I am an attorney in Texas, a max donor to the Obama campaign and a precinct captain here in H-town. I live in one of the more progressive areas in Texas. We delivered our state senate district something like 70:30 for Obama, and ensure that DEMS stay in the our city's mayor's office (even though Houston doesn't run on party lines)
As with many of my neighbors, I volunteered for the Obama campaign. In fact, we had an abundance of volunteers when the primary came to town, including 8 "captains" for my precinct alone. Given the situation with my overachieving neighborhood, I assumed that even though I signed up, there was going to be little work I could do for the campaign - other than phone calls and local GOTV/GOTC efforts.
Well, Team Obama proved me wrong (more after the jump)
Earilier in the campaign, I submitted a "volunteer form" a listed my background. I forgot about it until I got this little note from the Team O General Counsel:
Real change only happens when new people enter the political process and make their voices heard.
That's why this campaign is launching an unprecedented Voter Protection Program that will fight to promote and defend the voting rights of every American.
Attorneys, law students, and those with legal expertise will be essential in making sure every eligible citizen who wants to vote can vote -- and that their vote is counted.
Find out how you can lend your skills to make sure every voice is heard in this election:
http://my.barackobama.com/...
In 2004, those with legal expertise -- people like you -- were critical to the voter protection effort.
Lawyers and legal professionals made sure that registered voters made it on the rolls and were able to vote. They made sure that ballots were available and polls stayed open. And they helped reassure voters that they would not be intimidated.
Despite our stepped-up efforts, problems persisted -- including deceptive flyers, unnecessary lines, inadequate ballot supplies, and problems with voting machines.
In a year that will likely see unprecedented turnout, we can't afford to let our guard down. The stakes could not be higher. This election has to be different.
That's why the Obama Voter Protection Program has already launched, earlier than ever before, and will be the most comprehensive voter protection program in our nation's history, with counsel in 50 states and a vote protection team on the ground now.
But it won't work without you. Put your legal skills into action and become a vital part of this historic effort:
http://my.barackobama.com/...
Bringing about the change America needs will require all of us doing our part. Your professional expertise makes you indispensable to this effort.
I hope you will join the Obama Voter Protection program and encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same.
Thank you,
Bob
Bob Bauer
General Counsel
Obama for America
Of course I signed up and within minutes I received another email and was asked to complete a survey concerning how much time I could donate, where I can travel to, and any special languages I spoke or skills I had. They also had resume DB technology where I could attach my resume and list where I was licensed. Of course - no Team O email would be complete without the ability to spread the word (which I did) to my fellow brethren in the State Bar.
I will admit that I have no idea if they will need be (I did a little civil rights work after law school, but otherwise, I'm just a corporate shill), but this kind of effort has to be a sign of how well Team O knows how to organize.
Instead of hiring lawyers and consultants, have figured out how to tap supporters for many of the "blocking and tackling" skills they will need on election day. This is not the kind of thing the MSM is covering, but that is fine with me (I would rather the other team not know its going on) But the bottom line - it appears that the 50-state organizing strategy goes beyond voter registration and some nation-wide ads...
Yes We Can !