Four great stories from Florida in just one day........

[Rebellious Republican]

Me and my evil DUer nephew (fnord) have been going door to door canvasing for the Obama campaign. More specifically we have been doing GOTV canvasing in poor areas. Passing out literature on early voting and where to go.

1st great story, as we walk through the neighborhoods, we have had groups of young children ages 5 to 12 years old following us. Seeing a couple of well dressed white guys (least not covered in body piercings and tattoos) in some of these areas is not a common sight. Any way we attract some attention to say the least. But we get these small kids coming up to us in groups and see our "Veterans for Obama" buttons and our Obama literature with O's picture on them. They get big grins from ear to ear when they see it and start talking excitedly about Obama. They start giving us thumbs up and shouting how much they like Obama and say they are going to vote for him. Now mind you these are small children, sure they are not old enough to vote but it sure says a lot about the topic of conversation and enthusiasm in these children's homes. :) We felt like the Pied Piper sometimes, and this did not just happen once through out the day yesterday.

2nd great story from the same day and neighborhoods. These areas are typically poor and underprivileged. So as you guess being in Florida these neighborhoods are predominately Black and Hispanic. As you might guess a large majority of the black population are very enthusiastic about the prospect of a black man winning the presidency. However we found that the hispanics in these areas are equally as enthusiastic about voting for Obama. We were very well received in these neighborhoods equally, we were treated like rock stars and thanked by many for our work for Obama. My point is just what a large proportion of hispanics live in these neighborhoods. They all support Barack Obama, so do not believe the BS about huge percentages of hispanics that support McCain.

3rd great story from yesterday, on our way home, we drove past a guy with a tent set up on a street corner selling T-Shirts. The only T-Shirts that we saw were all kinds of different styles of Obama T-Shirts. Very tastefully and creative designs, silkscreens you name it, but they were all Obama Shirts and yes there were people buying them as well. Now I do not know if he was fund raising or just trying to make a buck from Barracks rock star status, this was a mixed neighborhood by the way. My nephew (fnord) made a casual observation at that point, he said "isn't it great to see a candidate for president that people (all races) want to where a shirt with his face on it, its kinda like a Bob Marley thing". I may run back down there today and get one or two myself!

Fourth great story from yesterday, but took place on the previous day, friday, so we came home and was telling my wife about all the great things that happened (there is a lot more than what I am relaying here on DU) yesterday while we were out canvasing. She then proceeded to tell us about what happened to her on Friday when she went down to early vote. Because it related directly to what we were doing, GOTV early canvassing. She said she was standing in line to vote and there was a mature black lady(50 to 60)standing next her in line waiting to vote. They started chatting and was telling her about my plans to canvass for the Obama campaign on Saturday. The lady then explains to my wife how important that work is, because she herself is voting for the first time in her life and knew about the early voting and where to go because of people doing that kind of work.

There were more stories I could go on and on, like the really big menacing looking black guy with tattoos all over his body that was walking straight for us. As he got closer I noticed an "I Voted" sticker on his tank top. It was about that same moment when I saw him get a really big smile on his face sporting a solid gold tooth display. He rapidly approached and stuck his hand out to shake ours all the while he was saying how he noticed our Obama Buttons and glad he was that we were in his neighborhood reminding everyone to go vote and where they could go to vote. He then began to explain how he is forty years old and has never been allowed to vote is entire adult life because he was a convicted felon. He also explained how he started to get his life straightened out six years ago and is a recovering Drug Addict. He just had his voting rights recently restored and went down to vote early this day for the first time in his life. To him this was a major event in his life and was so happy and he had just wanted to share that with us and wanted to know where he could get an Obama button.

Man when you add it all up it tells a much bigger story and I will let you write your own ending for it. Just wanted to share some hope with everyone today before we head out again, we are going to request the same area we enjoyed it so much.

:kick:

[trof]

1. Thank you. K&R

[LaPera]

60. Her 85-year-old mother encountered a four-hour wait to vote in Broward County, FL

Since Obama has already won the presidency....no worry about voting...I certainly don't need to vote, there's plenty of Obama voters....Three Cheers for President Obama!!! He truly will be a great president!

Voters face long lines Florida

Florida, ground zero for many concerns about voting is also experiencing long lines during early voting. One caller to CNN’s hotline reported that her 85-year-old mother encountered a four-hour wait to vote in Broward County. CNN’s John Zarella found similar problems. Watch Zarella’s report about long lines in Broward on the first day of early voting.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/26/voters-face-long-lines-in-in-and-fl/ \

Florida vote deleting

Three counties in Florida report vote-flipping on the ES&S
and Sequoia machines. One county in Illinois, on the Sequioa Edge, and
one county in Arkansas, on the ES&S iVotronic.
In some cases, when the voter selects one candidate, the machine shows
an opponent is selected instead.

