This will be my last blog post. It feels strange. The last few days have been overwhelming for me.
Yes we did.
I must admit that I was not prepared for the world’s reaction to Barack’s victory. To see people in far off lands dancing in the streets, Times Square and Grant Park filled with throngs of people, folks everywhere dancing and ecstatic with joy, has kept the tears coming for days.
This is such a profound healing for our country and our nation on so many levels. This change is about so much more than politics. This is a defining spiritual shift in our country and for the planet earth. There is the scientific theory that the first human beings were from Africa, that Africa was in essence the true and original Garden of Eden. If that is true, when since the first humans in Africa have black folks been on top in the history of our species? So this is not only an event that defines the true ending of the American civil war but also a full-circle moment that lifts up our African roots as the birthplace of humanity and the re-birth of hope and humanity and peace.
Upon reflection, I can see now that the past six weeks have been one of the most important experiences of my life. I feel like I was born to do what I did this fall. I am profoundly inspired and changed. My father rode Jim Crow – the first African-American freedom rides. Not a day went by in the last six weeks that I did not feel him in bones, walking the streets of Colorado, making phone calls, training volunteers, pushing on. After 20 books about race and spiritualityand a life singularly dedicated to being (what Barack would call) a Community Organizer, I am in awe of my father and his legacy, as never before. I wish he could be here on earth at this moment to share our profound joy and I thank him for paving the way. (I love you, Daddy.)
My life will now go forward now with a greater level of service. I don’t know what form that will take and I am open.
Thanks to everyone I had the privilege of meeting in Colorado, my hosts Jill and Dave, the lovely Margaret who gave me her car for 6 weeks, Terry our office manager who inspired me to be a better human being, and the amazing staff and volunteers.
I especially want to send a sincere “thank you” to every single rood, mean-spirited, door-slamming hater who said things like “Go back to your prison cell,” and shouted “Nigger,” and “You tell Obama to take his socialist politics elsewhere,” to all of you, you were the fuel that kept me going every day.
And thank you to every one of the 62 amazingly generous folks who got me out to Colorado for 6 weeks by paying all my bills. (I wrote each of you a thank you card…I hope you received yours in the mail.)
Finally, here is my favorite moment from our new President Barack Husseing Obama, this past Tuesday evening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69JeattgAqI&feature=related
Monday was the day before election day and we had an overwhelming number of out of state volunteers helping out so I decided to take a new friend Bev to a rally with Michelle Obama in the afternoon. This was Michelle’s last rally after almost two years of campaigning. The rally was at a high school gymnasium in Littleton, Colorado.
I have seen a lot of secret service agents in the past several weeks so when Michelle came out I immediately noticed something I had never seen before: a black, female agent. The agent stood at the base of the stage as Michelle spoke.
Toward the end of her speech – which was a good 30 minutes with no notes and no teleprompter – Michelle told a story. She said that recently she was shaking hands with folks at an event and a little 10 year-old black girl pushed her way to the front and said, “Mrs. Obama, I have something very important to tell you.”
“What’s that?,” Michelle said.
The little girl went on, “Mrs. Obama, do you realize that your husband could be the next President of the United States?”
Michelle recalled that she looked at the girl, thought for a moment, and then replied, “I have thought about that, but what does it mean to you?”
The girl started to cry. Her tears were not soft tears but rather full-on sobs. Through her tears the girl looked at Michelle and spoke, “It means I can be anything I want to be.”
As Michelle finished telling this story I looked down at the black female secret service agent. Staring stoically ahead, the agent lifted her hand and wiped her eye.
I must admit this has hit me a little bit:
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/obama_win_causes_obsessive
Nov. 5, 2008
Dear Brother Obama,You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place. It is really only to say: Well done. We knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone.I would further advise you not to take on other people's enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely. However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, "hate the sin, but love the sinner." There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a people's spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.A good model of how to "work with the enemy" internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.We are the ones we have been waiting for.In Peace and Joy,Alice Walker
First off, please vote even if it means standing in lines for a long time. Don't let long lines harass you out of voting for Barack.
My activity rating should probably should be a bit higher than 2 out of 10.
After I attended Camp Obama in Brooklyn, I came to Western Pennsylvania to work as a Deputy Field Organizer in the Eastern Suburbs of Pittsburgh. I've been here five weeks.
I've made thousands of phone calls, knocked hundreds of doors, talked to hundreds of voters, registered scores to vote, made signs (very badly), fixed a broken local network, entered countless pages of canvass and phone data, driven some very windy back roads (and gotten lost more than once), met some fascinating and fun people, and worked so much and slept so little I've had a near-constant cold for weeks now.
