Jon Carson, Obama's National Field Director, Wants Our Help Now!!

[ClarkUSA]

There's so much at stake in this election -- fixing our economy, solving the energy crisis, dealing with climate change,
and restoring America's position in the world.

You and I know that. But John McCain is trying to distract voters from the real issues. And he's willing to take the low
road by making cheap personal attacks and lying outright about Barack and his record.

It's up to each of us to talk to voters across the country and make sure they know what this election is really about --
especially in a battleground state...

We have an exciting new tool called Neighbor to Neighbor that makes it easy to talk to potential supporters in your
community about Barack and the issues that matter.

Help get the conversation back on track today by knocking on doors or making phone calls.
http://my.barackobama.com/modules/votercontact/login_signup.php

Nothing is more powerful than having undecided voters hear from ordinary people. And right now, that's needed more
than ever.

No prior experience is required. Neighbor to Neighbor gives you a list of potential supporters, suggested topics
to talk about, and an easy way to report back on who you've contacted.

With less than eight weeks until Election Day, we can't allow voters to lose focus on the big issues and get swept up by
the smears and lies coming out of the McCain campaign.

Reach out to fellow voters now and grow this movement for change. http://my.barackobama.com/n2n

Thanks,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

[democracy1st]

1. i'm on board

[ClarkUSA]

5. Great.

Thanks! :D

[graywarrior]

2. I guess I'm sort of doing that already through Obama's campaign office in NH

I think. Right?

[midnight]

3. On September the 18th many Wisconsin voters will be getting

together in Madison to talk about voter discrimination, and being offered provisional ballots, and why John McCain's Co-chairman,Van Hollen, is creating hurdles for law abiding citizens? Van Hollen has decided that as Wisconsin Attorney General he had to sue Wisconsin. He feels that the Judges on the Election Board did not meet his scrutiny for legal voter rights, and has them on a list of persons whom he may or may not allow them to vote,but how this will be decided is anyone's guess. Van Hollen will leave this up to the board?

[zuzu98]

4. Printed out my Neighbor to Neighbor list today!

It was quick and easy. You get contact info for people in your area, a suggested "script" and response forms for each person to be contacted so that the campaign can follow up and/or use the info for ad campaigns, canvassing , etc.

[ClarkUSA]

18. Nice!

It really is so easy and the people are mostly pretty friendly. :-)

[freespirit5]

6. I'm in !

On it !

[TxBlue]

7. Kick

:kick:

[Cha]

8. Rec'd and

a Kick!

[ClarkUSA]

9. Must read for some good tips for putting undecideds into Obama: "What I Learned Phonebanking Today"

From DKos' benvautier :

I started phone-banking last week, and I've been doing a couple of hours a day since then. Today I called a bunch of voters in Pennsylvania, and had long conversations with five undecided voters.

It was really illuminating. A lot of what I've been reading on this board is supported by my observations, but a lot ISN'T.

First of all, all of the undecided voters I talked to like Palin. They like her a lot more than they like McCain. They are compelled by her energy and her looks and her demeanor. A couple were pro-life, and McCain's selection of Palin had turned them from "leaning Obama" to "undecided."

BUT, by far the MOST important issue for all of them is the economy. These people are disgusted by oil company profits, disgusted by high gas prices, disgusted that relatives of theirs are losing their jobs and unable to find new ones. They KNOW that the system is unfair, that corporations are bleeding this country dry while they are suffering.

When I spoke to them about Obama's tax plan (the elimination of income tax for many seniors, the tax breaks for middle-class people and the increase for corporations and the rich) - EVERY UNDECIDED VOTER I TALKED TO WENT FROM UNDECIDED TO LEANING OBAMA.

I can't say it strongly enough: from my non-scientific sample, attacking Palin will get us exactly 0 votes. Getting the word out about Obama's economic policies will win us this election.

These people don't want to hear us rip anyone apart. They want to know that Obama has a plan.

And I applaud them for it, really. I even found myself doing the old switcheroo, gritting my teeth and praising palin: "sure, she's attractive, she's got a lot of energy -- of course, the vice president doesn't decide any policy and doesn't really have an active role in making decisions. It's going to be McCain's government, not hers. And that means it's the same old Bush cronies in for another four years."

Another argument also seemed to work well. One voter said that the experience factor affected her. She parroted back the "a vote for obama is a gamble" trope. Which I countered with "well, those guys have had 8 years to run the country, and the economy is in shambles. I'm ready for some new ideas, and Obama is the guy who's got them."

My personal feeling was that these undecided voters are a little confused - torn between their emotional approval of Palin's personality on the one side, and on the other, their fundamental agreement with Obama on the issues.

I believe when it comes down to it on Nov. 4th, these voters and voters like them will get real and vote issues rather than personalities.

BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE THE CASE.
EVERY DAY.
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
ECONOMY ECONOMY ECONOMY.

PS: I used Feldman's "solutions to real problems" frame again and again. I hit "practical," "getting down to real work," and "solving our real problems." It worked great, and I felt STRONG saying it...

FINAL UPDATE: ok, I also just joined a group at the Obama website called BaracksInspiredPhoneBankArmy -- and wouldn't you know, the first email i got from the group was an INCREDIBLY useful list of arguments to try. I really encourage people to join that group if you're planning to phonebank. They're saying the same things there that we're talking about here. Cross-fertilizing the discussion can only make us stronger!

Link: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/14/142735/867/447/598584

[Raffi Ella]

10. K&R

WE are the grass roots.

:dem:

[nc4bo]

11. I'm going to my first phone banking session this Tuesday....I'm nervous! nt

[Doremus]

15. Good for you! You will get over your nervousness soon and will end up loving it! n/t

[ClarkUSA]

16. It's okay to be nervous but you'll be fine once you get a few under your belt.

Most people are very nice and genuinely interested in knowing more.

Thanks for signing up to spread the truth! :hi:

[Hope And Change]

12. K & R!

[madfloridian]

13. Glad to see they are continuing what the DNC started in 2006

http://www.google.com/search?sa=N&tab=nw&q=dean%2C%20dnc%2C%20neighbor%20to%20neighbor

It was a great idea...it is a great idea.

Neighbor to Neighbor National Organizing Day April 2006

http://www.democrats.org/a/party/a_50_state_strategy/50_state_canvass/

[madfloridian]

14. Dean even got mocked on the Daily Show over it

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/05/dean_on_the_dai.php

Though Stewart later apologized. Video.

[ClarkUSA]

20. Me too.

I'm sure it'll work as well this time as before.

[AuntPatsy]

17. Been doing just that, have gotten into a few squabbles but I refuse to back down now..

for the first time in my life I honestly feel this is the most important election we shall ever face....and I make sure others are made aware of that fact...even my husband, its not exactly peaceful in my home these days...bottom line is that anyone that feels mcbush palin is a better choice when knowing all the details is nothing short of prejudice period.

[ClarkUSA]

19. That's the spirit!

"... bottom line is that anyone that feels mcbush palin is a better choice when knowing all the details is nothing short of prejudice period."

You got that right. Thanks for doing what we all need to do. :applause:

Yes. We. Can.

[and-justice-for-all]

21. Printing right now, walking tomorrow...

weather permitting here in Indiana.

[ClarkUSA]

22. Awesome!

Good luck with the weather. Hurricane Ike has made weather much wetter and more humid than normal
across great swaths of the country.

If you can't walk tomorrow, there's always Tuesday or the phone. Thanks for helping! :hi: