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Through the Looking Glass
A year ago, I had been a member of Barack Obama’s campaign through his official website for 3 months. I had already been donating to his campaign since the first quarter of 2007. I had already read both of his books. I fervently believed in his vision for America, and I fervently believed he needed all the help I could give him so that we could get there. I felt our nation was ready for change, but I wasn’t sure just how much change folks could handle.
A year ago, I felt Hillary Clinton was going to prove to be a very strong opponent. I felt she had every advantage (name, money and “Machine”), and I feared Barack had no chance in hell of even getting close.
Half a year ago, I thought McCain’s campaign was down the tubes, and worried that it would be a fight between Rudy and Romney on the Republican side.
Half a year ago, Iraq was more of a concern to most voters than the economy or the price of gasoline.
Looking back, would any of us have thought that June of 2008 would start like this? Looking back, what did you think June of 2008 would be like?
Before you answer that, though, I just want to close with a very guilty confession and one more question. Okay, two more questions.
First, the guilty confession: I haven’t made a phone call or knocked on a door for Barack Obama, ever. I went to one meet-up -- ONE -- in Manhattan in February of 2007. That’s it.
I’ve made it clear to friends, family and coworkers (and fellow drivers) that I am an Obama supporter, and I’ve kept the discourse about him going for a year. I have donated money to his campaign like crazy, $25 here, $50 there, and when I look at my total dollar amount donated so far I wonder why no one has had me committed. It’s not huge, to most folks, but to me (and my family, my boss, my friends -- my budget), it’s a lot.
I like to think that’s enough, but then I look at the energy and creativity of some of Obama’s most ardent supporters, people like me who don’t make much or have much, but (unlike me) choose to get off of their butts and out of the house and energize other people -- and I feel lazy as all get out.
My two last questions, therefore, are:
Anyone else suffer from this kind of guilt? If so, can you give some advice -- or at least a lazy “hell yeah“?
Comments (30)
Only slight qualm: "Half a year ago, I thought McCain’s campaign was down the tubes, and worried that it would be a fight between Rudy and Romney on the Republican side. "
I hoped this is how it would play out, rather than worried. I have had a sneaking suspicion that the only Repub who could challenge a Dem this year was McCain. I hope I'm wrong...
May 29, 2008 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed, but at the time, McCain was slipping down, down, down and I was hoping Romney would be the nominee because he seemed weakest to me.
It was Rudy I worried about in autumn of last year. Right up until he bunkered down in Florida. Or was it the phone call from Judith during his speech to the NRA? Before that, it was Rudy I worried about. Strange, but true.
May 29, 2008 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Two things you have to remember: One, I'm a New Yorker, so Rudy v. Clinton was being promoted as the ultimate of ultimate subway series. Two, I wasn't yet a member -- or reader -- of TPM at the time.
I was a HuffPo Girl and had not yet moved out of my little bubble and become aware of Josh's site yet.
May 29, 2008 8:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
A great way to get involved is to be willing to be a delegate (if yours is a caucus state). Although I probably spent no more than 20 hours supporting Obama at the precinct, legislative district, and congressional district processes, I feel good to pitch in. And "yes", I came to know many people who have spent hundreds or maybe even thousands of hours volunteering for Obama, so sure I have felt guilt at not doing more. But it was very heart warming to vote to send the hardest working and most dedicated volunteers to Denver so they can have a reward for their labors: a big party that is sure to be historic.
May 29, 2008 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I'm in a primary voting state here in NY, so I didn't get to caucus, but would have. I can't tell you how exciting it was for me to watch the caucuses on television (CNN but mostly C-SPAN). The whole process simply amazes me.
So, thanks for caucusing.
May 29, 2008 9:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
1) I suspected, and had posted here, that the GE would be consumed with the price of oil/gas and related issues. Unlike the Iraq War, where little sacrifice has come from citizens, the looming energy crisis will be something that affects everyone.
Also, as I've previously posted, energy will be the dominant issue for the next administration.
I note that "big issues" like Universal Health Care haven't been brought up lately. As I said months ago, these issues will pale compared to those concerning energy.
2) You should suffer no guilt -- no one contributes in the same way as anyone else, and that's fine as long as you contribute. For starters, you talk to cross-over voters since your family is one of the GOP.
Consider WWII: people with technical skills were assigned to develop radar and boost our manufacturing capability. You don't need to send these people to the front lines as infantry. Their sacrifice will have been less (they didn't die) but their contribution is just as important.
Moral to the story: don't feel guilty!