UPDATE Now the ES&S iVotronics in Sarasota County Florida aren't flipping, just deleting votes from the summary screen. Several people from different polling places report that their votes for Jennings (Dem candidate for 13 Cong Dist) don't appear on the review screen. They have to go back and vote for her again.

Voter Purging Back With A Vengeance (in Florida)

If the November vote is close, key swing states that have been illegally rejecting voters could become recount battlegrounds like Florida.

http://www.alternet.org/election08/102374/voter_purges_could_cause_florida-like_presidential_recounts/

[asdjrocky]

2. This is why I come to DU.

Good work. You never hear stories about what McCain volunteers do to, er, well, um, I guess you do. But these are great stories really, and thanks for the work. K&R!

[liberalmuse]

3. Beautiful stories!

Thank you so much for sharing them. It's nice to have some inspiration to go with my morning cup of coffee. :)

[madfloridian]

4. Recommended, RR my friend. Thank you.

And we had the good news that the forever Republican Lakeland Ledger endorsed Obama today.

Good things happening.

[Rebellious Republican]

14. Thanks MF, I appreciate the kick.

:hi:

[givemebackmycountry]

5. Four great stories - three great people!

You - your nephew and your wife.

Four great stories and one BIG kick!

[fNord]

39. Thanks for the complement givemebackmycountry

but virtue is its own reward, and as Michael More once said, "you canvassers are doing the work of the angels" I loved every minuet of it.

[OKNancy]

6. Thank you so much for this positive post!

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. great stories.

[ej510]

8. We have to win!

K&R!

[IndyOp]

9. I cannot help but be impressed by Charlie Crist's (R) decency in restoring voting

rights to so many people in Florida who had been in prison.

I am very, very clear that this is a victory for the citizen groups that have been working for this for many, many years and, still, Crist could've refused, but he signed.

[madfloridian]

11. Crist could do a lot more about early voting. He is not.

He and Browning could do it themselves if they cared. The long lines would stop.

[libertad]

47. There was a procedure in place long before Crist was governor for

restoring voting rights for convicted felons.

[NightWatcher]

10. A completely race-based reply from a 33 year old white guy

I love the instant when an African-American sees my Obama shirt, pin, or whatever and beams a smile across their face.

I was in "da hood" yesterday working and I saw a trailer setup in a parking lot that was selling barbecue. I was hungry so I approached. There was a guy in line in front of me as well as the two bbq workers. The man in line turned his back and stopped speaking to the vendor as I approached. "what can I do for you, HEY, nice pin" said the owner of the stand when he saw my Obama pin that I have been wearing nearly everyday in public for weeks. I put my "I voted" sticker on the pin, this past Friday. The man in line looked over his shoulder and saw the pin. He then turned and said "you voted for Obama, already?". I replied "sure did". All three of them laughed and began grinning from ear to ear as the old man who ran the stand started laughing.

This type of thing has happened to me several times here in South Georgia in the past few months as I have been wearing Obama shirts, pins, or my hat all over town. I have only gotten weird looks from McRage-voting white people. They do not DARE say anything to me.

I have also had several of the moments that you mentioned back during primaries while I was going door to door for Obama prior to Super Tuesday.

[Rebellious Republican]

13. A completely raced based reply from one 48 and one 28 year old

white guy. I also drive a Ford 150 and have a Navy Veteran sticker across the back windshield. I also sport my Obama for President on my tailgate. My nephew says it really must confuse the hell out of the "good ole boys" down here. He wants to get me a LARGE "Redneck for Obama" sticker made up that would fit across the length of my tail gate.

:toast:

[fNord]

36. Yha.....

with colors like : REDNECK FOR OBAMA

that should fuck up Joe-6-pack-plumber-whitebread's head:rofl:

[Patiod]

17. One of the blessing of living in a Blue area

The comments on my "Obama" and "Philies in Oct, Obama in Nov" pin are from both black and white folks - the young white kid in the supermarket this morning was VERY excited about the prospect of seeing both the Phillies and Obama win in the next 2 weeks.

There is a lot of love for him in the white community up here. He makes all of us feel calmer about the turbulent future.

