My Month Long Contribution
Cross-posted over at DagBlog.
Some of you may have noticed that I haven't been commenting or posting anything for a while now. The reason is that I've decided to spend the last month of the election in Missouri volunteering full-time for the Obama campaign. It's a sacrifice I'm willing and happy to make. Missouri is on the point of tipping blue, and I want to see that it actually DOES go blue for Obama on election day. There's no reason that it can't.
About three weeks ago, I moved from Vermont to Washington state, and more specifically, the Seattle area. Both states are hardcore for Obama, so my services were practically unneeded. Missouri, on the other hand, needs all the help it can get. So last Friday, with the help of a friend of mine from school, I hopped on a Greyhound and traveled 48 hours to get here. I arrived at 4:00 in the morning, and promptly got up at 8:30 later that morning and got right to work. Since then, I've been working non-stop, phone banking and door-to-door canvassing, including a straight seven hours of door-to-door yesterday.
I have to say, it's a difficult job. It's also a stressful and frustrating job at times. But it's more rewarding than I can possibly explain. Yes, we're in some hardcore Republican turf here in the southwest of the state. But sometimes, and in increasing numbers, there are people that throw themselves out there in support of Obama. A couple of stories from just the past couple of days...
I was phone banking, and I got a guy who told me he was a lifelong Democrat, and his wife was voting for Obama. But he said, though he dislikes McCain intensely, and he loves the things Obama says, he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to vote for Obama. Why? Because he's black. This man seemed a little ashamed of the way he felt, but he said, being and older man and having grown up in the south, that he had certain prejudices, and he just couldn't help but feel that way. Yet I talked to him. "Yes, I understand the way you feel," I said. Sympathy and understanding go a long way. And eventually, he came through and told me, "You know, I think I will be voting for Obama. You can put me down for that. But don't tell nobody!" His own prejudices were eclipsed by his concern for the country, and for the American people.
Yesterday, when I was out canvassing, a kid of maybe ten years old called out to me and said, "Hey! Who're you?" As soon as I told him I was with the Obama campaign, he went to get his dad, whom he said was an undecided voter. Though his dad refused to talk to me, the kid was enthusiastic just to be able to talk to me. I asked him, "If you could vote, who would you vote for?" to which he immediately responded, "Obama!" When I asked why, he said, "I think the country is ready to have a black President." -- A 10-year-old kid. It puts a real smile on your face.
On my first day of canvassing, I was just walking down a normal suburban street, when a red car started slowly following me. I saw inside that there were two guys and a girl, and the two guys were total rednecks. I don't mean this in a prejudicial way. I went to high school in rural VT/NH. Still, in Missouri, I was a little suspicious and weirded out. Why would they be following me? They stopped their car, and the two guys got out, and asked, "Are you one of them guys registering people to vote?" I told them I was out canvassing for Barack Obama, and they immediately started inquiring how they could get registered to vote in order to vote for Obama. I admit, I was surprised. Even me, I need to stop "judging a book by its cover". Outward appearances just aren't reprisentative of inward feelings.
Although these are a couple of small instances in a few short days, they show, for me, how hungry so many people are for change. People are putting their prejudices aside, and reaching out to others in order to get involved. People are seeing the way that our country's economy is crumbling around us, and they want solutions. I can't stress enough that this all took place in the same county where, on my first day of canvassing, an old man told me, "I ain't votin' for no black man". Racism is quite apparent here. Yet the climate is shifting. Change is in the air.
I will continue to be working every day up through the election on November 4th. On the ground, you can feel the difference being made every day, with every phone call and every door knocked on. I've said before, "It's the ground game people!" Never before has that rung so true for me. Never before have I felt so excited and so enthusiastic for the future. Never before have I felt so strongly that I'm directly a part of shaping that future. Because I am. And so are you. We all our. This is our time. Let's not let it slip away.Yes. We. Can!
Some of you may have noticed that I haven't been commenting or posting anything for a while now. The reason is that I've decided to spend the last month of the election in Missouri volunteering full-time for the Obama campaign. It's a sacrifice I'm willing and happy to make. Missouri is on the point of tipping blue, and I want to see that it actually DOES go blue for Obama on election day. There's no reason that it can't.
