
But I tried to get the message accross, that Obama is trying to bring us all together and fix this nation and he loves this nation and wants to make it better, for everyone, and as a nation we may not have this opportunity again to vote for someone like this.
So if you have time, we can make history, please go to barackobama.com and make calls to Indiana, but if and when you do, have a real conversation, cut through the lables we put on ourselves and really reach out to your fellow Americans, and talk about the real issues, not the distractions, and convince people to vote for a change that we can believe in, a change that we need to get us on the right track. We have all day today to make calls, PLEASE HELP US!





Very nice report. It goes well with what Real History Lisa has shared with us over at Booman Tribune.
May 5, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
People are afraid to vote for Obama because they are afraid of change? Maybe they see his "change" theme as the audacity of hype.
May 5, 2008 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Otto, if you had done your homework, you would know that the only changes Obama wants are the changes the American people want.
May 5, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe they've been scared by the Bushies for so long they don't know how to be anything but scared anymore. Then along comes HRC and scares them some more. Great. Just great.
May 5, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Otto has cerebration issues.
May 5, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
...and he plagiarizes Joe Wilson.
May 5, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Otto the Racist Inbred Springer reject has another brain fart.
May 5, 2008 7:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or, maybe they're just afraid.
There have certainly been no shortage of FUD'sters and surrogates and the campaign herself who've done everything they can to play to that fear.
You're just singing in that sad, sad, timid little choir. You Otto know better.
May 6, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
If anyone brings up Obama's experience just tell them the truth. He'll be older on inauguration day than JFK, And Bill Clinton were when they took office. He has exactly the same experience Abe Lincoln had when he took office. 8 years in the Il Senate and 4 in the Washington. (Lincoln was a congressman who got booted out of office for not supporting a stupid war, the Mexican-American.)
May 5, 2008 8:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
BTW I was in Lafayette all day Saturday and Dyer IN today. Going back tomorrow.
I tell them about the phony gas tax holiday and how Bush will never sign a windfall profit tax on the oil companies. The kicker is you can vote someone like McCain or Clinton who tells you what you want to hear even they know it's a lie or you can vote for someone who treats you like an adult and doesn't make phony promises.
May 5, 2008 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Though I don't think a "gas tax holiday" could pass Congress, especially if it doesn't contain an offsetting "windfall profits tax"; If such a bill were to pass, the two components would be in the same package and Bush doesn't have a line-item veto, so he'd be able to either sign the bill or not.
May 6, 2008 4:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have been on the phone with family in Indiana all weekend. They don't want to hear it anymore. I have told them that the only way forward is Change and that the Hope Obama brings will make everyones life better but they are now throwing it back at me that Obama doesn't care about fuel cost. That guy Avery isn't helping either. When will Obama drop him? My whole family feels Obama is just a city black who hates anyone not like him. They are all racist!
May 5, 2008 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
It isn't that Obama doesn't care about fuel costs, he voted for it before in Illinois, and witnessed that the gas prices didn't go down as the demand went up, and the prices rose anyway. So the Oil companies got the windfall, pocketing the profits from the steep rise in price, and consumers still paid higher prices.
The long-term strategy is of course to reduce dependence on this particular form of energy, and to invest in viable alternatives to make energy affordable and clean.
The only candidate out of the 3 who is genuinely on *our* side, and not the Washington and Wall St Establishment side is Obama. That is the only reason to vote for him. They're both DEEP in the pockets of the Lobbyists, MNCs, Bankers, etc.
Maybe I'm wrong, and he'll prove to be an insider once in office, but there's no choice now, we've got to HOPE. That's what it means, HOPE. Hope that there is someone who will take our side as we face a more shaky and uncertain future, someone who will watch out for our interest for a change.
May 6, 2008 12:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
After tomorrow we have a some time before the next contests. My state went for Obama by a large margin, yet my Senators and Congressman are still supporting Hillary. I am writing them and calling their offices and asking them to reconsider. I am also pointing out the specific things about Hillarys campaign that I find unsavory and asking them if they condone this kind of campaigning. I make it clear that their responses are something I will consider when they are on the ballot next time.
May 6, 2008 2:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like Obama in landslides in both states according to Zogby. Why worry?
May 6, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
People want change but are afraid of it! Well, don't be! Look how much Bush changed this country for the worse!
Please go vote for a change that we can believe in, that we need to get this country on the right track! Don't listen to the polls because your vote is what matters everyone! Good luck, we are all watching and hoping you do vote for Sentor Obama so that we can change this world and this nation!
May 6, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm all for convincing these people to vote for Obama, but I'm getting pretty seriously sick of these voters who want to be "reached out to." The candidates have been "reaching out" to voters for months - are they so lazy that they need someone to show up at their door and tell them how to vote?
Maybe I'm just resentful, but as this contest drags on, I feel more and more that the voters in whatever state happens to be the battleground of the week are entitled and willfully ignorant. With each new primary, you can see them hemming and hawing about why they are undecided, and they invariably end up blaming it on the candidates: "I want to hear their stance on health care, I don't think they've talked about that."
Of course, mentioning that the candidates have talked about health care in every single one of the 21 debates would serve no purpose. Now that their votes are suddenly so important, they are going to milk this experience for everything they're worth until they're forced to leave the limelight.
And we wonder why candidates pander ...
May 6, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why worry after the Zogby poll, you ask? Please read article today on Indiana voter registration rejections which means -- surprise, surprise -- that it is college students and black neighborhoods who are negatively affected. Still not worried? Read RFK, Jr.'s June '06 article in Rolling Stone that exhaustively documents (with footnotes) the various kinds of voter fraud that were successfully implemented in both the 2000 and 2004 elections. Perhaps this is why HRC has booked a ballroom for tonight in Indiannapolis and her spokesperson is confident that she will win. The Clinton campaign has borrowed every other trick from the Rove-inspired playbook. Why not voter registration blocks as well? Where is the MSM on this issue? I despair.
May 6, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink