Don't bring up politics, my husband warned!
This past Saturday night, Michael and I went to dinner with some friends. My chiropractor's brother, Scott, and his wife Pam, invited us over. My chiropractor was there with his girlfriend, along with another chiropractor and his wife. Pam's sister Kim was there as well.
Michael warned me to steer clear of politics. I tried. It didn't work. My enthusiasm for Barack, this movement and what Team Obama has accomplished and continues to accomplish, had me bubbling over!
Someone asked and I exploded, saying I support Barack Obama and my commitment to this campaign is "unshakable." I went on to describe how this campaign intends to change politics as usual and how we will bring about 'change' in the United States and ultimately, the world.
The consensus in the room was, "I know nothing about him."
I was in a Republican crowd, along with some suburban women who were still hurting over the Hillary loss. By the time the evening ended, I had addressed many email smear rumors and convinced the crowd that Barack, his supporters and his intent was to protect the United States of America! The country we all love!
I began to ask Scott, who has cancer, about his health care plan for the business/personal care, and what he thought of "universal health care." Scott called it "socialized medicine." I asked him if he thought a plan that would ensure everyone "affordable health care" would benefit him and his business. He acknowledged that he is enrolled in some kind of state plan that subsidizes his business/personal health care plan.
By the end of the evening, I felt a bit embarrassed that I had politicized the dinner party. It was not my intent, but overwhelmingly, people wanted to learn more about Barack Obama and this movement. It was a wonderful thing to experience.
The next couple of days, I called my hostess, Pam, and she asked if I would come over soon, for lunch, to answer questions she, her mom, dad and others, have about Obama! I told her I would be honored to come over and discuss this campaign and any other issues she and her family and friends have about Barack.
I have sent out know the facts information, web site information and I'm planning a women's roundtable on Unite For Change Saturday. It is extremely rewarding for me to educate people about Barack and this movement, in a very conservative district where people claimed to know nothing about him, yet held the views of the smear campaign emails that are circulating. I got to dispel some of those myths. All and all, it wasn't so bad bringing up politics!
Barack Obama for president 2008
Wanakee Hill