I got a haircut today. The barber, a woman, first asked me if I wanted to watch the sports channel or CNBC, to see what the stock market is doing. I told her I’d be fine with watching one of the news channels. So, she happily told me she’d put on FOX because it is more ‘sensational’. I groaned to myself and nodded my assent.
As she began cutting my hair, she cautiously inquired about my presidential preferences. Not wanting a confrontation, I cautiously said I was supporting Obama. To my surprise, she lit up like a Christmas and told me ‘Thank God! Eighty percent of my customers are supporting McCain. If McCain wins, I think I’ll cry.” We got along fine after that.
A friend of hers came in to visit. My barber asked her who she was supporting. The friend was perplexed and expressed indecision. “I saw that Obama was gonna raise taxes.” I calmly explained that Obama would cut taxes for everyone making under $250,000 and would only raise them on people making more than that. I also explained that McCain’s economic policies were very much like George W. Bush’s and look at the economy today. That seemed to win her over. Then she asked me about McCain’s running mate. I said, “I don’t know why he would pick someone that doesn’t know anything.” The two of them both agreed wholeheartedly. “Imagine her as president? She doesn’t know anything, and McCain is really old.”
So, the lesson I take from this is that winning the argument is a LOT easier this year than in 2004. A few simple logical constructs are enough to sway an undecided voter. In 2004, it took a lot more effort and the end result was less decisive.
Get out there and talk to people. It’s easy this time.
I’ve worn my “Teamsters For Obama” shirt out on the town and had many favorable responses. I’ve also seen quite a few Obama stickers on cars, too. People are paying attention this year.
One day at a time.
nice anecdotes however the most pressing question of the day is….
did you also get a shave?
beard trim. I miss my old south philly guy. I let him shave me because he used the straight-edge.
Unfortunately here in northern Kentucky/suburban Cincy, most cars are covered in McSame/Geoff Davis/Mitch McConnell stickers.
Plus the occasional NOBAMA sticker.
Although since Mitch came down on the side of the bailout, he’s in trouble round these parts.
There aren’t undecided voters in Boone or Kenton counties, sadly.
There aren’t too many undecideds here in Jefferson county either, but it’s to our good – Obama will clean up around here. Unfortunately, it’s probably the only votes that he’ll get in the entire state…
in my neck of the woods, rural Northern VT, solid.tight. GOP country, something is going on here. The area is usually festooned with GOP signs, Not this year.
Over 12 miles and only 5 McCain signs.
I counted signs last weekend in the main street of the ritziest neighborhood of a very Republican Pennsylvania county: 12 Obama, 3 McCain.
On a middle-class street: 3 Obama, 1 McCain. Plus another oddity, several signs for a popular Republican state senator by themselves in yards, with no accompanying McCain sign.
my relatives in GA, in heavy Republican burbs, are telling me the same thing.
I’ve convinced a few people to vote for Obama with similar arguments, and explaining to them John “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” is not going to make us safer with how he will handle international relations.
Despite a nice diary over at DailyKos (from a Black woman who says she convinced a White racist to consider Obama), I believe it’s up to the White Obama supporters to persuade their fellow White uncommitted citizens, face to face.
This is from DailyKos from a few weeks ago:
If you run upon someone who doesn’t think they can vote for Obama because he’s Black, tell them this:
The United States is a boat that has had holes punched in it, and is leaking.
You have two choices:
What do you choose?
Before you answer, remember this: Your Children and Grandchildren are in the boat with you.
I thought this was good.
because I, ahem, ‘ sound White’. But, alas, I can’t do the face-to-face convincing.
Don’t worry at my job, and if you knew you would have to kill me, I am known as the passionate Democrat albeit with a Bill Maher approach. I assure you I am fighting the good fight. Barak Obama will win this election even if I have to die of a heart attack.
BTW: Good analogy. The repugs have wrecked the economy and led us into a
war,surgeoccupation without end. But its not white on black its just common sense.