It's been inspiring but I'm not a youngter: I'm pretty tired and now have a couple days of hard work before it's all over and I fly back to NYC on Wednesday.
When I decided to come to PA (the sister state of NY for DFO's) the state was kinda close in the polls. Shortly after that decision Obama opened up a lead he's maintained. In recent days, McCain has pushed all his chips into the Keystone state and polls have tightened, so I believe I've made a decision and done work that could help Barack win a decisive victory.
Maybe I'll write more about it later. Right now, it's off to sleep and then up to run a staging location in Plum.
Let's win this thing!
I am too tired to string together a coherent blog post.
Friday I worked at one polling location for 8 hours. Obama: water, stickers, posters and voter guides handed out all day, an appearance by the Governor of Colorado, Robert Redford across the street making an appearance for the campaign, and three lawyers and seven volunteers on site all day. McCain: 10:20AM – 11:05AM one rogue guy standing all alone in a shirt and tie with a sign from a rally. No materials, silent, unable to answer anyone’s questions.
I handed out water to people in line to vote - probably 1500 bottles. There were moments when it took every ounce of strength not to cry. I was overwhelmed by the passion people have for voting in this election.
The past four days I have trained about 100 out of state volunteers. Volunteers are pouring in from California and Texas, among other places.
When I arrived here five weeks ago we had more registered republicans than democrats in this county. Today we have 5700 more dems.
One woman here – Linda – registered over 1500 voters single-handedly over the last several months.
People who have not taken at least one hour over the last few months to help this campaign make no sense to me.
The people I meet here every day are my heroes. I have made some incredible friends.
Yesterday I knocked on 50 or 60 doors. The fresh air and walking was a welcome relief to the hustle and bustle of this florescent-lit office.
I am so exhausted.
Sometimes I feel as if I am in a parallel universe.
We have 48 hours left.
I still keep thinking about that moment last week when I shook the Senator’s hand. It meant every second of five weeks here to me.
I wish my father was here to see this moment in American history. I feel him in my bones.
I want tickets to the inauguration and one of the balls. Help!
This is it!
We're coming down to the final stretch and Barack Obama needs your help now, more than ever before!
Please bring your cell phone, a charger and a few fun friends who care about change and join with thousands of your neighbors in the largest ever-attempted phone bank effort in New York state history. The Obama campaign is hosting several of these "mega call centers" all over New York, so invite your friends and family to make calls to voters in key battleground states and change America for years to come.
Visit http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/nylastcall to find a location near you.
Yesterday I spent the day at an early voting poll here in Aurora. The lines were about 90 minutes. And some folks were going home. We were there to hand out water and democratic voter guides, answer questions and direct people who were denied their right to vote to our legal staff.
I know most of you who are reading this probably think Barack has this election in the bag. I am not so optimistic. We have an unprecedented number of voters and a system that is not prepared to efficiently process everyone’s vote. The 200 election was decided by 537 votes. So every vote really does matter.
I was so tired by the end of the day yesterday that every bone in my body hurt. There is nothing more important I could imagine doing with my day that making sure one more vote is counted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX40RsSLwF4
This is an official Obama website: http://yeswecarve.com
And here are a few pun-kins:
The Squashacity Of Hope
Glowbama
Change Your Pumpkin, Change Your World
Grab Change by the Stem
Orange State
Every Pumpkin Counts
Carve Change, Glow Hope
Barack O’ Lantern or Jack O’ Bama?
The Change We Seed
Yesterday I ran the disability section of the rally here in Denver that Obama visited. The crowds were estimated by several news sources as Obama’s largest rally to date at over 100,000.
Saturday night I attended a training for the next days events. By the time I got home and went to sleep it was 1:45AM. Then I was up at 5:15AM and on site at 7AM. It was a non-stop, exhausting day. I had a few dozen volunteers and was responsible for seating all the disabled folks wanting to attend the event. I volunteered for the job because my mom is disabled and I have a good understanding of the needs of the community.
This was the hardest job I have done to date. Because of the record number of people, there was not enough space to seat everyone in line. Turning people away was heartbreaking. And crowd control is not an easy task. Able-bodied guests in the disabled section would stand during the rally directly in front of people in wheelchairs. Countless times when I asked people to sit down, or make room for an aisle, or exit one way instead or another, they would just look at me and do nothing. “That would be now, please,” was my mantra.
We were 50 feet from the senator as he spoke. I wasn’t able to singularly focus on him because of my job but nonetheless I teared up as he spoke. I have never seen these numbers of people even at a rock concert. Afterwards, Barack came down the line to shake hands with folks. I was a good six people deep from the barrier and was intent on just getting some good candid, close-up photos. In a moment of sheer luck he looked at me and before I could think I locked on his eyes, lunged my arm forward and shook his hand.
