An Election PSA (for Americans who support Obama)
To all the friends that keep calling/IMing me and worrying that we're not gonna make it:
I have a simple prescription for your worries: VOLUNTEER. Blogging won't help, commenting on other people's blogs will help even less, joking about Palin is fun but won't help either. Get your ass into an Obama/Dem office and knock on some freaking doors or join a phonebank.
If you've never done this before, you will probably be shocked at how much it helps. Even if you only talk to three people all night and one of them hangs up on you/shuts the door in your face, you will still feel better. About yourself and about the country. Yes, that's cheesy, but doesn't the cheesy stuff often feel really nice? At the end of the night, sign up for another shift. When you come back for your second shift, bring something to eat or drink for the poor organizers and interns. They'll love you for it.
If you don't live in a swing state, well, there's probably one near you. In New York? Take the train to Philly this weekend for the day. Boston? I'm sure the campaign is running busses to New Hampshire. On top of that, there are all the great Democratic challengers hoping to pick up seats in Congress. Barack will need them there in Washington.
I know a lot of people on my flist are not used to working on political campaigns. That's ok, you don't have to become a "political campaign" person. I won't ask you to wave any miniature American flags, or say nice things about the Democratic Party, or otherwise change who you are. One of the things I've always really loved about the Obama campaign is the inclusive nature. This is a campaign that wants people to "come as they are."
But we have two weeks, people. It's now or never. If you wanbt to make sure that we have any hope at all of weathering the tough coming years, then give a few hours to the campaign. You won't regret it.
Think of it this way. When Obama wins, if you volunteered, you will be able to tell your kids and grandkids, "I helped President Obama get elected." Cause you know this is fucking historic. On the other hand, do you want to wake up on November 5th with Sarah fucking Palin as our Vice President, and know you did nothing to keep it from happening? *
*No, I'm not above guilt-trips and scare tactics. :) But Sarah Palin as VP? What's scarier?
I have a simple prescription for your worries: VOLUNTEER. Blogging won't help, commenting on other people's blogs will help even less, joking about Palin is fun but won't help either. Get your ass into an Obama/Dem office and knock on some freaking doors or join a phonebank.
If you've never done this before, you will probably be shocked at how much it helps. Even if you only talk to three people all night and one of them hangs up on you/shuts the door in your face, you will still feel better. About yourself and about the country. Yes, that's cheesy, but doesn't the cheesy stuff often feel really nice? At the end of the night, sign up for another shift. When you come back for your second shift, bring something to eat or drink for the poor organizers and interns. They'll love you for it.
If you don't live in a swing state, well, there's probably one near you. In New York? Take the train to Philly this weekend for the day. Boston? I'm sure the campaign is running busses to New Hampshire. On top of that, there are all the great Democratic challengers hoping to pick up seats in Congress. Barack will need them there in Washington.
I know a lot of people on my flist are not used to working on political campaigns. That's ok, you don't have to become a "political campaign" person. I won't ask you to wave any miniature American flags, or say nice things about the Democratic Party, or otherwise change who you are. One of the things I've always really loved about the Obama campaign is the inclusive nature. This is a campaign that wants people to "come as they are."
But we have two weeks, people. It's now or never. If you wanbt to make sure that we have any hope at all of weathering the tough coming years, then give a few hours to the campaign. You won't regret it.
Think of it this way. When Obama wins, if you volunteered, you will be able to tell your kids and grandkids, "I helped President Obama get elected." Cause you know this is fucking historic. On the other hand, do you want to wake up on November 5th with Sarah fucking Palin as our Vice President, and know you did nothing to keep it from happening? *
*No, I'm not above guilt-trips and scare tactics. :) But Sarah Palin as VP? What's scarier?