Posts with the tag Making Calls

Some thoughts on Election Night

Maura — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:38:43 EST

I'm taking a break from making calls (over 100 made tonight & counting!) to reflect on some of the memories I've collected while working for Barack's Campaign for Change. I'm thinking about the many people I've met and the voices I've heard.

The first time I, went canvassing for Barack the somewhat disheartening day ended on a high note. After knocking on 10 pages worth of doors in an economically depressed area of Virginia Beach, and being met with hostility, suspicion, indifference, and many empty homes, my partner and I were greeted by an entire extended family who came outside to thank us for the work we were doing to change the world.

The man on our list was a young African American soldier who was visiting his parents' home with his wife and two daughters. He came to the door in a Barack T-shirt and stepped outside to speak to us; his mother, father, uncle, wife and two daughters followed. As he updated his address (he had recently been transferred to Northern Virginia) and signed up to volunteer, his father and wife spoke about the campaign and the hope they felt. His pre-teen daughter said she wanted to vote too. As three generations of this family stood around us, I noticed that we were all smiling ear to ear, just beaming at each other. "It's a new day!", his father said as we took turns shaking hands round the circle and said goodbye.

The first night I made calls to voters in my state, after 25 calls that yielded little but wrong numbers and one screaming McCain supporter, I happened on a 93 year old African American woman who had voted early, she said, "because of my age". She wanted to talk and her quavering voice conveyed the emotion she felt. "I have waited so long for this, for this day! I have waited so long to see this happen, wouldn't nothing keep me away."

Tonight, as I made calls to voters in Virginia and Nevada, a 73 year old Caucasian woman stopped me mid-sentence to say "Don't you worry, I voted this morning and I voted for Obama!".

As I canvassed on Sunday, a young Caucasian man with sandy-colored hair in cornrows, a naked torso covered in what looked like home-made tattoos, and a big smile asked for an Obama lawn sign and poster. As he meticulously taped the sign to his mailbox he explained that he couldn't vote, but he wanted to help get the word out. "Barack's gonna change everything up! He's gonna change this world. " (Apparently, as an ex-convict, he had lost his right to vote.)

This is the first time I have felt truly connected to the political process and the first time I have become actively involved beyond voting and giving a small donation. I'm a single mother of a young son and a teacher; my time and my budget are tight. Yet, somehow I managed to scrape up extra time and extra money for Barack Obama's campaign. I have waited so long for this and together we all will change everything up. For the first time I unabashedly believe--we can change this world.

Yes we can,

Maura Alia Badji

Virginia Beach, Virginia

November 4, 2008

Making Calls

Kim — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:13:16 EST

Can't tell you what a joy it is to talk to a person in Colorado and then one in Virginia and have them both be equally excited, grateful for my call and anxious to vote. Tuesday can't come soon enough. Keep calling, keep calling, keep calling.....

I'm not Political, I'm Obamian

Kim — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:00:35 EDT

When I went to Wilmington, NC for GOTV I met a very nice lady and we talked for 10-15 minutes. I asked her if she was planning on voting in the primary (held that day), and she said "No, I don't think I'm going to vote." I asked why, and she said she didn't believe that Barack would be any different than the rest of the politicians....who say/do anything to get elected, but once the election is over, nothing is done...empty promises. I listened quietly then told her my story. Yes I too was very cynical, had lost hope, lost belief about our democratic process, but I no longer felt that way. I explained how Barack has inspired me to get involved, something I've never done before, that this was, in essence, at the core of why I believe in and support Barack Obama - he IS different, he embodies true Change, he is not a "politician", rather he is working for us. I talked about The Movement, all grassroots funded, no money taken from lobbyists, he's accountable to US as in we the people, instead of we the CEO's of Big Business. I also told her my oldest son just turned 18 and I certainly did NOT want him to be drafted, (ie if McCain were elected). We talked about healthcare, making ends meet and finally I said that I was supporting Barack Obama for President because I'm not political, I'm Obamian. I said "You know, I just think that we should give the man a chance." She smiled and replied "I've learned alot today from you and I agree, we should give the man a chance". She concluded by telling me she would call her sister so they could go vote for Barack together.

Fired up, Ready to go.

Nick — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:23:12 EST

Well today my Obama buttons came. I will wear them tommorrow as I watch the Primaries. I will hopefully start making calls tomorrow. I really want to contribute to this campaign. I would like to see Obama sweep again, which would pretty much lock up his nomination. Just keep saying Yes We Can!

