The Election of 2008 Continued...
I have been trying to work for this campaign in various ways since probably before December, and have, generally, been proud to be a part of it. I believe in Barack and what he ultimately stands for, but feel some parts of his campaign are falling completely short.
In truth, I feel Barack would serve the public better as a kind of latter day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He has the speaking ability to inspire people. What we really need is a vocal person outside of the political realm who has the power to get those within the government to, “sit up and listen.” Being in politics stunts his ability to say what he really feels, but being on the outside he can jazz people without kissing ass to those in whom he doesn’t believe. I know as well as you, that people say they do not kiss ass but they all do. They have to in order to win a presidential election. Everyone ever in the White House, sans possibly George Washington, had to do some ass kissing to sway the “undecided” voter and garner enough support to win. BUT, that is not why I am writing, maybe I will go further with this at some later date. I want to speak, specifically, about the Lake County, Ohio Chapter of the Democratic Party and more specifically the campaign for Barack Obama.
During the primaries, I began getting the word out to support Obama. I live in a very conservative area and some of my friends were afraid of me putting an Obama sign in my front lawn. They truthfully thought someone would vandalize my house due to my political statement. My mother even worried so much she would not put one in her yard. That, my friends, is disgusting. Anyway, I began contacting the Campaign Headquarters in Painesville with requests for yard signs. There weren’t any I was told about ten times. I also has offered to canvas, but was never called until the last minute. I had even met a few of the people more than once and, while at the building, they walked right by me without so much as a nod of the head. Those of you who know me, know just due to the way I look, I kind of stand out. But, even if that doesn’t work, at least acknowledge someone regardless of whether or not you know him if he is in a building where you are either volunteering or actually getting paid to be an asshole.
I must admit, I kind of gave up after about a month of trying. I kept on telling people what I believed and attempted to get them to understand the reasoning behind where I stood. I never backed down for the Obama part of the campaign; I just gave up on the Lake County portion.
Now, in the throes of the last month of this campaign, I have been out getting people to show their support. I have been putting signs up, where requested, AND getting more and more people asking for said signs. The problem: There, AGAIN, are no signs. WHAT IN THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE????????? During a political campaign, folks want to show their support with yard signs. As was stated to me by a community GOTV person, “I’m really not a sign person…” I don’t give a FUCK if you are or not. MY people want some damned signs. Add that to the fact that some of them are being stolen, hopefully its just kids being kids. The fear one of my helping supporters has is it’s a racist thing. Well, being in North Willoughby she might just have a point. I know the racism is out there, but it is much more difficult to teach and old ignoramus new tricks than the proverbial dog, so I just say what I have to say to them and move on.
I happened to have been at the new headquarters in the Colonial Plaza in Mentor on about four occasions and that was no better than Painesville. There is a young woman who wears small dark framed glasses (she sits at the first desk on the left as you walk in) who is one hell of a bitchy little thing. I asked for signs one day and she went into this long diatribe about how there were none anywhere. I asked why that was the case and she again started saying things that had no bearing on my request. A woman standing behind me was so disgusted that she told me she needed to go live somewhere else. “This county is so backwards I feel like I am living in a different time.” I told her I still had some of the round stickers from the primary and she offered to pay me for them. I, of course, would not accept money for them but handed over six of my last ten. The next time, there I had actually reserved 10 signs (I know I am saying the word a lot, but this is my LARGEST complaint) When I arrived; they were not even ready for me. Another woman who was there before me had ordered one and wanted another. Our snotty little woman told, “You ordered one you’ll get one.” I was absolutely taken aback by her unmitigated rudeness. You are supposed to helping drum UP support for our candidate not pissing people off. Again, What the FUCK is wrong with you people?
I need at least ten more signs. Obviously some one is having a problem with how well Barack is doing or they would not mean anything. Let us show our support. GIVE ME THE FUCKING YARD SIGNS!!!
All right. I just had to vent, but come on. Let’s make sure the people running portions of this campaign get some kind of a clue. There is no reason we should ever have to go through such bullshit just to show our support to the most important candidate ever to hit the presidential trail.
Oh, and Barack, make sure you stand by what you believe. I know you will be pressured and have to compromise, but do NOT compromise on your basic beliefs, it will show. I have faith in your commitment and your humanity. (Though your comment and word usage during the first debate with that little troll McCain regard hunting down and “killing” bin Laden was a bit disturbing and, to me, seemingly out of character.) Let’s continue to fight the good fight and turn the United States into a country with which we can be proud!
