Hi there. I am a retired, disabled Viet Nam veteran and although I live in New York, I am helping to GOTV in Pennsylvania and have enjoyed my meeting people either on the phone or personally by knocking on doors.
With my age, a young 65 years old, and my legs and back not being what they used to be, I thought that the only way I could help would be to stay home and make calls for President Obama. Over the past few weeks I did that but I truly wanted to do more and so I went to Pennsylvania and began to knock on doors.
My experiences on the phone were generally pretty good and favorable. I guess my years as an on the road salesman and my demeanor helped me. Many times people have said that they really were frustrated by all of the calls they were getting, but for whatever reason, they felt positive toward me and responded well to me. Of course, there were the typical disgruntled ones, the hangups etc. but generally I was able to get through to most people.
But I had to do more !!!!!!!
I just felt that this election was one of the most important in my lifetime and my desire to become a more active part in this election cycle made me want to go out and help. Winston Churchill once said that "The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter." After my experiences out in the field, I can basically disagree.
I feel so strongly that our tremendous President Obama should be re-elected and I felt great being able to communicate my strong positive feelings and thoughts to anyone out there. The only thing would be my physical capabilities, mentally I'm superb, at least that's what most of my friends say lol, physically, not so much.
Today, I started out walking normally, but I did have my crutches and wheelchair in the car, just in case. I met and chatted with some wonderful people, some negative ones, some obnoxious ones, but always with a positive attitude and prepared with the facts and enthusiasm.
As time went by, it was cold and windy, I had to get my crutches out to help me. I think having them elicited some sympathy, but as I told this one guy, I feel so strongly that I would crawl on my hands and knees to get the message across. I don't want or need sympathy. I want every able or otherwise body to get out and vote for President Obama, whatever it takes.
And to the Winston Churchill quote above, I feel that the best argument for democracy is a conversation with the average voter personally to GOTV. The day went quickly and I am enjoying a nice, hot soaking in the tub. My spirits are so high, my enthusiasm higher and my conviction that we must do everything we can to help President Obama is at it's highest.
I do have to conclude this diary though. I have calls to make !!!!!!!!!!!