Fired up and ready to go....

On 9/4/08, I went to the opening of the Southern California Barack Obama headquarters in Culver City.  Apparently 150 people RSVP'd on the site for the opening, but many many more showed up - over 500 or so.  It was so crowded inside that they moved us all to some parking lot outside.  There were loads of people, news helicopters circling, a few speakers, one being Gil Garcetti, LA's Attorney General, and oh yeah, a disgruntled woman on her 2nd floor apartment patio trying to hose down supporters.  It was pretty exciting and there was an energy in the air that had everyone motivated, fired up....and well, ready to go... I encourage any of you to check out the Headquarters. They are open every day and looking for folks to do some calling and some campaigning... check it out. 

Southern California Barack Obama Headquarters:

3619 Motor Ave. 2nd Fl.

LA, CA 90034

Still feeling a little fired up, today I spent 3 hours at my local Barack Obama phone bank.  My friend Jonathan kindly invited me to join him in volunteering to call voters in what is being called California's "swing" state-Nevada. We met at a local coffee shop, Cafe Tropical (great Cafe con Leche, by the way).  For anyone else in the Echo Park/Silver Lake area, Cafe Tropical will be hosting a phone bank every Saturday from 1p-4p (up until the election).  Just bring your cell phones. 

Cafe Tropical

2900 Sunset Blvd.

LA, CA 90026

At first it was awkward - I had flashbacks of my own feelings each time someone calls me at home with a 'survey.' - But, I dialed on.  Since it was a Saturday afternoon, most of the people weren't home.  Out of about 30 or 35 phone calls, I think I might have spoken to about 12 people.  Not the best ratio and all the more reason to try to call again.  At  first, I guiltily must admit, I was secretly hoping for answering machines - but then I eased up. Talking to a few supporters, taking a minute to hear the issues that were driving their decisions helped me to solidify and articulate the reasons why I support this candidate.  Out of the people who answered, about 4 were for Obama, 3 were  for McCain, 2 were undecided and 3 or so were the flat out "don't bother me at home" hang up folks.  And frankly, some people said they just didn't feel right talking about it over the phone.  My friend Jonathan had the pleasure of listening  to an anti-corporation spiel by a gentleman who was PRO nothing, for the most part.   

I end up having a conversation with a 67 year old woman, Martha, a McCain supporter.  I ask her what issues helped to form her opinion.  I ask, if she doesn't mind, to explain to me the reasons she is a McCain supporter.  She begins to carry on about Obama's "arrogance."  She says, he's "so full of himself" and it "definitely showed in that speech of his."  "He thinks he's a rock star."  I let her finish and realize that she is a McCain supporter mainly by default - mainly because she has been watching too much TV - and mainly because she hasn't taken the time to get to know this candidate.  Thankfully, she turns it around and asks me to give her one reason why I am a supporter.  I am upfront with her. I tell her I have never really been involved in politics at all.  I mention that I am from a small town and that my parents still live in that small town.

I tell her that one of my (many) reasons for supporting Obama is the plan he laid out to eliminate income taxes for senior citizens making under $50,000 a year.  I explain to her that I think it's unfair that my father is paying more in taxes now, as a retiree, than he did while he was working.  I say, "Not sure of what your upbringing was, but we were straight blue collar middle class."  She chimed in "Oh me too, and I'm retired now."  And I told her that I don't agree that McCain says, hey you can offer up your life to America, but he won't rally a call to the ultra rich/corporations to pay more in taxes.  When the richest man in the world, Warren Buffett, pays less in taxes than one of his secretaries, well then something is completely unbalanced AND unjust.   She told me she wasn't "aware of all that."   When I asked her if she would consider learning a little more about Obama and the direction in which he and Joe Biden want to move our country, she flatly but  kindly tells me "probably not." She says Obama would have to work "real hard" to change ole Martha's mind.

Oh well, if anything, it got me thinking more about my own reasons for wanting to get involved in this campaign.  

                       Jonathan keeps a smile while chatting with a disgruntled McCain supporter.

I do know, that I definitely don't want more of the same....

For events in your area go to www.barackobama.com and search under "Find Events"