In truth, I feel Barack would serve the public better as a kind of latter day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He has the speaking ability to inspire people. What we really need is a vocal person outside of the political realm who has the power to get those within the government to, “sit up and listen.” Being in politics stunts his ability to say what he really feels, but being on the outside he can jazz people without kissing ass to those in whom he doesn’t believe. I know as well as you, that people say they do not kiss ass but they all do. They have to in order to win a presidential election. Everyone ever in the White House, sans possibly George Washington, had to do some ass kissing to sway the “undecided” voter and garner enough support to win. BUT, that is not why I am writing, maybe I will go further with this at some later date. I want to speak, specifically, about the Lake County, Ohio Chapter of the Democratic Party and more specifically the campaign for Barack Obama.
During the primaries, I began getting the word out to support Obama. I live in a very conservative area and some of my friends were afraid of me putting an Obama sign in my front lawn. They truthfully thought someone would vandalize my house due to my political statement. My mother even worried so much she would not put one in her yard. That, my friends, is disgusting. Anyway, I began contacting the Campaign Headquarters in Painesville with requests for yard signs. There weren’t any I was told about ten times. I also has offered to canvas, but was never called until the last minute. I had even met a few of the people more than once and, while at the building, they walked right by me without so much as a nod of the head. Those of you who know me, know just due to the way I look, I kind of stand out. But, even if that doesn’t work, at least acknowledge someone regardless of whether or not you know him if he is in a building where you are either volunteering or actually getting paid to be an asshole.
I must admit, I kind of gave up after about a month of trying. I kept on telling people what I believed and attempted to get them to understand the reasoning behind where I stood. I never backed down for the Obama part of the campaign; I just gave up on the Lake County portion.
Now, in the throes of the last month of this campaign, I have been out getting people to show their support. I have been putting signs up, where requested, AND getting more and more people asking for said signs. The problem: There, AGAIN, are no signs. WHAT IN THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE????????? During a political campaign, folks want to show their support with yard signs. As was stated to me by a community GOTV person, “I’m really not a sign person…” I don’t give a FUCK if you are or not. MY people want some damned signs. Add that to the fact that some of them are being stolen, hopefully its just kids being kids. The fear one of my helping supporters has is it’s a racist thing. Well, being in North Willoughby she might just have a point. I know the racism is out there, but it is much more difficult to teach and old ignoramus new tricks than the proverbial dog, so I just say what I have to say to them and move on.
I happened to have been at the new headquarters in the Colonial Plaza in Mentor on about four occasions and that was no better than Painesville. There is a young woman who wears small dark framed glasses (she sits at the first desk on the left as you walk in) who is one hell of a bitchy little thing. I asked for signs one day and she went into this long diatribe about how there were none anywhere. I asked why that was the case and she again started saying things that had no bearing on my request. A woman standing behind me was so disgusted that she told me she needed to go live somewhere else. “This county is so backwards I feel like I am living in a different time.” I told her I still had some of the round stickers from the primary and she offered to pay me for them. I, of course, would not accept money for them but handed over six of my last ten. The next time, there I had actually reserved 10 signs (I know I am saying the word a lot, but this is my LARGEST complaint) When I arrived; they were not even ready for me. Another woman who was there before me had ordered one and wanted another. Our snotty little woman told, “You ordered one you’ll get one.” I was absolutely taken aback by her unmitigated rudeness. You are supposed to helping drum UP support for our candidate not pissing people off. Again, What the FUCK is wrong with you people?
I need at least ten more signs. Obviously some one is having a problem with how well Barack is doing or they would not mean anything. Let us show our support. GIVE ME THE FUCKING YARD SIGNS!!!
All right. I just had to vent, but come on. Let’s make sure the people running portions of this campaign get some kind of a clue. There is no reason we should ever have to go through such bullshit just to show our support to the most important candidate ever to hit the presidential trail.
Oh, and Barack, make sure you stand by what you believe. I know you will be pressured and have to compromise, but do NOT compromise on your basic beliefs, it will show. I have faith in your commitment and your humanity. (Though your comment and word usage during the first debate with that little troll McCain regard hunting down and “killing” bin Laden was a bit disturbing and, to me, seemingly out of character.) Let’s continue to fight the good fight and turn the United States into a country with which we can be proud!
posted by johnathan e at 3:38 PM
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