I think I had the best day today.

[OhioBlue]

It started out pretty crazy. I had a small group that was willing to canvass in a VERY small little town - not even a town really just the part of a township with cross roads and the most houses and some broken up sidewalks. I was expecting 3 other people - 5 showed up.

In the POURING RAIN! They had rain coats, umbrellas and a determination. I had already called my field director at the last minute and said that I need to turn this into a phone bank. I cannot send our volunteers out in this storm - some places didn't even have sidewalks and I was concerned for their safety, let alone the semis that would be spraying water all over them when they went by.

My slow ink jet printer was able to print out about 20 pages of a call list at the very last minute - so I took that with me, expecting that I might not find that anyone showed up due to the weather. But... they were there! So, we phoned (with our cell phones) the few call sheets that I was able to print out. They were all new to this. But, they made the calls, we had some conversation and planned to meet again next week.

Then, I went to HQ to enter my data. A woman came into the office. She blew me away. She destroyed any unfair stereotype that I might have laid on her.

She was a woman in her 60s with a Southern accent. She asked where she could get some yard signs or bumper stickers. We were out. She got a button and donated $2 to our office. I asked her if she would like to help out. She said, well she didn't know b/c she didn't have much "book learnin'". I told her it didn't matter, we would help her and she could help out in a lot of ways.

I asked her if she would sign a volunteer card. She asked me to fill it out for her and said that she would sign it (I didn't really need a signature - just the contact info). Then, she asked for a voter registration form for her husband. I gave her one. She said she told him he had to register this year to vote. He is 68. He didn't understand her interest in this election. She said she had been watching and just really likes Barack. She's never been interested before. She is going to make him vote. I gave her some literature on other local candidates - she kept asking me if they were "good". She said she has only voted for President before.

Before she left, she said that she really wanted to get one of them yard posters when they came in... how incredibly sweet is that? I love this woman and I don't even know her. She brought happy tears to my eyes.

Not that it matters, but she was white. From her age and accent, I would guess that she grew up in the segregated south. Barack Obama is the first candidate that has inspired her to make her husband register to vote, to follow the political process and to get a "yard poster".

It is amazing how we don't realize how much we touch each others' lives. She (and the dedicated volunteers) gave me the fuel to keep going when the morning started off with me in a panic... This is a wonderful campaign - I've never experienced anything like it and I'm so glad to be able to have this life experience. I will treasure it forever.

[Hugin]

1. It makes me happy that you had a good day.

Seriously. :)

[Starry Messenger]

2. Thank you OhioBlue.

I love stories like this. Thank you!

[flamingdem]

3. You're a trooper OhioBlue

Thanks

[madeline_con]

4. Your assumption about southern white women aside,

the rest of your post is o.k. :hi: from a southern white woman...

[OhioBlue]

8. I agree. that's why I called unfair.

I probably should have explained better - I said might... since she came into our office I didn't worry.

But to be honest, the flip side of my amazing experiences is also that I am seeing some attitudes during canvassing and talking to people that makes me sad. If I had knocked on her door and she had answered, I probably would have braced myself for something other than a strong support of Barack.

Your point is very valid - and being proven to me every day. Assumptions are crap. I registered an Obama voter last weekend at a house that I never would have pegged as supporters. The guy had on a NASCAR tee, fenced in yard with dogs, car up on blocks, etc. The wife was registered and supporting Obama - he wasn't registered but I registered him to vote. They were the nicest couple and both supporters. (Actually - I might fit that stereo type... live in a trailer, own NASCAR tees, have gone to races, etc...)

Then there are the educated, professionals that I have talked to that ask me if it bothers me that he is a Muslim.... throws me for a loop every time, but I just talk to them and explain that he isn't, (wouldn't matter to me personally anyway...) but then talk to them about the issues and try to debunk any chain mail or other stuff that they are wondering about.

[madeline_con]

10. Hubby drives a truck, has NASCAR stickers and an Obama

sticker on it, he fishes, we own firearms, we have a bull dog, etc.

He's actrually done a complete 180 from a few years ago, just from listening to satellite radio. :)

[OhioBlue]

12. lol... sounds like my b/f.

He's a welder - we both like NASCAR (although - my attention span isn't in it like it was.. after having a baby... just too busy) He hunts, cuts wood for the outdoor wood furnace that he built... he would probably fish if he had the time. He can't give up hunting tho - it is nice to put some meat in the freezer - but I wonder if it really pays off after all the money he puts into it. But, he lets me have my time to do political stuff - so I feel that I have support his past time of hunting. He only hunts cross bow tho - he doesn't like the shot gun season and driving.

[abumbyanyothername]

18. Door knocking

First of all let me thank you so much for working so hard in an area where it really, really, really matters!

Secondly, congratulations on your experience. I had a similarly moving experience in '04 working the NV GOTV for Kerry.

Finally, I would encourage all canvassers to deal with resistance, by stating, "well, even though we see things differently, I can respect your right to your own opinion. I really hope that whoever wins, we have a country that moves more toward coming together instead of pulling apart."

[FrenchieCat]

5. That's what is happening all over the place,

no matter what the media tells us.

The media reported that Sarah's Alaska rally was packed to the gills!



and see the protestors against Scary Sarah parade right here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNlcYaEOLRM

[nevergiveup]

6. I had a similar experience yesterday

An older white neighbor lady who I always assumed was a right-wing Republican kind of person. She came over to see if she could leave her car in my driveway and when she saw my Obama sticker she pointed to it and said "I love that man". We talked for a long time. This will be her first time voting for a Democrat for president but she doesn't talk about it with her friends because she thinks they all will probably be voting Republican. She said her 95 yr old mother might also vote for Obama. It made my day.

[OhioBlue]

9. WONDERFUL!

almost exact same experience here - my 75 year old Republican neighbor is voting Obama! So is her Republican daughter that lives next to her.

[stillcool]

7. you brought 'happy tears' to my eyes!

Could it possibly be that we Americans can get it together and elect a real President for the people? Yes We Can!!

[eshfemme]

11. It's you field volunteers that make Obama so incredible because YOU're awesome.

:hug:

I've heard people say that with how fragmented this society is and how detached technology makes, it's ironic that the Internet increases that need for us to connect as a community and on a personal level. Obama tapped into that desire to our benefit.

Check this video out for a nice succinct illustration of what I'm talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE

[OhioBlue]

14. thank you.

it is hard sometimes. I work full-time, have a little boy that is just 13 mos. He's just starting to walk and it is such an exciting time in his life. I keep reminding myself that I'm volunteering for his future.. and all of ours.

He's been canvassing with me, been to meetings - (where he of course steals the attention.. lol), pushed him in his stroller in a parade... We just have to do this.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

13. My parents are in their 70's

white, Independents, and voting for Obama in Florida ... and my Dads a racist. We really have to quit buying what the MSM is selling, they're lying to us.

[eshfemme]

15. LOL, I love that throwaway line.

:rofl:

I'm pretty sure that my mom's prejudiced, if not outright racist, too. But she's still gonna vote for Obama. She knows the stakes well.

[Imagevision]

16. Great! tomorrow I'm meeting with a new Obama group tomorrow in Naples Fl.

[writes3000]

17. I loved this story, OhioBlues. Thank you for sharing. One person can really say it all.

We are going to win this election. One person at a time.