About three weeks ago, I moved from Vermont to Washington state, and more specifically, the Seattle area. Both states are hardcore for Obama, so my services were practically unneeded. Missouri, on the other hand, needs all the help it can get. So last Friday, with the help of a friend of mine from school, I hopped on a Greyhound and traveled 48 hours to get here. I arrived at 4:00 in the morning, and promptly got up at 8:30 later that morning and got right to work. Since then, I've been working non-stop, phone banking and door-to-door canvassing, including a straight seven hours of door-to-door yesterday.
I have to say, it's a difficult job. It's also a stressful and frustrating job at times. But it's more rewarding than I can possibly explain. Yes, we're in some hardcore Republican turf here in the southwest of the state. But sometimes, and in increasing numbers, there are people that throw themselves out there in support of Obama. A couple of stories from just the past couple of days...
I was phone banking, and I got a guy who told me he was a lifelong Democrat, and his wife was voting for Obama. But he said, though he dislikes McCain intensely, and he loves the things Obama says, he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to vote for Obama. Why? Because he's black. This man seemed a little ashamed of the way he felt, but he said, being and older man and having grown up in the south, that he had certain prejudices, and he just couldn't help but feel that way. Yet I talked to him. "Yes, I understand the way you feel," I said. Sympathy and understanding go a long way. And eventually, he came through and told me, "You know, I think I will be voting for Obama. You can put me down for that. But don't tell nobody!" His own prejudices were eclipsed by his concern for the country, and for the American people.
Yesterday, when I was out canvassing, a kid of maybe ten years old called out to me and said, "Hey! Who're you?" As soon as I told him I was with the Obama campaign, he went to get his dad, whom he said was an undecided voter. Though his dad refused to talk to me, the kid was enthusiastic just to be able to talk to me. I asked him, "If you could vote, who would you vote for?" to which he immediately responded, "Obama!" When I asked why, he said, "I think the country is ready to have a black President." -- A 10-year-old kid. It puts a real smile on your face.
On my first day of canvassing, I was just walking down a normal suburban street, when a red car started slowly following me. I saw inside that there were two guys and a girl, and the two guys were total rednecks. I don't mean this in a prejudicial way. I went to high school in rural VT/NH. Still, in Missouri, I was a little suspicious and weirded out. Why would they be following me? They stopped their car, and the two guys got out, and asked, "Are you one of them guys registering people to vote?" I told them I was out canvassing for Barack Obama, and they immediately started inquiring how they could get registered to vote in order to vote for Obama. I admit, I was surprised. Even me, I need to stop "judging a book by its cover". Outward appearances just aren't reprisentative of inward feelings.
Although these are a couple of small instances in a few short days, they show, for me, how hungry so many people are for change. People are putting their prejudices aside, and reaching out to others in order to get involved. People are seeing the way that our country's economy is crumbling around us, and they want solutions. I can't stress enough that this all took place in the same county where, on my first day of canvassing, an old man told me, "I ain't votin' for no black man". Racism is quite apparent here. Yet the climate is shifting. Change is in the air.
I will continue to be working every day up through the election on November 4th. On the ground, you can feel the difference being made every day, with every phone call and every door knocked on. I've said before, "It's the ground game people!" Never before has that rung so true for me. Never before have I felt so excited and so enthusiastic for the future. Never before have I felt so strongly that I'm directly a part of shaping that future. Because I am. And so are you. We all our. This is our time. Let's not let it slip away.Yes. We. Can!
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Wow! Excellent news! Thanks for your work and thanks for sharing. Great anecdotes.
October 10, 2008 1:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nathan, Thank you so much for sharing with us. Please, I know you're busy doing important things, but please continue to post your experiences.
Your post made me proud - of you and Obama. You're a good guy Nathan and if I could get your address there, I would definitely send you 'treats'.
You are appreciated and valued. Again, I thank you.
Strongly Rec'd.
