Grab a Piece.
I remember Game 4 of the 2004 World Series. I was watching with a bunch of guys who'd grown up outside Boston. Guys with Red Sox t-shirts so old and worn-through you could see their nipples. And when Keith Foulke tossed the ball to Doug Mientkiewicz to seal the deal, the room erupted. Steve was hugging Dave. BJ was howling with joy. Joe was rolling around on the floor, confused by how happy he was. I jumped up and down, grinning and whooping at the TV. Dave turned to me.
"Danny, since when do you like the Red Sox?" He asked.
"Yeah," said Steve. "Do you even like baseball?"
"Of course, I love baseball. Shortstops, innings -- I love it all!" I replied. They seemed unconvinced. "Three strikes equal one out," I said with confidence. They shrugged and went back to celebrating. I finished my beer and went home.
The moral of the above anecdote (or "super-anecdote," as most of you are probably thinking) is that it's one thing to bask in the glory of others, and it's another, much awesomer thing to deserve a piece of the glory. My friends had endured decades of misery as Sox fans. They deserved a piece of the glory. Their parents, even longer suffering, deserved a bigger piece. The Red Sox players deserved a really big piece. I, on the other hand, was a bystander. In this joy orgy, I was standing off to the side, trying to get a glimpse of side boob.
On November 4th, there is a good chance that Barack Obama will be elected President. Across the country, people will celebrate. They'll hug and high-five their brains out. They'll blast "We Are the Champions" semi-ironically -- but also semi-unironically. They'll congratulate each other, and they'll deserve it. But will you?
In my opinion, there are very distinct tiers of Obama supporters, and what tier you belong to dictates how much you're allowed to celebrate if Barry wins on the 4th. Here goes:
Voted for Obama: Great. Nice job. Have a beer.
Donated to Obama: Congratulations. You are a minority owner in the sports franchise that just won. The players love you but don't know your name so they just call you "Moneybags." I'm not trying to disparage your contribution. I'm just letting you know that they call you "Moneybags." Have a glass of boxed wine.
Volunteered for Obama: Now we're talking. As a canvasser, phone-banker, fundraiser, or GOTV-er, you can lay claim to a significant piece of glory. To belabor the baseball metaphor, you are the between-innings t-shirt cannon guy. Your enthusiasm (t-shirts) compelled others to vote (catch the t-shirts). Have a glass of champagne.
You are Obama: Congratulations. You get to be President. Now go fix our shit.
Obama supporters, it's time to come to grips with the fact that our guy might win. If he does, November 4th will be amazing. But it'll be much more amazing if you feel like you played a role. The yelling will seem louder. The high-fives will be frattier. The stranger you kiss in the street will be cuter. Don't miss your chance to enjoy Team Obama's victory as a bona fide part of the team. Get involved. Grab a piece of the glory.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
I'm guessing this was a humor piece, because I'm pretty sure Obama himself feels that ALL contributions are of tremendous, cumulative value.
How can you weigh the vote of the FANTASTIC people in Iowa who shocked the pundits and the nation by saying, "Wake up, America! This guy's the real deal!"
How can you compare a wealthy donor maxing out at $2300 to a struggling senior citizen who sacrificed eating one meal out a month in order to send that money to Obama?
He has touched and moved all of us, and each in our ways--whether great or small--can rejoice and join TOGETHER (for a change!) to celebrate this amazing man, his victory, and what he has inspired in all of us, young-old, and everywhere in between, all across America.
Thank you....all
Sen. Obama's victory will be an amazing moment for our country. A passing of the torch for a new generation!
I'm a proud supporter of the Obama-Biden ticket. I original voted for Sen. Obama during his US Senate run. I've donated several times during this LONG election process! I also post on blogs and other sites as well. Everyone can contribute. I respect everyone's hardwork and committment! Sen. obama's victory on November 4th will be a special moment in our nation's history!
As someone who got behind Obama when he was running for senate what is happening now is really amazing to watch and to be a part of. The amazing amount of people in America who are now politcally involved for the first time is reason enough for us all as Americans to celebrate at the end of this election. It helps erase the painful memories of all the other elections I cared so much about while so many people I knew didn't bother to vote and said , "who cares, all guys in politics are exactly the same". They most certainly are not!
