Aquacide Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 a very interesting read this, the guy gets it. Charlotte, N.C. - There has been a lot of speculation that Barack Obama might win the election due to his better "ground game" and superior campaign organization. I had the chance to view that organization up close this month when I canvassed for him. I'm not sure I learned much about his chances, but I learned a lot about myself and about this election. Let me make it clear: I'm pretty conservative. I grew up in the suburbs. I voted for George H.W. Bush twice, and his son once. I was disappointed when Bill Clinton won, and disappointed he couldn't run again. I encouraged my son to join the military. I was proud of him in Afghanistan, and happy when he came home, and angry when he was recalled because of the invasion of Iraq. I'm white, 55, I live in the South and I'm definitely going to get a bigger tax bill if Obama wins. I am the dreaded swing voter. So you can imagine my surprise when my wife suggested we spend a Saturday morning canvassing for Obama. I have never canvassed for any candidate. But I did, of course, what most middle-aged married men do: what I was told. At the Obama headquarters, we stood in a group to receive our instructions. I wasn't the oldest, but close, and the youngest was maybe in high school. I watched a campaign organizer match up a young black man who looked to be college age with a white guy about my age to canvas together. It should not have been a big thing, but the beauty of the image did not escape me. Instead of walking the tree-lined streets near our home, my wife and I were instructed to canvass a housing project. A middle-aged white couple with clipboards could not look more out of place in this predominantly black neighborhood. We knocked on doors and voices from behind carefully locked doors shouted, "Who is it?" "We're from the Obama campaign," we'd answer. And just like that doors opened and folks with wide smiles came out on the porch to talk. Grandmothers kept one hand on their grandchildren and made sure they had all the information they needed for their son or daughter to vote for the first time. Young people came to the door rubbing sleep from their eyes to find out where they could vote early, to make sure their vote got counted. We knocked on every door we could find and checked off every name on our list. We did our job, but Obama may not have been the one who got the most out of the day's work. I learned in just those three hours that this election is not about what we think of as the "big things." It's not about taxes. I'm pretty sure mine are going to go up no matter who is elected. It's not about foreign policy. I think we'll figure out a way to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan no matter which party controls the White House, mostly because the people who live there don't want us there anymore. I don't see either of the candidates as having all the answers. I've learned that this election is about the heart of America. It's about the young people who are losing hope and the old people who have been forgotten. It's about those who have worked all their lives and never fully realized the promise of America, but see that promise for their grandchildren in Barack Obama. The poor see a chance, when they often have few. I saw hope in the eyes and faces in those doorways. My wife and I went out last weekend to knock on more doors. But this time, not because it was her idea. I don't know what it's going to do for the Obama campaign, but it's doing a lot for me. Jonathan Curley is a banker. He voted for George H.W. Bush twice and George W. Bush once. +1 in the Obama column. Disclaimer: the above may not represent the actual views of the writer, but may have been expressed sarcastically/ ironically with the sole intention of providing humour. That notwithstanding, the writer retains the right to be emotionally, psychologically or alcohol/substance impaired at the time of writing (*member formerly known as 'guernseybass') Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjftw Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 +! You think health care is expensive now?Wait until it's free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 a very interesting read this, the guy gets it. +1 in the Obama column. that's stuff I would have said to a reporter. and then I would have gone on to pull the lever for McCain/Palin. "Ok, Eddy you were right" - minivin5 "Oddly enough, Eddy is right fairly often"- TimS "Eddy is correct" - TomT "Say what you will about Eh-ddy but he actually does know a few things." - The Commish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjftw Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 You Republicans sure are good liar's.... You think health care is expensive now?Wait until it's free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saltydawg Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 We've been saying this all along...for Obama supporters, it's not about policy or platform; it's all about warm fuzzies. - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquacide Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 We've been saying this all along...for Obama supporters, it's not about policy or platform; it's all about warm fuzzies. or about increasing your knowledge, as this former conservative has done Disclaimer: the above may not represent the actual views of the writer, but may have been expressed sarcastically/ ironically with the sole intention of providing humour. That notwithstanding, the writer retains the right to be emotionally, psychologically or alcohol/substance impaired at the time of writing (*member formerly known as 'guernseybass') Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggestsquid Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 I am a 59 year old white dude from Pa and NC --- a Yankee and a Reb, so to speak. When I first heard Obama I thought what an articulate, clean, bright black guy. Sort of like the same impression as Biden has. Then I looked into his politics and thought what a marxist and dangerous candidate. Then I read about his associations and thought --- hope he never needs me to reach out. Then I looked at John McCain --- don't like his politics either however the man has done nothing other than serve his country for 50 years. I prefer to sleep at night --- I can do that if I vote for McCain. I sincerely hope that when we find out who Obama actually is he is not POTUS. Biggestsquid"You fish and then you die --- or you don't fish and die anyway. Your choice." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saltydawg Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 I've learned that this election is about the heart of America. It's about the young people who are losing hope and the old people who have been forgotten. It's about those who have worked all their lives and never fully realized the promise of America, but see that promise for their grandchildren in Barack Obam feelings, nothing mre than feelings... - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquacide Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 feelings, nothing mre than feelings... its fascinating to see ******* turn on their own. its like watching a snake eating its tail Disclaimer: the above may not represent the actual views of the writer, but may have been expressed sarcastically/ ironically with the sole intention of providing humour. That notwithstanding, the writer retains the right to be emotionally, psychologically or alcohol/substance impaired at the time of writing (*member formerly known as 'guernseybass') Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishman Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 its fascinating to see ******* turn on their own. its like watching a snake eating its tail Or a dog eating its own puke Fishman --Give a man a fish and he'll eat that day. Teach a man to fish and he'll call in sick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Purser Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Well, it was a 30 year nap but it's nice a few are finally waking up. Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed. - Herman Melville Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoffT Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Maybe this will bring us back to the good old days of political civility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newsjeff Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Is false hope better than no hope? Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice - you go eff yourself. -Billy 40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebe Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 yes. for with false hope, even if you fail, you tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesbion Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 I am a 59 year old white dude from Pa and NC --- a Yankee and a Reb, so to speak. When I first heard Obama I thought what an articulate, clean, bright black guy. Sort of like the same impression as Biden has. Then I looked into his politics and thought what a marxist and dangerous candidate. Then I read about his associations and thought --- hope he never needs me to reach out. Then I looked at John McCain --- don't like his politics either however the man has done nothing other than serve his country for 50 years. I prefer to sleep at night --- I can do that if I vote for McCain. I sincerely hope that when we find out who Obama actually is he is not POTUS. My sentiments exactly! its fascinating to see ******* turn on their own.its like watching a snake eating its tail I can't blame the fellow...and I can't blame the blacks...what else do they have from their perspective....(if you're always looking down, can you even see the road?) But for the blacks who can still think for themselves, and have not only self respect, but inner bearing and will, there is no reason to think Obama is any better than any other...and if they have a business and work ethics, they will realize that race is not the question or the answer, but how either one will influence their livelihoods. Is false hope better than no hope? That's the real question, isn't it? Is it false hope in something you can not know...when you can have hope in yourself, and your God? yes. for with false hope, even if you fail, you tried. Better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all...(right, Nebe?) But why put your hope in a man, rather than examine what he is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to register here in order to participate.
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now