Yesterday, I spent the day talking to voters at their homes about the upcoming election.
Follow below the break for photos, details, and hopefully a laugh or 2 about the most effective political work we can undertake.
The last month or so, I have spent 5-7 hours most days knocking on doors for O2B candidate Charlie Brown in the most conservative district around (CA-04; PVI = R+11). We have a historic opportunity to elect a good Democrat here for the first time in many decades.
I had spent plenty of time in September volunteering for the Obama campaign including making trips to neighboring Nevada. Lately, I've done some phonebanking about our future POTUS, but I have also worked hard to get him a stronger majority in the Congress. Since I am an experienced and hardened canvasser, I insist the office sends me to the most staunchly Republican turf around. Hence the title of my diary.
The reddest turf in the reddest part of California. Think rural Idaho, but with more money. In just one week on my voter rolls I came across Michael Jackson, Jacqueline Kennedy, George Harrison, Michael McDonald & Steve Martin. And yup, yup, youbetcha: They were all Republicans. You gotta drive for 10-15 minutes to get a loaf of bread around here. Nothin but houses as far as the eye can see.
Sun City Lincoln
My days begin in retiree country. You heard about old dogs and new tricks? Try talking to lifelong Republicans in the range of 637 dog years old. The good news is these folks are home at noon when I start knocking. And often they are happy to have a visitor, even after I've opened my mouth. Another good thing about the elderly: They know their shit. It's rare that you come across someone in this area that knows nothing about the candidates. The hard part is convincing them to vote for the other party.
But I have had amazing success with the lovely septu- & octogenarians. They listen. They smile. And they vote. In fact, for anyone who is leery about canvassing, this type of community is about the best place you can go, because you will feel safe & relaxed, and you are sure to get a few takers.
This pic shows one street where the support was overwhelming. There's even a (*gasp*) Obama '08 sign in there somewhere. (One sign/house only, I swear)
So after a few hours of rappin grannies, I head out for food. Gotta get my strength up for the afternoon shift (cue scary music)...
Fun with Fundies
For sale signs are like weeds these days in Fundytown. All that talk about minorities not paying their mortgages is pure racist propaganda like so much of the GOP platform these days. This type of exurb is whiter than Johnny Mac's bare ass.
Here's a great for sale sign with the word "VIEW" on top:
And what dost this McMansion overlook? A canyon gorge? An oak forest? The snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada? Well...not exactly.
There's this little freeway in the foreground. And don't think I took the picture of the bad part of the view. At least this side has the trees along the freeway at which one can gaze.
The breadwinners don't start filing in until 5 or so (of course), but there is a steady flow of odd jobbers and homemakers to accost. On this type of turf I don't just knock on the doors in order like normal. I launch at anything that moves. Sadly, this pup didn't have much mobility to fall into that category.
He sure was happy to see me though. After I while his owner actually emerged and I was able to canvass her even though she wasn't on my list. I asked her one of the questions that always causes me to stiffen as I await the reply.
What specific issues that are important to your family so I can tell you where the candidates stand?
The economy?
Global warming?
The war(s)?
Yeah, right.
The owner of that dog, and 40% of the people on this kinda of turf answer thusly:
Gay marriage.
Ma'am, could you phrase that in the form of a sentence? As in, "I care about denying gays' freedoms," or "I want to reduce American liberty" or "I want to revoke other people's rights" ?
So my task is a rough one. Go around an area where "Yes on 8" signs outnumber "No" signs 20-to-one and ask the residents to vote for a Democrat (who supports gay marriage). Believe it or not, I can get them to consider it around 20% of the time.
The trick is not asking too much. When in California, I never bother talking about voting for Obama because it doesn't much matter. I don't dare try and talk them out of their lunatic views about denying people who love each other the right to marry. (Winning the No on 8 drive depends of getting the non-evangelicals to cast their ballot for fairness.)
When dealing with people at the door, speak to what you think they (should) care about. Their family's future. Jobs. Supporting our troops. Taxes.
Fortunately for me, if any of these people look & listen to the 2 candidates on the issues, we can get them to vote for the other party's candidate.
O2B candidate Charlie Brown
*Served our country honorably for 26 years in the US Air Force
*Is the 1st candidate in history to donate a % of his campaign funds to veterans' issues
*Is a former Republican and fiscal conservative
*Is a certified teacher who raised his family in local public schools
His opponent, troglodyte Tom McClintock
*Voted against survivor benefits for war widows
*Hasn't passed a law on over 2 years
*Is running in a district over 400 miles from his "home" & therefore can't vote vote for himself
*Is the only person in the state about which any of the above statements are true
One point of this diary is to encourage people nearby to get involved with the campaign by using some of these talking points while you canvass and phonebank around CA-04.
But the bigger purpose is to inspire people around the country to see more of the grassroots side of this "movement for change." If we can turn one of the blood reddest CDs in the nation blue, you can affect change near you too.
If you want to have the greatest impact during the waning days before the election, give canvassing a try. It's not nearly as hard as you fear. And you almost certainly won't have to deal with the types of places I dare to tread.
Just remember what Nate posted on 538.com a few weeks ago.
For every twelve voters who you talk to at their doors, one voter goes and votes who would not otherwise have voted.
I see it happening every day. You also can do it too. Also.
Cross-posted at The Laughing Planet
