Tonight I received a call from a local OFA volunteer. I volunteered on the 2008 Obama campaign. I even volunteered on the OFA health care bill petition drive til I figured out that we were not being represented in the debate.
I let you know this so that you know I have some experience in electioneering. I have run for local office. I have won and lost. I have volunteered on others' campaigns. I have organized and run fundraisers. I am not a novice.
The nice volunteer asked if I was willing to volunteer on the Obama campaign again. I politely declined. I will not work for free for someone who throws me under a bus. Who does not value or respect me. Who thinks I should just shut up and go along. Who does not fight for me. Who does not fight for Democratic Party principles and thinks it's more important to give republicans what they want than to fight for the poor and middle class. Who does not go after criminals in the previous administration or in the financial sector. And who, because of all of this, runs the risk of losing to a crazy republican. The OFA volunteer said she was hearing that a lot. I said I hope the president received the feedback.
I explained how disappointed and disgusted I am. I think the president is a nice man and a good husband and father. But that's not the point. I told her I will vote for Obama because he is the Democratic candidate but that's it. It's a lesser of two evils vote not an enthusiastic 2008 vote.
I also told her I will find a progressive candidate to work for. I hope Trivedi runs again in PA 06. I'll drive to another district to volunteer for a progressive candidate if I have to. I get calls from a few of the young paid staff from previous campaigns asking me to help them with a campaign they are working on.
But if a candidate wants my time and effort, then it's got to be a two way street. I expect respect and to be valued, and I really don't work for free. The candidate does owe me something. The candidate must listen to me and the rest of the volunteers, the base, consider our wants and needs and fight for them. The candidates needs to remember who put him into office.