We are the change we’ve been waiting for.
Up until two weeks ago, I knew very little about Jim Himes, the Democratic candidate for Congress in CT-04. Barack Obama? Now that’s another story.
Like many of you, I watched the 04 Convention and thought – one day, that man will be president. Little did I know it would be this soon. In October 2006 I read his book. The next year I made my first donation ever to a political candidate. And in the heat of the primaries I made some calls from my home to Virginia and Indiana.
So this month when I decided it was time to step it up a notch, I decided to help Jim Himes defeat Chris Shays. I find this amazing. To me, the fact that supporting Barack Obama inspired me to get involved on a local level demonstrates that the world we live in is going to be a lot different – a lot better – four years from now. The steps I’ve taken so far to support Jim Himes after the jump.
I’ve never been a straight-line Democrat voter – and in full disclosure, not only have I voted for Chris Shays in the past (2000) I also made a bitter-clingy vote for Bush in 2004. To me, the interesting part of this journey this year is how I went from supporting a man to supporting something much bigger – an idea... a cause.
Part of me did not want to get invested in Hime’s campaign. Obama was my guy. But with some Kos encouragement, it became clear that it was time to think bigger. So here’s what I’ve done so far.
How to support a Congressional candidate you’ve never heard of.
Step One: Ask where you’re needed.
I called the Himes campaign and was directed to the Monroe office.
Step Two: Learn about your candidate.
I scurried up to the Monroe office and met Jon, the local campaign director. He shared with me position papers and Jim’s biography. (And yes, I was impressed).
Step Three: Donate.
That was the easy part – took two minutes.
Step Four: Look for opportunities.
Mine came when I opened my local newspaper and saw a featured column supporting Chris Shays – it was written by someone who once knew Shays but now lived in Pennsylvania. I shot back a letter to the editor that night:
Given the vast number of issues facing Connecticut residents, I was disappointed in your decision to feature a political endorsement written by an individual who does not even live in our state.
Most of the people I speak with in Trumbull, whether at school, church or on the golf course, think Congressman Shays is a nice enough guy, but after 21 years it’s time for a change. I’m not sure what they vote for in Pennsylvania. Here in our town people are tired of the failed Bush economic policies, unfunded mandates and the mindset that got us into Iraq.
Jim Himes is a Rhodes Scholar with experience in finance, the housing market and building up communities. He will help bring our troops home from Iraq with honor and provide the middle-class tax cuts we need to put our economy back on track. As someone who lives in this district and has a stake in this important election, I strongly encourage my neighbors to consider Jim Himes – he is a most worthy man.
(My letter was published this past week)
Step Five: Show up.
This past Saturday – a day I had intended to be out campaigning for Obama in a swing state – I showed up at the Monroe office and was handed a list of 270 registered voters to call. Yes, I did get to perfect my answering machine message, but I also had the chance to speak with about fifty of my neighbors.
Everyone I spoke with is planning to vote. Some are still undecided. And yes, there are a bunch of people up here who still love Chris Shays. BUT it sounds like there are even more people who will be pulling the lever for Jim Himes.
Some will actually be voting FOR Jim Himes.
I was listening to NPR and this man was talking about the economy – and he sounded so smart, he had ideas on how to take us forward. And then I found out that the man speaking was Jim Himes. He definitely has my vote.
But more often, people are voting AGAINST four more years.
I am voting for a total regime change.
I am definitely NOT voting for Chris Shays again.
Definitely NOT the Republicans.
Well... that’s my story. About how a young, skinny black man from Illinois got up one day and spoke the truth... and four years later I was giving my time and energy to help elect a man I didn’t know for a simple reason: America deserved better.