A handshake normally seems like a small gesture but somehow it meant everything to me: leaving the comfort of my entire life in New York behind, living in an unfamiliar place for five and a half weeks with strangers and day-in and day-out working tirelessly for a man you have never met. The fleeting moment of flesh-on-flesh and eye-to-eye filled me with all the love and hope and good energy I need to stay fired up through these final eight days.
P.S. I also wouldn’t mind an invitation to the inauguration and one of the balls, if anyone reading this can hook me up!
Earlier this week our office got an email that HRC was coming to Aurora. I had no idea who HRC was. HRC: Hillary Rodham Clinton. At our staff meeting three nights ago it was announced that they needed volunteers to work the rally for HRC. I submitted myself enthusiastically. The next morning I got a call from our office manager Terry asking me if I’d like to be submitted to be a driver when Hillary comes to town. I’d have to pass an FBI check.
Yesterday was 11 days until the election. 11 is also my lucky number. I spent the day driving HRC’s staff car in her motorcade all over greater Denver. It was surreal. We met at a private terminal at the Denver Airport where I met up with a local staffer and the secret service. It was straight out of the movies. The cars were lined up on the tarmac: Two motorcycles, a police cruiser, HRC’s SUV, two Secret Service SUV’s, a staff SUV (that I drove), another police cruiser, and two more motorcycles. They gave me a briefing on how the day would go and how to keep up with the motorcade. I couldn’t believe they had an ordinary volunteer doing this!
HRC’s plane landed (a small private jet), her two staffers jumped in the back of my car and we were off. I put my hands on the steering wheel and they were soaked. I have never run so many stop signs and red lights in my life!
And the secret service were not kidding when they briefed me on “keeping up.” I had to stay very close to the car in front to me at high speeds so no ordinary cars could get in front of me, without rear-ending the secret service intelligence car in front.
Whoosh! We sailed into the restricted area of the rally HRC was speaking at. The rally went well and I got to hang out and chat with the secret service folks, watch Hillary get ready, mingle with the local politicians, the governor of Colorado and then watch HRC inspire the crowds. Then we were off again to a downtown Denver hotel for a fundraiser.
As the motorcade sped through Denver, the staffers were constantly busy in the back seat: clicking away on their blackberries like the snap, crackle, pop sound of milk on Rice Krispies, patching the senator (three cars ahead) into a conference call with a reporter (“You have 5 minutes with the senator…is it live or recorded?”). These staffers go everywhere with HRC. Three in all. One personal assistant, Huma, who is tall, lanky, beautiful and dressed to the nines and two twenty-something staffers straight out of an episode of The West Wing.
I snuck in to the hotel reception for a few minutes as Hillary gave an intimate talk about the election, healthcare and the economy to a room of about 75 folks. As HRC departed the reception and entered the lobby a few folks in the lobby cheered and the sight of her. One large woman came barreling towards HRC, right past the secret service and gave her a big bear hug. I imagine it is moments like this that both exhaust and fuel the senator.
We got back in the motorcade to head to the airport. “Is every day like this?,” I asked the two staffers in the back seat. “Yes,” they chimed in chorus. HRC’s plane landed and 2:45 and didn’t depart Denver till 9PM, with not a moment to eat or use the bathroom. I asked about her itinerary. HRC had traveled to Pittsburg that day and then to Denver and then to Salt Lake City where they’d sleep. Tomorrow: rally #1 in Salt Lake, fly to New Mexico – rally #2, fly to Texas – rally #3, and fly to Chicago to sleep there.
And the staffers said every day is like this. For two years now.
For anyone out there who has every given Hillary flack for not doing enough to help Barack, you try to fill these shoes. I couldn’t. And it’s true when they say the TV puts 10 pounds on you: the senator is in great shape. Maybe its because her schedule gives her little time to eat but nonetheless I was impressed.
This day gave me a true sense not of the glamour of being a jetsetter but of the physical and mental sacrifice folks like HRC and her staff make every day for our country. I kept thinking all day of that moment in New Hampshire in early January when HRC fought back tears as a voter asked her how she held it all together:
"It's not easy. It's not easy. And I couldn't do it if I just didn't passionately believe it was the right thing to do," HRC said. "This is very personal for me. It's not just political. It's not just ... I see what's happening and we have to reverse it," she said, her voice cracking. "Some people think elections are a game. They think it's like who's up, who's down. It's about our country. It's about our kids' futures. And it's really about all of us together."
Barely able to compose herself, she labored on: "You know, some of us put ourselves out there and do this against some pretty difficult odds…and we do it - each one of us - because we care about our country."
