While I sit at home with two sick kids and an SO enjoying 10 days at Burning Man, thought I'd do an update to my "man/woman on the street" thing. I routinely poll my friends, co-workers and family to hear what they have to say, and who they're voting for. My previous "man/woman on the street" thing can be found here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5052161So my boss calls to ask, as he's cruisin' down the highway in his convertible Benz with the top down (something he never hesitates to tell me when he calls):
"Waddaya think about Grampy's VP pick, Emit?"
"It's nuts, ain't it?" I say.
"Yeah, the only worse pick woulda' been Huckabee, don't 'cha think?!" (jovial laughter) "But, she's kinda' cute, no?"
"Sexist much?" I think to myself but dare not say. Hey, I NEED this job.
Yeah, he's a bit sexist - but he's a Democrat, and as elitist and wealthy as he is, he's constantly talking to all his rich friends about how they better be voting for Obama this year - persuading them to not vote Repug this year. He's been a Dem all his life, and would've voted for any Dem on the ticket. Thinks Obama should've chosen Hillary, but he's satisfied with Biden.
Checking the mail, my neighbor just informed me that now he doesn't know if Obama is qualified to handle "this thing with Russia." This is a guy who talks incessantly about impeachment of Bush & Co., 9-11 conspiracy, stolen elections, you name it, he's complained and/or bought into it and is farther to the left than I am on most issues. Now he's doubting Obama. *sigh*
My newly hired co-worker, our secretary, is a 50+ year-old Hispanic woman. Her take is that we have the worst candidates this year to choose from.
"You don't like Obama?" I asked, genuinely surprised at her cynical comment.
"Oh no, he's way too inexperienced."
"So, you're not voting for McCain are you?" Wincing inside for being so politically forward during her first days on the job.
"Well, who I really like was that Morman guy. What's his name?"
Silence on my part. She continues with how her husband lost his insurance as a trucker, how gas prices are killing him, how she's got some chronic disease, and how they pay $600 a month for their Cobra policy. She then goes on and on about how she's not prejudiced (re: her not liking Obama) and how horrible Rush Limbaugh is on illegal immigrants, but it's the only station she gets where she lives so she hears him on occasion. I walk away just as confused as where she stands as ever, thinking there is no hope ... no hope with misinformed voters like these.
May saner minds prevail this November, I say to myself.
Then my other neighbor calls. He has devoted his career working as an organizer for the unions, was just recently fired from the Union he was working for. He is ecstatic with Obama's choice in choosing Biden as his running mate! My spirits lift. He said he had the privilege of driving Biden around during the primaries and really liked Biden's style. Said Biden talked straight about the 'neocons' and all - was totally blown away at how he spoke so candidly.
Then I get a call from a lady I used to volunteer with. I had called the Obama campaign several weeks ago, but have yet to be asked to do anything specific.
"Emit, are you doing any thing to win this election?" She asks.
"Yeah, I want to, but haven't been assigned any duties yet. I was just about to go down to the Obama headquarters and volunteer to make a few calls," I explain.
"Good" she said. "Because I just gave your number to the District Coordinator and the front man hired by the Obama campaign. They're both new here and could use your help."
"I'm on it," I say.
No sooner had I hung up when my Repug-turned-Dem father-in-law calls.
"When I return from Burning Man, wanna' walk and knock with me for Obama?" He asks.
"You betcha!" I say, smiling at his new-found liberalism.
There is hope, after all.
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