October 10, 2008 2:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Aunt Sam: I thought the same thing--if I could send Nathan a box of goodies I would. Thanks Nathan, you are doing the most important work for all of us.
October 10, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
God bless you, man. I moved from Wisconsin to Oregon, but neither seem in dire need of my services. Phone banking, I guess, and trying to unseat Gordon Smith. keep up the good work.
October 10, 2008 2:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the post Nathan. This is the first presidential campaign I have done significant volunteer work for in my life, (mostly phone banking as I'm recovering from a broken bone in my foot). Here in New Mexico it looks like we're going Blue. I have found that there are a significant number of republican voters here who seem to want to be talked down from voting for McCain. I'm not always successful in my arguments, but they listen and discuss it, and I hope they will pause before casting their ballot, (or decide to stay home). Following this weeks debate I had one Mc/P supporter tell me she removed the McCain-Palin sign from her yard and had decided to vote Obama/Biden. How cool is that? As you said, 'this is our time' and 'it is the ground game'. Keep up the good work in MO!
October 10, 2008 6:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nathan, good to see your mug again!! Great stories...I will link to this on my blog as well as pass on to the guys at 538 that are doing alot on the ground game...
I think we are going to have a lot of this reverse Bradley effect - i.e. folks not admitting they will go for Barack and then will out of economic self interest.
GA looks like we might get it done so I will be working nearly f/t starting next week here to "get 'er done" as well. Turnout early here is HUGE.
http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/jnail/blog/&blogId=4687
I think you are going to see a lot of folks who are now seeing Barack for the first time in the debates and realize that he is the real deal, even if his race is scary still. Smart, calm articulate and if they listen more like them than McCain in that he is self made and came from middle class roots. My 81 yr old mother in law in OH gets this even.
People are so afraid right now with the economic meltdown that they are paying attention like never before and competence over old age and bluster is easy to see.
The last debate and 30 minute commercial on the 28th will help normalize Barack for folks as well.
October 10, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wonderful stories! Thank you so much for what you're doing and for sharing them with us. It's very heartening indeed, and helps reduce the anxiety stoked by all these hate-speech provoked campaign incidents we keep reading about.
You're doing as important a job, if not far more, than all those folks who are soldiers, politicians, cops, leaders...educating the country and reducing ignorance is the only way to bring about peace in the world.
October 10, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks so much for working so hard!!!! Be sure to check in periodically and let us know how things are going!
October 10, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
And of course, this got double-posted. Ugh. TPM has such issues. Really. Cause it wouldn't show up for hours. Aaanyway... Thanks, everyone!!
October 10, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is great! I too have been working for the Obama campaign in one of the reddest counties in the nation: El Paso County (Colorado Springs). 80% of my work colleagues are die-hard Repugs and listen to Brush Lintball 15 hours a week. I keep working on them in subtle ways. Getting my digs in. For example explaining the truth about ACORN so-called voter fraud is actually the opposite (voter suppression). And that no, the credit crisis is not because Clinton enabled poor people to buy houses they couldn't afford. Etc. The ignorance is astounding.
October 10, 2008 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been working, but you have made a real sacrifice; I would prefer to donate to you personally since you are buying bus tickets, etc. Is there any way to do that?
I wish I could say all the ways I admire you without sounding like a groupie myself! Good for you! Keep safe, and let us here at TPM know if we can help you.
BRAVO!
October 10, 2008 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Best wishes in your endeavors in Mo. And thanks for your service to our nation.
October 10, 2008 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome Nathan! Good going, it's great that you went right into the toughest spot to work so hard. Great stories.
I will correct you on WA being hardcore for Obama though. It's a "leaning" state believe it or not. It's true that the Seattle area is very favorable to Obama but the entire eastern half of the state is very red. So in the Seattle area and Western WA in general we still need to work hard to get out the vote.
Your services are more needed where you are but I don't want any potential WA volunteers to get complacent, there is still a lot of work to be done!
October 10, 2008 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
...How did this get marked on the Muckraker? Seriously?
October 10, 2008 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, for those that would like to contact me, you can email me at nathandonarum (at) gmail (dot) com
October 10, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink