Today, across the great state of Texas, regular folks welcomed their neighbors into their home or over to the local hangout to talk about Barack Obama, and how they can do the Texas Two Step to help Obama gain the most delegates in our hybrid primary-caucus. This series of "Vote Early for Change" house parties was designed to encourage supporters get out and vote for Barack, and then pass on information about the caucuses on Tuesday, March 4th at 7:15 p.m. at our local polling places.
As I stood in front of my event, held at a local independent coffee shop, I thought about the hundreds of other similar events going on across the state. I thought about the tens of thousands of people who came out to see Obama at the rally here in Austin just last night. And as I looked around the room, and thought about looking across the field of thousands of faces last night, it struck me—this is what grassroots feels like.
Public Service Announcement:
If you know folks in Texas who support Obama, help them do the Texas Two Step! Download a fact sheet in English OR Spanish from the Resource Center and send it on to them! Barack the Vote, and Barack-us the Caucus!
It was a gorgeous afternoon in Central Texas today, warm and sunny, as folks arrived at the local coffee shop to talk about Barack. I was so excited to see several dozen people from the area turn out to the event after reading about it on the Barack Obama website! We ended up combining two events at the coffee shop, welcoming in voters from four precincts in the area. My part of Austin is a real Democratic stronghold—we had 81% turnout in 2004, so even compared to the rest of this liberal oasis we’re really active.
We started by introducing ourselves, and explaining why we were here, and why we were supporting Obama for President. I explained that I heard about Barack back in 2004 when he was my State Senator in Chicago. I talked about him so much that one of my co-workers invited me to her friend’s house party for Obama, on a night when the Obama for Senate campaign was holding similar events all across Illinois. It was my first political event, and I had so much fun it inspired me to volunteer for his campaign. When Obama won his Senate race, I promised myself that one day when he ran for President, I would do all I could to help him get elected.
As we went around the room, I was struck by the variety of reasons people were supporting Barack. "I want a President I can be proud of." "I think he’s the most electable in the general election." "He opposed the war from the beginning, and that’s very important to me." "He excites people! In all of my life, I’ve never seen people so interested in politics and so eager to vote."
About one third of people there came to Obama after supporting an earlier candidate who had dropped out. Plenty of former Edwards supporters were in attendance, as well as a few folks for Kucinich and Richardson. It was rewarding to me to feel that folks across the Democratic party were coalescing around Barack.
After introductions, we talked about the importance of voting and caucusing for Barack. I explained the Texas Two Step, and together we asked and answered questions. "Bring your voter registration card and get it stamped so you can get in to the caucus." "Where are the early voting locations near here?" "How long will our caucus take?" It was a powerful feeling to hear folks sharing information in order to increase participation in this election.
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In true grassroots fashion, we all brought something to contribute. One local artist made a beautiful "iSi Se Puede!" poster and mounted them to wooden stakes to create yard signs. Another man brought flyers with polling locations, and a newsletter from the League of Women Voters with endorsements in down-ticket races. I had the trusty "Texans for Obama" bumper stickers in full force. Something that has continually struck me throughout this campaign is the creativity that Obama inspires in his supporters. Folks are always creating something new and exciting, and that in turn helps other people learn about and become engaged by Barack.
After we educated ourselves on how to do the Texas Two Step, I told folks that they could help Barack in three ways from now until election day:
- Educate Others About the Texas Two-Step. We handed out over 300 flyers explaining how to vote early for Barack, and then come back to your regular polling location on March 4th at 7:00 p.m. to caucus. Folks were handed packs of 10 flyers, and asked to tell ten friends about the Texas Two Step. Those friends in turn can tell ten more people, and that’s how we grow our movement.
- Make Phone Calls. I explained the online phonebanking tool, and talked about the fun I’ve had calling voters in North Dakota, Maine, and California. Folks were also instructed on how to use local precinct tools to make calls to their friends and neighbors.
- Block-Walking and Door-Knocking. We still need to identify every Obama supporter in the area. Folks can go to their local Obama office and get sheets to block-walk. Every volunteer at today’s meeting who volunteered to knock on doors on their street got a button for their effort—my precious 10 buttons were going to get maximum visibility, darn it!
Folks headed out to go vote early at one of our nearby locations, and then make phone calls or talk to their neighbors. We handed out hundreds of stickers, and folks chipped in to cover those great yard signs. It was a really, really exciting afternoon.
And, of course, I got to thinking. We had about 40 people come by the coffeehouse to learn how they could help Barack and pick up some stickers and signs. There were hundreds of parties across the state, in liberal cities like Austin and in small towns where folks have been previously afraid to self-identify as a Democrat. We’re growing a movement here.
And what does that movement look like? What would happen if all of these people came together in one place, to listen to Barack Obama and his vision of what America can become?
It might look something like what I witnessed last night:
How many of these people are voting for the first time? How many have ever attended a political rally before? How many of these people are having their first conversations about health-care policy or immigration reform? How many of these people are finally excited to feel that they have something worth voting for?
This is what we, as a people-powered movement, have always wanted. A candidate funded not by corporations and special interests, but by individuals. Victories measured in pledged delegates, delegates which represent the number of people who turn out to cast their ballot or raise their voice in support of a candidate. Rallies measured in the tens of thousands of people who turn out to listen, to learn, to remind the media and the beltway insiders alike that we still matter, we still have a voice.
And let me tell you—down in Austin last night, you could hear that voice pretty darn well.