Fewer McRagers, and they tend to keep mum about it.

[fNord]

41. Its quite amazing......

The last time I (a young white male) was this well received in a predominately black neighborhood, I was screaming "FREE BEER" from the back of a truck with kegs (we had just finished catering a large party, and needed to get rid of three half empty kegs before returning them.) Every one uncle RR and I met greeted us with open arms and gratitude for what we were doing. and the best part is, I think we got a few people motivated. Wile all but one of the people we talked to were Obama supporters,(how 'bout 'dem odds?) several seemed lacking in motivation until we put the address of where they the could go to vote early in they're hands. I mean yeah, we were making a difference. But when you see the look on someone's face when they realize that they, today, RIGHT NOW, can make a difference too, it's just incredible.

[The Hope Mobile]

59. I have had quite a few experiences like that too. I'm wearing Obama gear and

it takes me off guard because someone will go out of their way to communicate in a situation where they normally wouldn't. eg They tell me there's a sale on similar items like "Mamas for Obama" t shirts at such and such a place, etc.. I come away feeling like we're both really trying to say "we're all in this together and we're going to make it happen". There's almost an urge to hug, and comfort each other after what we've all been through for the last 8 years. Its really powerful.

[smoogatz]

12. Thank you for doing this important work.

Great stuff. I've said over and over that the African American vote in the south has been WAY under-polled, and that in reality states like NC, VA and FL aren't even going to be close. We'll see!

[Rebellious Republican]

15. No need to thank me for doing this work, its for purely selfish reasons

I want my country back! :evilgrin:

[Cha]

16. You must be high on the

great stories you personally encountered! Thanks for sharing so eloquently, RR.

[Rebellious Republican]

19. Cloud nine zidzi, cloud nine thanks for the props, that means a lot

coming from you. You have been around since the early days of DU and I have always thought of you as one of my mentors. Thanks for your tuteledge over the years! Our Southern Belles ain't got nothin' on you New York gals.:evilgrin:

:toast:

[Cha]

20. lol...I got my tutelage on DU!

Time to thank my mentors :toast:

And again, welcome you, Rebellious Republcan.

[glowing]

18. It's a healing... This country has needed healing and lifing up..

People around the world look to our country as the beacon of light.. AND we forgot the meaning of keeping it bright... We are learning and healing and making this country work for the least among us.. because that was why people came long ago, and still come... They are the least, and here they can have hope.

[Rebellious Republican]

21. Well said glowing, I believe we are living in a very historic social

turning point in our country. Something as great and on the same scale as the sixties social revolution. Our country has not experienced anything like it since. Barrack Obama's candidacy is causing us to confront issues that were first brought to our awareness over forty years ago. I believe JFK's and RFK's legacy and DR. Kings dream has come of age in the form of Barrack Obama. Glowing, I'll keep a light on for you!;)

:bounce:

[progressivebydesign]

22. You and fnord are doing the important work! I salute you!

Great stories!! Working in Florida and Ohio are the most important efforts right now. It's GOTV time, and what you guys are doing is amazing!!

[BlooInBloo]

23. Pretty much only Clinton supporters ever believed the "hispanic problem" business...

Thanks for your work!

[Nightjock]

24. Thank you

Thank you, thank you. I loved your stories! You made my day!

[Rebellious Republican]

31. Your welcome, glad I could put a smile on someones face, faces

look so much nicer with them!:pals:

[barack the house]

25. I love to hear voting stories they're exciting.

[renate]

26. Thanks to you and fnord for your hard work

Were you really once a Republican? That makes it even better! (And I love fnord's user name! He sounds like a Viking.)

And thank you so much for sharing these wonderful stories. I'm so glad you had as good a time living them as we did reading them. :hug:

[Rebellious Republican]

32. Yes I really was a republican before Jeb Bush took over down here

He was the epitome of arrogance, more than Poppy and W, its a good thing W ruined Jebs shot. Jeb is one devious bastard! I will never go back to the dark side.
:toast:

[fNord]

46. fnord is difficult to explain............

this is what Wikipedia has to say about it:

"Fnord is the typographic representation of disinformation or irrelevant information intending to misdirect, with the implication of a conspiracy. The word was coined as a nonsensical term with religious undertones in the Discordian religious text Principia Discordia (1965) by Kerry Thornley and Greg Hill, but was popularized by The Illuminatus! Trilogy (1975) of satirical conspiracy fiction novels by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson."

and here is a link that explains it a little better.

http://www.fnord.org/occult/discordia/text/what.is.fnord

you might also check out the one in my sig line

[renate]

63. interesting! thanks! n/t

[starroute]

27. There is going to be a whole generation of little boys named "Barack"

Heck, there'll probably be almost as many girls named "Baracka" -- or maybe "Obama" as a first name.