May 29, 2008 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was so involved in the Iraq issue, I didn't see the rest coming. Whenever someone mentioned gas prices, I thought of most other countries that pay a hell of a lot more than we do. Whenever someone mentioned health care, it confused me because there's so many pieces of the puzzle (insurance companies, drug companies, and Republicans crying "Socialized Medicine!! The Commies are comin'!! The Commies are comin'!!) that I'm still trying to piece it altogether and can't yet come up with any intelligent discourse about it.
If I'd been here at TPM then, I could've learned a lot from you. Now that I'm here, I do.
Thank you for helping free me of my guilt in such an intelligent manner. You are indeed a clear thinker.
:-)
May 29, 2008 9:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama has never needed volunteer help as much as he will in the next two weeks. All possible pressure needs to be put on uncommitted superdelegates to close down this primary after June 3. It is poised to happen: major powers including Nancy Pelosi and Jimmy Carter have strongly hinted that they will try to make it happen. But there continue to be indications from the Clinton campaign that she plans to fight on to the convention.
Check your representative and your two senators - have they committed? If not, email them. Let them know that the date they endorse Obama will be remembered in Democratic circles for a long time.
For good measure, email Howard Dean, Pelosi, Carter. Write Al Gore (he doesn't take emails). You can make up for all that guilt with a few clicks of the mouse and taps on the keyboard!! Go for it, LisB!!
And even if you don't no need to feel guilty. Talking up Obama with friends, family, coworkers is important work indeed. Clinton had plenty of name recognition. Obama's has grown like an underground wildfire thanks to millions of discussions among friends. You have been doing good work.
May 29, 2008 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, Wil. I'd talk to my two senators and my Rep about it, but my two senators are Schumer and Clinton. My Rep is Nita Lowey. All three seem to be in the tank for Clinton. So I don't really see that talking to them would help, but I do agree that this coming week is going to be very important.
I don't want to bother all the Super Dels out there who remain uncommitted, because I get the feeling they're being bombarded with all sorts of correspondence from both camps already.
So I'll just throw all my efforts into talking and emailing and blogging.
A very happy note, by the way: I loaned my hardcover copy of "The Audacity of Hope" to my right-leaning Independent sister on Saturday, and she's almost finished reading it. She is so impressed by it that she wants to lend it to our mother next.
Progress, progress.
May 29, 2008 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
"my two senators are Schumer and Clinton"
Ouch!
May 29, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can almost see you biting your lip, in compassion. I can almost see you "feeling my pain".
;-)
May 29, 2008 10:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
A last goodbye - it is about one minute before this sandcastle post flows away with the waves. Not too much pain - I actually like Schumer a lot. Used to love Hill, and hope to again some day.
Farewell!
May 30, 2008 8:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Strikes me that posting here in the thoughtful manner in which you do is also a contribution. It may feel like preaching to the converted, but even if most people reading are also Obama supporters, new ideas for how to convert others are always valuable.
May 29, 2008 9:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you. Care to give me some new ideas?
Just kidding.
Thank you very much for the kind words. I've loved writing since I was a teenager so it comes naturally.
Getting off my butt doesn't, heh heh.
Thank you all, though, for making me feel less guilty, and for sharing your insight.
May 29, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell yeah.
I'd like to do more, but we do what we can.
May 29, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, we do, Leroy/Lamont. Yes, we do what we can.
And BTW, you're quickly becoming my second "crush" here at TPM (right there in second place behind DF). Your blogs blow my mind.
Or, should I say, your "non" blogs blow my mind. I'll leave it to Otto and my other friends to tell me I have a "non-mind" to go with them....not that I've seen Otto and my other friends lately....and not that I mind.
May 29, 2008 10:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
LisB, Have no fear (or guilt), Kathy "she who used to sit on the sidelines" is here!
You are volunteering two very different but important things to the campaign. Donating your hard earned money so Barack can continue the fight and by writing at TPM and making people think!
I left my comfort zone almost a month ago for the NC primary and came back all "fired up" as the campaign says.
I've blogged......ordered t-shirts and pins from the Obama store......posted comments.......blogged some more........and have been unable to make any other Obama campaign events since.
But I check in at the Obama website and stay informed. I just was sent an email for an event from Obama Supporters Want This War To End
with a poignant story of a Marine escorting another soldiers body home.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4v89
Sometimes we carry the water and sometimes we give the water carrier a drink. That's my philosophy.
May 29, 2008 10:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, Kathy. May I say that you are one lady I'd love to sit down with over a cup of coffee and have a great talk with. I think we'd be forever friends.
May 29, 2008 11:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lis, thanks for the compliment and I'll take you up on the offer of a cup of coffee. All my family is in Schenectady, NY and I pass by your way often.
