I spent a couple hours doing local small-dollar Washington state solicitation calls for Darcy last night. This state, and this district, is diverse. The people I called had job titles including "Executive," "Lawyer," "Engineer (Microsoft)", "Research Scientist", "Nurse", "Teacher", "Retired," and, of course, after eight years of Bush and Republican leadership, "Currently Unemployed."
By the end of the night, I was awed and humbled.
You know what was most inspiring? It's not that Darcy is exactly what she seems -- though she is -- and it's not the exhausted, intelligent, dedicated staff she's got running her campaign...
What was truly inspiring was that the further down the income bracket the person I was calling, the more likely it was that they would donate. And it wasn't at all uncommon that people would donate -- and then ask to volunteer!
I know that the last several weeks have been really hard on people; some of us have lost a lot of money. I personally have lost over 30% of my net worth, and I'm starting a company, and I'm living off my savings, and there's a real cliff not too far away -- so I told the campaign I'm "tapped out" and can't afford to donate any more.
But you know what? That's bullshit.
Compared to the retired woman I talked to last night who said she was "lucky" because she has a fixed income -- and donated? The guy who said he'd promised his wife he wouldn't donate any more (and I could hear her loud "What? Are you kidding me?" in the background) -- and donated? The guy who said he was unemployed and wasn't completely sure what he was going to eat next week -- and donated anyway?
I know what I'm eating next week.
These people truly inspired me.
So I just dropped another $200 to Darcy. And all I can say is this: if you can buy Starbucks, if you know where your next paycheck is coming from -- you can afford to donate something to somebody.
There's two weeks left. The Republicans are on the run. It's time to put our foot on their throats.
Get out your damn credit card.