I just wanted to share the best phone banking call experience I've ever had (and yes, I posted this yesterday, but I'm brand new to this and messed it up pretty badly, so here goes again):
When I called Roy, I was concerned that he might be pretty hostile. This was because the data I had for him was that he was 70 years old and lived in the hills outside Reno. What I didn't know was that I was also calling a Republican and a Veteran.
Oy vay, right? Wrong.
After introducing myself as a volunteer on behalf of Obama's campaign, I asked him who he intended to vote for. His response was "Probably Obama". I clicked on the "Leaning Obama" button, and before I could ask him which issues were the most important to him, he interrupted me.
"Don't you want to know why I'm going to vote for Obama!?" Oh you betcha I wanna hear why!
What follows is my best recollection of Roy's comments. (And don't worry, after hearing him ranting and raving, I clicked on "Definitely Obama".) Here is what he said to me:
"After watching that debate last night, I know Obama has lots of secret service and everything, but if he ever comes near me, I'm going to grab him and give him a big hug.
"All you ever hear McCain talk about is what he's done for our country. Never once has McCain mentioned what our country has done for him. But Obama? Obama truly appreciates this country, he loves this country and he's grateful and it's just obvious. My goodness, he was this skinny little black kid living on food stamps and then he graduated from Harvard! Of course he loves his country! He is the American Dream!
"I'll tell you, getting captured was the best thing that ever happened to McCain. But big deal! I was in the war too and I hated it! I couldn't wait to get out! McCain has always been a spoiled rich kid and so was his dad and his grandfather. I'll tell you, it will be a disaster if Obama isn't our next President. A disaster! McCain wants to start wars with Russia now too it seems like! I think McCain has lost his mind!
"A few weeks ago I was going to vote for McCain. When he chose Palin I thought, 'Oh what a smart move since Obama didn't choose Hillary.' But then I listened to Palin speak. And she's just mean! I've always voted Republican before, but we can't afford that now. Our country needs Obama. He's just so smart and so calm and you can tell that every day of his life he was working his butt off to get where he is today. I respect that. I almost got into a fistfight this afternoon with my neighbor who said that Obama was unpatriotic. Obama is more patriotic than McCain that's for sure! Why on earth did McCain choose such a mean-spirited person to be his running mate? She scares the crap out of me!
"But Obama, let me tell you. I was watching him talk last night and I... I just started to cry. I really just love him. After that debate there is no doubt in my mind that Obama had better be our next President. And he better watch out, too, because if I ever get anywhere near him I'm going to give him the biggest hug ever."
I wanted to hug Roy after that call. And I wanted to share this story with all of you in hopes that it will make you feel more comfortable picking up the phone. I'm telling you, it WILL make your day! So please, pick up the phone and swing those voters!