There is a shift of consciousness going on right now in minority communities that we will not even know the implications of until those little kids are grown up and patterning their lives on the basis of the thoughts and feelings they're experiencing right now.

It will be exciting to watch it happen.

I also wanted to say that I *really* liked your story about the "big menacing looking black guy" -- because that fellow looked like Ashley Todd's worst nightmare and instead he turned out to be a pussycat.

Maybe if Ashley Todd had an Obama bumpersticker instead of one for McCain, she'd find the world is much less menacing than she fears.

[Rebellious Republican]

33. Thats an interesting perpesctive, I did not think of that, even better!

:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

[fNord]

48. she might find the world less menacing if she learned to embrace herself.

[madmax]

28. Very inspiring.

Thank you for your work on behalf of Obama and thanks for sharing these heartwarming stories with us. :hug:

[Liberal Mommy]

29. Thank you for your hard work

I never get tired of these personal stories. :-)

[rosesareredroses]

30. i look forward to hearing your stories from today!!! n/a

[Rebellious Republican]

35. No interesting stories to share today, but we still had a great time

finishing that neighborhood today. Maybe fnord has one or two from his point of view. He should be getting on soon to reply to the wonderful props from everyone.

:toast:

[Secret_Society]

34. Thanks

[Liberalboy]

37. Thanks for all your hard work!

[tilsammans]

38. Great stories! Keep 'em comin'!

And thank you for all your hard work.

:toast:

[RollWithIt]

40. Over 1 Million Voted in Florida in 7 days.....

Here's the website... notice almost 800,000 before Saturday.

https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/fvrscountyballotreports/FVRSAvailableFiles.aspx

[fNord]

43. Holly Shit!!!111!!!! n/t

[MadMaddie]

42. You are doing a fine job Rebellious Republican !

These stories are wonderful to hear!

Keep up the good work!!

K & R!
:woohoo: :headbang: :applause: :woohoo: :headbang: :applause:

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

44. Thank you for this thread, I've thoroughly enjoyed it. K&R.

[tosh]

45. K&R and many thanks for sharing & for all you are doing out there.

[fNord]

49. And just a quick thought for everyone......

If the few hours My uncle and I spent out canvasing in the last few days can give us 8 wonderful years of growth, change, and prosperity, then we got the heavy end of the deal. We both voted last week, and we'll be back out there agin tomarow.

[windbreeze]

50. Thank you for what you do...

and for telling us about these wonderful incidences in your day....by the way Thanks to ALL the other volunteers too...wb

[sonias]

51. Loved all of your stories

And thank you and fnord for doing the great work you're doing out there in Florida.

:yourock:


Sonia

[grantcart]

52. great stories

and the one that is the most unreported is the ENTHUSIASM in the hispanice community.


They have no affection for McCain and they are going to be lost to the Republicans for generations.


Expect a lot of high level Hispanic appointments --- including Supreme Court.


The Republicans really fucked up on Immigration reform. Give them amnesty and get them into the party ASAP.

[Rebellious Republican]

53. Wow, I am sincerly moved by the response from my humble short stories

I have never had so many rec's for a post before. "Wow" is all I can say, Just wow I am truly honored, thank you all, wow!
:grouphug:

[Forkboy]

54. DU is pretty rough and tumble, with lots of news that makes us mad.

Seeing a thread like this is always a good thing, and we appreciate you sharing it with us. :)

[eowyn_of_rohan]

55. Great stories - great work!

REally I have to type through tears. I am so excited for our country, and believe Barak Obama is a unifying force - your stories prove it!

[Enthusiast]

56. Great story, I love it! nt

[Beregond2]

57. I'm not an easy crier, but that last story did it.

Thanks so much for your work.

[TNMOM]

58. Thank you for your work, and for posting these great stories.

[PatSeg]

61. K&R

[bertman]

62. Too late to rec, but here's a kick for two hard-working Americans for democracy.

[Redneck Socialist]

64. That's awesome! Good work! n/t

[JPZenger]

65. Thankful Obama campaign had Spanish brochures

In PA, I've seen much enthusiasm for Obama among Latinos. It is nice that the campaign has recruited many bi-lingual volunteers. Some people were very thankful that we had brochures in Spanish to hand out.