My wife and I got two of our Obama buttons in the mail today - our t-shirts, bumper stickers and other buttons are on back-order (our local Obama offices have only had "Asian-Pacific for Obama buttons and no bumper stickers at all). I am not a button kinda guy, but I feel a real responsibility to wear my political allegiance on my shoulder (or my left breast as the case may be). I'm a white middle aged guy in the south. I'm also a little odd in that I get skinnier and more liberal as I get older.
This year I've heard people I respect repeating the nasty anti-Obama rumors. I know that it is hard for some of these older white southerners to pull that lever or color in the circle for a African-American candidate. So I feel that showing my colors can help assure others of my persuasion that it's okay.
It can be hard when you travel in circles that might not agree with your political beliefs to wave the flag. It seems to be too in your face. But for all the scowls I get I know that there will be lots of thumbs up - I wore my Kerry/Edwards sticker for months four years ago. The hardest place to wear that Kerry button was into the feed store which was a hotbed of Bushites while the easiest was the grocery store where I usually got a smile from the check-out person.
I'm sure that there will be people that will come up and say something good or bad about my Obama button. I'm already working on my talking points. DKos is going to be a great asset. And Palin is a huge help. Down here McCain's war service is a big trump card, but by pointing out his age and Palin lack of experience I should be able to get some traction. McCain as Bush II is some help but, again, down here that war service is a BIG deal. I am so grateful that Obama talked about different gun laws for different areas of the country during his acceptance speech. The NRA was able to do a lot of damage to Kerry down here. Also, gun control is one of the areas that I disagree with the Democratic establishment on - it's too easy to use gun control as an answer for crimes that have more to do with systemic poverty and lack of education.
So while I will man the phone banks, work the rallies and help get out the vote, I know that wearing my button is one of the most important things I'll do this election cycle.