I've just returned to the hotel & wasn't planning to post, but I need to share some of what I've witnessed here in Missouri. Myself & the local voices team are on the ground for the Obama event tonight in Springfield, plus we're going on television with Dana Snodgrass tomorrow in Joplin, MO.
For the day we're passing out flyers for the event, as well as monitoring our progress with funding the ads we bought. Let me tell you some of the hate that has been thrown in our faces:
Bear in mind, there are nine of us, plus John Allen (Director of the Nevada ads) has his two children with him. In front of the kids a man said "I'm not going to go listen to some ni**er talk, why would anyone want to do that!"
At least a dozen so far have spit out that he's just a Muslim terrorist that's going to destroy America.
Another man claimed to have voted 3 times for McCain in 3 states & is going to vote in another tomorrow. We took down his license plate number & are reporting him to the authorities.
What's worse is that all of these incidents aren't only in front of the children, but other passers by or onlookers who don't say a word or bat an eyelash. I'm glad to be here in Red country to see this first hand, truth be told.
We're in a dogfight here, all of us fighting for the soul of the country. Every minute it is more clear that we're fighting no only for healthcare, the end of the Iraq war, sound fiscal policies etc., but fighting against this sort of hate taking even deeper root in America.
I've shared the story of what Dana Snodgrass has had to deal with in a previous diary.
Some good news: Barclay Hastings from our Ohio ad is also causing a stir, but in a good way! He will be delivering the Pledge at the Obama rally tomorrow in Columbus, OH. His ads have been on the air in Columbus & Cincinatti, here he is:
Here's some of our other spots, these people are heroes of mine for standing with Obama & with all of us against the kind of have & venom I've seen in just the last couple hours here in Springfield, Missouri. We're going to win this & turn their hate into hope:
Dana Snodgrass of Joplin, MO:
Sandy Austin is a Native American woman living with her son on the Paiute-Shoshone Reservation outside Fallon Nevada:
**If you're interested in buying one of Sandy's Obama bracelets, email me at eugene at truthandhope dot org for her contact details.
Darrell Hanschen of Jackson, MO talking about healthcare:
Darrell again talking about Race:
Thank you for all of your help to date. On the 4th we celebrate, on the 5th we rest. For now, please help us get these ads on the air, fight back - they ARE making a difference!
Thank you for all that you do,
Eugene Hedlund
Founder/Chair
TruthandHope.Org PAC