I’ll say it right away: the campaign trail is not for the thin-skinned.
You will have doors slammed in your face, sometimes by sweet old ladies who take one look at your button and scream “NO!”
You will see people peer out through a crack in the blinds and then pretend they’re not home.
More than that, on a presidential campaign, you will have to use the things you like least about your candidate as selling points to “swing” voters. You will have to choke down your anger at blatant racism and sexism to try to keep smiling and convey your point.
You will have to keep yourself honest.
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Tags: Obama, action, linklove, shameless self-promotion
I have a friend campaigning for Obama, going door to door, and he tells me a lot of the same stories. Lots of blatant racism. And even more of the subtle, “but you’re white, you must know what i mean, right? wink wink”… i can’t wait until the election is over!
p.s. HI!
Excellent piece.
When I canvassed for Morris Udall in 1976, people just looked at me and said “Who?”
Wearing a Jesse Jackson button in 1984? Could nearly get you shot.
Jerry Brown in 1988? They just shook their heads.
Glad you are on the job! Good work, girlfriend. (((wet, sloppy YES WE CAN kisses–SMOOOOCH!)))