I use to work for a major credit card company and could see from the hundreds of phone calls per day I took who was donating to Barack Obama. I know for a fact that these donations are coming from backwoods of Miss. to the high tech world of Silicon Valley. From the means streets of New York to the southern comfort of Texas. Everyone knows that he is the type of president that our grandparents or parents talked about with JFK or Teddy Roosevelt not policy wise but the charismatic,history making presidents. The ones who they wax poetically about now. Our past presidents left a mark with people. People believed in our presidents back then. Obama is a throwback to those times with a 21st century attitude.
People who probably had no savings whatsoever were charging donations to Obama???? Somehow, that seems to be illustrative of our economic problems. Obama should have been a televangelist. Isn't that how they make money promising 'hope'?
People who have no money living in the backwoods of No-wheresville are voting for McCain, making donations with the loans they have taken out on their trailers-what does that make him--a pimp.
Do you think people were sending in cash? Geez...giv
And I'd much rather have a leader who inspires people and gives them hope than a c.ranky old f.art who spreads l.ies and f.ear any day!
That's why I donated to Obama!
That's why I voted for Obama!
I am from Springfield Illinois and I volunteered for Obama when he announced Joe Biden as his running mate. It was great to be a part of the campaign. It will be an experience I will never forget.
Note to voters: Obama is NOT you (part 2 of 2)
The problem is, Obama has his own positions and plans, and it's likely that he will not change no matter how much you want him to do so. Ignorance of what those plans actually are will lead to very unrealistic expectations - and may lead to serious disappointment when reality sets in.
If you are voting for Obama, it is important to determine that you are doing so because you are aware of, and agree with, what he believes, rather than because you are hoping that he might agree with you.
If you support him because of his positions and stated policies - then be confident in your vote.
However, if you are merely supporting the "idea" of Obama with the expectation that your will is his will without really understanding his history and actual plans, perhaps now is the right time to do some research. Get clarity on exactly what is important to you - and where Obama stands on those topics (for real, instead of what you're hoping for).
Because if Obama is elected, it will be HE that is sworn in - not you. It will be HIS ideology that gets executed - not yours. The image of yourself that you thought you saw in Obama will be replaced by a reality that differs greatly from your expectations. The "change" he brings may not be improvement at all.
Of course, by then it will be too
ARE YOU SERIOUS? OF COURSE "WE" ARE NOT OBAMA, AND HE WILL NOT MORPH INTO "US"...
BUT HIS BELIEFES THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER "AS ONE", THAT WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY THOSE LESS FORTUNATE DUE TO THEIR HEALTH, A STROM, OR, UNEXPECTED CRISIS, THAT WITH HARD WORK, RESPECT & SACRIFICE NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES, OUR FAMILY, BUT FOR OUR FELLOW AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF THIS NATION, IS WHY I'M VOTING, CONTRIBUTING & VOLUNTEERING FOR BARACK OBAMA....
NOW PLS, TAKE YOUR NEGATIVITY, YOUR REPUB TACTICS & LEAVE....O
What you say has some truth, but it is a universal truth for all elected officials. We the electorate always need to educate ourselves on the proposals, policies, ideology, temperament, and yes the heart of the candidates. That is what the election process is about.
In this election the contrast between the two candidates couldn’t be starker. McCain clearly represents a continuation of the Reagan/Bus
Barack Obama represents change. Perhaps the biggest change is his call for us as citizens to once again engage in the Political process. He has placed us at the center of his campaign and it is up to us to remain at the center of the political process if he is elected.
The work isn’t over with the election of Obama it will only have just begun, and to avoid any “buyer’s remorse” we must all keep involved and work together to build a better nation.
A majority of Americans were against the Wall Street bailout and the associated pork but Obama voted for it. So, did McCain. But, your notion that Obama is calling for citizens to engage in the political process has proven to be an illusion in this example. Americans want stricter border control but Obama wants to give illegal aliens driver's licenses. Again, he does his own thing.
Thanks for your concern. I've done the research and I'm confident in my decision. That is why I voted for Obama yesterday. I think it is pretty clear the differences between the two candidates so I doubt there is going to be a lot of people who vote for Obama thinking later that they should have given McCain a chance. But again thanks for being so concerned for us all.
