I have been visiting conservative blogs in the swings states in order to support and defend Senator Obama.
Right now, I am focusing on Ohio, Florida, and Missouri.
Please join me in this effort.
I basically try to find some of the most popular blogs in swing states and then sign-up for them and start participating.
Sometimes posting on a conservative blog in defense of Senator Obama is like walking into a bar on the wrong side of town. The music stops playing and everyone gives you a look like you don't belong there.
I really feel it is important to post on conservative blogs in swing states. There are all sorts of attacks and misinformation being spread around on the conservative blogs that needed to be challenged. If Obama supporters don't spend time on conservative blogs, then the moderate Republicans and independents who read the conservative blogs might just believe everything they are reading.
I generally got two types of responses to the posts I made.
First, there were conservatives who were more than willing to have a civil debate. This made for a very enjoyable exchange where facts and opinions could be presented in democratic ways.
The second type of response was the hateful posters who reacted very negatively to any support for Senator Obama. They were not interested in having any type of civil debate. They just wanted me to shut up and go away. They made threats, called me names, and were generally very disagreeable individuals.
This hateful response opened my eyes to the type of people who live in this country. I've had disagreements with conservatives before, but the web allows people to act in a way they probably wouldn't in person. Then again, I'm sure some of the people I met on these conservative blogs are exactly as they seem. This made me happy that we live in a country of laws with good law enforcement agencies because some of these people would have no problem enforcing their version of politics through violent means.
I interacted with a lot of great people from all political persuasions and I think I generally held my own when it came to making political arguments and defending Senator Obama. (Although it is not too hard to post a link to facts that refute some of the wild claims being made.) The thing is that if I (and a few other liberal bloggers) had not been on those sites, then the wild claims and misinformation would have been accepted as fact by the moderates and independents reading those blogs.
We still have work to do.
I will continue to post on conservative blogs in the swing states until election day.
The more we interact and engage each other in civil debate (please don't allow yourself to get drawn into name calling matches) the more facts will be presented for undecided voters who are trying to determine who they will vote for.
If you want to join this effort, just do a search for "conservative blogs" along with a swing state name. A few clicks should bring you to a world of conservative blogs. Look for blogs with lots of activity and comments. Put on your "civil democratic debate" mindset and go to work.
Cross posted at Peace is Active