To do what I witnessed just 6 hours of yesterday requires an almost bottomless devotion and a total sacrifice. HRC and her amazing staff are my newest heroes on this unforgettable five and a half week adventure.
This easy to visit historical area is as significant as Philly, its suburbs, and Pittsburgh, as one of the main sources for voters to swing Pennsylvania for Barack Obama. These towns are easily reached via TransBridge bus from Port Authority: Easton, Bethlehem ( my location ), or Allentown ( which has 2 offices). Do a little leaf peeping on the way and get ready to Get Out The Vote!
Check the website for PA field office contact info, or contact me at msfishkin@yahoo,com
I must admit that when I heard that Powell was planning on endorsing Obama this weekend, I thought it a bit wimpy this late in the game. To wait until now is like waiting till the third quarter and choosing the winning team.
But then I just watched the video of Powell’s endorsement, sitting here in front of Starbucks in suburban Colorado, and I cried. Not because of the endorsement, but because of these comments by Powell:
“I’m also troubled by…what members of the [Republican] party say, and is permitted to be said, such things as, ‘Well you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.’ Well, the correct answer is, 'He is not a Muslim, he’s a Christian, he’s always been a Christian.' But the really right answer is, 'What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? ' The answer’s 'No, that’s not America.'
Is there something wrong with some 7-year-old Muslim American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion he’s a Muslim and he might be associated with terrorists. This is not the way we should be doing it in America.
I feel strongly about this particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture, at the tail end of this photo essay, was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son’s grave, and as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards, purple heart, bronze star, showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death, he was 20 years old, and then at the very top of the headstone, it didn’t have a Christian cross, it didn’t have a Star of David, it had a crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Ushad Sultan Khan. And he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11. And he waited until he could go serve his country, and he gave his life.“
Here is the video endorsement from Meet The Press today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz49wFWgSR8
I am so tired. It isn’t even noon yet, I got 8 hours of sleep, I went for a run and I’m ready to crawl back under the covers. Everyone in our office is tired.
I am writing from a Starbucks where I rendezvous with local volunteers in this neighborhood. I give them what we call “walk packs,” which are a packet with a map, literature and a detailed list of voters. The list tells us lots of info: which houses to go to, who to ask for at the door, their age, sex, party affiliation, whether or not they have requested a mail-in-ballot, and, sometimes, whether they support Obama. This helps us gear our conversation with the voter when they answer the door. That is, if they don’t say something like, “You tell that Obama to take his socialist politics elsewhere,” and slam the door, as was the case for me when I door knocked recently.
An hour ago I ran into the office to pick up the walk packs and a guy came in and asked, “Do you know if Obama has submitted his birth certificate yet?” I suggested he take a look at the website www.FactCheck.org. He scoffed at me and raised his voice, “That’s not a non-partisan website, that’s funded by the Anenberg foundation. You people need to get the facts straight. You know, Obama hasn’t…” I walked away and left him with other office folks who tried talking/arguing with him to no avail. He tried to talk after me. My friend Katie taught me that defense in the first act of war, so I am careful not to argue with folks like this. I am also too tired to spend even one second with someone who I will clearly not be able to sway in any way, shape or form. And every few days we get someone in the office who just comes in to ruffle our feathers, like this guy. No way, no how, no time.
Send me your prayers and good wishes by clicking on the "comments" link below. I need all the positive energy I can get to pull through and make it to November 5th in one piece.
P.S. If you are curious, here is the analysis of Obama’s birth certificate:
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html
http://ny.barackobama.com/NYlastcall
My thoughts about involvement are evolving. A week ago I write a somewhat bitchy blog post about my "coastal" friends not being more involved in this election. I shared my thoughts about this with a volunteer woman in the campaign office a few days ago and she said, "Well your friends give money, right? I couldn't give $100 to the campaign, Chi, but I can come in here and volunteer."
The older I get, the more I realize I cannot know what is best for others. And we each contribute in the ways that work for us. This amazing staff I work with, the physical storefront office, the computer systems that are essential to winning, this website, the TV and radio ads that get people to come in and register to vote... none of those things would be possible without the money that is the currency of involvement for many in this amazing and diverse movement.
And for those whose level of involvement is neither money nor volunteer time, my friend Katie reminds me that when I am in other people's business there is nobody home for me. When I stay out of others business I am intrepid and focused and on task.
Thank you for what you do, when you do it, nothing and everything and somewhere in between, right on time, not my time, but in the time that is right for you.
P.S. Here is beautiful blog post from Katie about this election:
http://www.byronkatie.com/2008/09/letter_candidates_telling_lies.htm