May 30, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I must admit that I've given till I bleed--a lot. And yes, I haven't canvassed or called or even registered anybody yet. But, I did form a symbiotic relationship. I hooked up with Musicians for Obama at the Obama website. I donate money through their fund raisers and they make two calls for every dollar. They are college students who are fired up, but college poor. Between my donations and others, they have made well over 10,000 calls. I do feel kind of guilty not to personally do more, but they assure me that this is a good thing that we do together. My skin crawls at the idea of knocking on a stranger's door or trying to win people over with talking points. However, I saw a get out the vote video of Michelle Obama calling identified voters in the day or two before an election and I'm working up to doing that in the general. You don't have to know a lot, you just encourage them to vote and ask if they need a ride. Think I could do that. Also, got as far as attending a get out the vote rally. Can't see me walking up to strangers, but I have a card table and I can see me sitting at it with a sign and a pile of forms at softball games, summer street fairs and other public gatherings where people can choose to walk up to me. (And I get to sit down and hide behind the table. I think I'm an awful coward, but I'm being honest here with you.) The Obama campaign is doing pretty well, so I think we should pat ourselves on the back for what we've done so far and maybe stretch our creativity a little to think of non-traditional ways to help. I've been thinking of cooking a meal or making a dessert for Clinton supporting friends whose feathers I may have ruffled at one time or another---you know, make peace one bite at a time? Or maybe set up a voter registration table for seniors at the high school or community college with home made cookies for the starving young. And I'm looking for lots of other ideas. If anybody has some, I'd love to hear them. And thanks for the post. I thought I might be the only one.
May 29, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
GREAT ideas, and thank you for joining me in coming out of the closet. You make me want to get into baking again. Closest I come to the kitchen lately is to get something out of the freezer and pop it into the microwave while watching MSNBC.
No wonder my digestive tract is the way it is.
Thanks, karela, you provided some really good ideas...and yeah, I could see myself sitting at a table next to my little town hall building, getting people to register. I can see that happening sometime soon.
May 29, 2008 11:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd just like to add that there's nothing wrong with a lazy "hell yeah" now and then.
So keep it coming.
May 29, 2008 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and, um....I just gave $100 to Barack's campaign tonight. Didn't even have to get off my ass to do it.
May 29, 2008 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lis: I'd say you're doing a lot more than most. For me, I've taken the year off to finish up my dissertation- but thanks to Obama and a very special thanks to Hillary- if I spent writng half the number of words I wrote on TPM in the last 6 months I may have finished my dissertation.
My contribution mostly has been volunteering- although its much easy to convince people here in New York City. I have given them some money in the beginning of the campaign, but can't afford anymore. I try to compensate by sending Obama favorable emails, videos, stories to every online internet group I belong to, every friend I know,etc.
I lost some steam after the Wright theatrics and was really hurt- not the release of his youtube video but when he came out publicly embarassing Obama. I realized how over-invested I was in this campaign and decided to take a more philopshical approach. I'm willing to invest my time for a Obama win, but now I tell myself to take it easy. I want him to win, but if he doesn't there is nothing much I can do. I feel less desperate but my interest in his candidacy hasn't waned.
May 30, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Monkywrench, I love your comment that "sometimes we carry the water, and sometimes we give the water carriers a drink." Thats what I did during our primary here in New Hampshire.
I'm 53 years old and have done my share of knocking on doors, making phone calls, etc., over the years. I find I just don't have the energy for that anymore (my husband and I are raising our granddaughter). But during the NH primary, I offered our house as a staging ground for all the volunteers who were going out canvassing (carrying the water). They came from all over the country and they were so young and idealistic, it just made me so happy to see them everyday! We fed them, and watered them, let them use our computers, and a couple even camped out on the couch. Wonderful, wonderful kids - made me nostalgiac for my youth. I have a particular soft spot for the young man from California who went out canvassing in 3 ft of snow in his sneakers!
So Lis, don't feel guilty. We all do what we can, in anyway we can, and it all helps.
May 30, 2008 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, KZ. What an awesome story!
May 30, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I get in knifefights with Republicans and steal Hillary yard signs...does that count?
Seriously, I totally get where you're coming from - I donate cash when I can, but it's my bf who's went doorknocking in surrounding states. I wanted to go, but I travel for work so it's rough. So, I support the bf and work on converting my republican/military family.
But I don't feel guilty...want to know how much I did for Kerry?? Zero. Talk about guilt.
May 30, 2008 6:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell yeah, I hear you. I wish I had paid the same amount of attention to the last election that I've paid to this one.
Get I get a hell yeah.
May 30, 2008 9:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
You do realize that when I say "knifefights with Republicans" I'm picturing something out of West Side Story, right? Envision McCain pirouetting to "when you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way..."
Then I steal a yard sign. *Yoink!*
May 31, 2008 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hell YEAH!
May 31, 2008 12:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
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