One of the great things about this campaign is the opportunity to see so many people become involved in the political process for the first time in their lives. At a canvass this past weekend in Concord, Gene was one such volunteer.
Gene is a life-long Concord resident, software engineer, and 2000 McCain Voter. Like many independent-minded Granite Staters, the realities from the past 8 years - from Iraq to the health care crisis to the nature of republican's fearful rhetoric - have shifted him towards supporting candidates on the Democratic ticket, and Barack Obama is no exception. From a personal standpoint, Gene's mother hasn't been able to afford health care coverage, and his dad, a middle-class oriented realtor hit hard by the housing crisis, took a second job just so he could have health care coverage and take care of his other day-to-day expenses.
Although he had never been involved with a campaign before this one, Gene has made phone calls for Senator Obama several times during this campaign. But this was his first time hitting the streets and talking to voters about the change the Obama/Biden ticket represents.
Gene talked to us about what inspires him to get involved:
When John McCain ran for President in 2000, I voted for him. I was an independent voter who thought John McCain was as independent-minded as me. Since that time, I've come to realize that the Republican Party is cynical, divisive and dishonest. I feel their policies don't protect the very liberties we hold dear but would erode them. John McCain seems to be carrying that on, and I see no evidence of the "Maverick" I saw back in 2000 here in New Hampshire. Their (Republican) economic policies are irresponsible and ineffective. John McCain has made a decision to give up his values and to choose conformity with Republican principles. I am proud to say that I support Barack Obama because he's a leader with integrity, compassion, and a common-sense vision for America. Before getting involved with Barack Obama's campaign, I never had any interest in becoming a part of a political campaign. I never volunteered a moment of my time and not a cent from my pocket. But this year is different. I believe in Barack's vision that this is our campaign and I decided I wanted to be a part of it.
When John McCain ran for President in 2000, I voted for him. I was an independent voter who thought John McCain was as independent-minded as me. Since that time, I've come to realize that the Republican Party is cynical, divisive and dishonest. I feel their policies don't protect the very liberties we hold dear but would erode them. John McCain seems to be carrying that on, and I see no evidence of the "Maverick" I saw back in 2000 here in New Hampshire. Their (Republican) economic policies are irresponsible and ineffective. John McCain has made a decision to give up his values and to choose conformity with Republican principles.
I am proud to say that I support Barack Obama because he's a leader with integrity, compassion, and a common-sense vision for America. Before getting involved with Barack Obama's campaign, I never had any interest in becoming a part of a political campaign. I never volunteered a moment of my time and not a cent from my pocket. But this year is different. I believe in Barack's vision that this is our campaign and I decided I wanted to be a part of it.
Last year, Gene made his first-ever campaign donation to Barack Obama's campaign. Since then, Gene has been speaking about Barack to his friends, family and coworkers for over a year. Soon he'll begin additional volunteer outreach with his labor union, SEIU Local 1984.
Gene confessed that he was a little nervous before this first time talking to other voters face-to-face. But he called this "an eye-opening experience, in a good way," in that he was able to get a sense of what his neighbors are thinking about the issues facing the country.
Gene also pointed out that Al Gore lost the state of New Hampshire by 7,000 votes in 2000 -- if Gore had won the state, George Bush wouldn't have become President. "Even if I can only persuade a handful of people -- I know there are a lot of people doing the same thing that I'm doing across the state, and it adds up."
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