Easy and fun to make calls!

mary4change — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:49:40 EST

I'm posting this for anyone who is timid about calling or intimidated by the script. It took me awhile to start calling because I wasn't sure how it worked. I thought maybe I needed to be really familiar with the script and actually printed it out. As it turned out, once I started making calls, it was really easy. Some familiarity with the script helped, but the calling program walks you step by step through each call. It's really easy to follow. You click a box depending on the response and are taken to the next part of the script.

It's super easy. Go ahead and try it!

I also used Skype for the calls which is really inexpensive, and set Skype so that the phone numbers appeared as links that you can click to dial the number. Using headphones with a mic also helped by leaving my hands free.

Making calls/knocking on doors in Iowa

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:47:00 EST

I was asked last night to provide some guidance on what to say/do for those calling or coming to Iowa to GOTC with us in the next few days. It can be a very intimidating process, but after awhile, it gets pretty comfortable, if you are able to listen. That, I've learned the hard way, is the key.

Keep in mind I haven't done any door knocking because of my foot...maybe by caucus time I can at least go see my neighbors!

ANY of the rest of you Iowa folks that have experience, FEEL FREE to post feedback and offer your insights!!!

See, we here like to talk, or at least have someone feel like what they say is important. This first occurred to me after I tried on my own to initiate some calls and got the cold shoulder. I thought about how Senator Obama made people feel comfortable, and what his greatest strengths were in relating to people.

I start out with an introduction, and sometimes an apology, since we get SO MANY ROBO CALLS, it's insane! I may tell them that I hate to bother them but I also believe what I have to talk to them about is so critical I am going to pester them. Sometimes, depending I think on how dogged I feel by the robo calls (and that may be how many they've gotten today too). ***NOTE: I have now decided that there are enough people (mostly robo-calls) pestering people, I'm DEFINITELY STARTING WITH THE APOLOGY!!!****

I tell them I want to find out how things are going for them, and what issues are important to them. Now, I'm lucky because I know most of our man's policies pretty well, and can look on my laptop as we chat if I don't. This tact always gets them talking, except for those who prefer to remain cagey about whom they'll support; and there are those that will let YOU talk but not give any info; even at that, they will often surrender some info with a discussion of ISSUES and not POLITICIANS, and if nothing else you have an opening to talk about THEIR issues, with OUR candidate's positions superimposed.

I try to work in the things he's the ONLY ONE doing, like the legislation for transparent earmark spending Welcome to USAspending.gov (read Barath's entry on DK) and opposing the Iraq War even when he was running for the Senate for his first term. I talk a little about how thoroughly I've interviewed him myself, and whatever way you came to support him will be important for them to hear.

Pay attention to what PART of Iowa you are talking to, as well; big city, farm country, College/University area, small town, east (liberal) or west (conservative), etc, but don't make decisions based on that as to who you will be talking to.

Don't expect them to respond right away with any sort of excited committment, but close with a 'so can I count on you to "stand up for Senator Obama" at the caucuses?' The stand up thing is a major theme, and one that is tested, so I like to use it; not sure if they feel like it's important or not, but may give them a sense of responsibility to show up.

Try to ferret out whatever reason they aren't going to caucus and answer it...harder to do than it sounds...but be gentle, we aren't huge into the confrontation thing, but don't like a lot of flowery stuff either; tho everyone is different; just do it like Barack would, he's rather a contemorary for us, laid back but direct.

Keep in mind some NEVER have caucused, and don't understand that it's SO critical, and that our votes at caucus are comparable to 20 votes for the rest of the country's primary votes, and that THIS was the chance for their voices to REALLY make a difference.

Also, a lot of people are really afraid of caucusing, they think it will hurt, or I thought you had to make speeches or something. You all know by now what the process looks like, although I understand it can be a bit more harrowing in some precincts, if just one or two people there get wild. It also takes more than an hour, so use the 'about' clause. The important thing for them to know is, show up, sit down with Obama's people who will EASILY be visible from across the room, and read a book or chat with neighbors, or whatever. I believe most precincts will be serving some refreshment in the Obama corner as well. Tell them that their field office will have information about child care options for them, and rides if those are needed.

Most importantly, remember not to go negative, but find a way to say what you are going to say in a POSITIVE frame; like, have you compared Edwards' voting record to his current positions? Barack's have been 100% consistent, and I'm not sure there are too many candidates out there that can say that....Did you notice that every time Senator Clinton or someone from Fox (or whatever, they may not even have heard about kindergate) came after Senator Obama, he protected himself but did not attack? or some way to put it in a positive light; you are representing Barack.

This is a bit rambly, but I wanted to get it posted, to help those who asked for it.

PLEASE feel free to offer feedback, Iowans and former Iowans, and anyone with phone banking experience!