Play It Forward Political Style: Kerry and The Election

[Justice]

I travel frequently, and take every opportunity to talk up Kerry as president. I recently went to Arizona, and travelled through Texas and Atlanta -- so I figured I would have lots of opportunities to speak with people that might not be solidly in Kerry's camp.

I am focused not only on convincing people to vote for Kerry, but also to give them facts about Kerry that they might repeat in their circles.

My hope is that everything I say to someone might later be repeated by them to another voter - sort of like the movie play it forward - when the recipient of a good deed does a good deed for someone else - and so on and so on. I always introduce the topic, but try to do so in a way that plays to that person's particular interests/concerns.

So, in my travels, I met a man who worked as an EMT and currently serves on his town fire commission board. I opened by saying to him in conversation - hey, I don't know what your political bent is, but you have to say, Kerry is solidly behind firefighters - do you know how hard he has fought for first responder money? Some say the firefighters were the force that helped him win the primaries. And I just heard that the police union has endorsed Kerry - did you know they endorsed Bush in 2000 but are now endorsing Kerry? The guy did not know about the endorsement and we talked about Kerry and the campaign at length.

I saw a older southern accented woman (70ish) in line at the airport. She had Richard Clarke's book in hand. I started talking to her about the book - others were listening to us. She said - she was reading it because she wanted to know the truth. After we finished talking, she turned around in line -- and then turned back to me - and said -- okay, let me ask you - do you think we should have gone to war? I said no, and gave her my reasons. Others heard us talking.

I thank everyone on DU keeping me current with facts and information so I can share this with people I meet.

[beyurslf]

1. I thought the movie was Pay It Forward..

like instead of Pay it Back.

I agree. I always bring up Kerry every chance I get.


A friend of mine is in Dallas for 2 weeks working. A couple of friends and I went there over the weekend. While we were at dinner, we discussed our distaste for Bush. The waitress heard us and stated that Bush was their Governor and we shouldn't talk so poorly of our COmmander in Cheif. She told the busboy too who also said that it wasn't smart to come to TX and diss Bush--that we should support the President in a time of war. It took 30 minutes to get our food. We didn't tip.