Note to voters: Obama is not you (part 1 of 2)
Charismatic, appealing, loved... Barack Obama is all things to many people, and it's an a very alluring force. Ultimately, that is how we all want to be perceived - and thus there's an undercurrent of desire to be associated with the candidate.
To Obama's benefit, he has never clearly defined himself. His past history and core beliefs are still cloudy - enabling people to create their own assumptions about the man.
Thus, Obama has become an empty mold into which we can pour our aspirations. A mirror to reflect our own opinions and receive validation on a grand scale.
And in our desire for such acceptance, we won't dare dig into even the most superficial questions that might challenge this image. It is too pleasant to assume that everything we want, he wants - and that the outcome of "change" will be improvement from our perspective. To question the image we have of Obama is to question our own beliefs... and that's never a palatable endeavor.
Even long-time conservatives have been lulled into this vision. Chris Buckley, son of the late William F. Buckley and ex-contributor to National Review, for example, has chosen to endorse Obama - not because he agrees with Obama's positions, but because he thinks that Obama will become more like HIM over time. He believes this, even though there is no evidence whatsoever that Obama has an inclination to change.
Here's the thing:
I put in so many freakin' long hours for Gore and Kerry, making calls, knocking on doors, sending money, making more calls, knocking on more doors, sending more money, bumperstickering my car, that I came into this campaign season fried and disillusioned. So I am going to just count all those hours in 2000 and 2004 as time spent toward Obama's victory, 'kay? Now, pass me a glass of that fine Pinot Grigio!
I'm understand. I did the same in 2004 ... gave 1000% ... was fried afterwards ... took me 3 months just to get out of the funk and back to normal !!
One more bit of advice -- behave yourselves while you're celebrating. No rioting or trashing the place, no overturning cars and setting stuff on fire. We've seen that too often after sports championships are won. Let's be as dignified as the candidate we're voting for, and for God's sake, let's not give the opposition reason to wag fingers and say "See, we told you they're unAmerican!"
I wouldn't be worried about that. That is not the emotion that O inspires in people. This isn't a hockey championship.
If anything this will be a big love-in.
Forgive me my sketipism. Obama still hasn't got my vote. He is a great campaigner and orator.
Anyone here remember Woodrow Wilson? Look under the Federal Reserve Act or World War One, or the Versailles Treaty or the Palmer raids. He "kept us out of war", until he was elected.
There is no doubt McCain is willing to ignore the real plight of Americans in favor of defense spending.
The budget freeze he proposes in everything but defense spending will leave us all out in the cold.
"The Congressional Budget Office predicts a deficit of $147 billion in 2013....Th
"Both of them are already underwater about the deficits they would face even without the bailout," he said. "And with the bailout, it's clear they will have to adjust their promises. But we're not hearing anything close to that from either of them." http://www
Maybe if you could express some of your reservations regarding Obama we could give you some perspective from his supporters.
Reservations about Obama, how about:
Promises that can't be kept- budget crunch on program proposals
Style without substance- Smooth and polished but over his head in the job description
Yesterday's formulas for tomorrow's problems- New Deal 2, not the cure
Lack of candor- constant campaigner who presumes his proposals = solutions
An overachiever who can do as much damage as good- academic background is not the same as a healthy overview and hands on
Backs away from the difficult tasks- voted YES on bailout, talking Afghaistan, still promotes defense spending
So who does have your vote???
None of the Above?
Himself. He thinks he is perfect.
I think it would be a good idea if you thought about NOT voting.
Clearly, you don't like any of the candidates and you are talking about Woodrow Wilson and making meaningless comments about the deficit which none of us can do anything about from where we sit.
It is a free country, vote or don't vote. But don't bother if your really not interested.
It is a free country, vote or don't vote. But don't bother if your really not interested.
I'm not just interested but there's too much at stake to blow it off. Too many people have left their responsibility to others making presumptions that "they will figure it out somehow".
I want a peace. Sign us up, please.
There are many, many different ways one can find to contribute to this election. The way that I chose employs by ability to cook. Three different times a week I take three different dishes (i.e. salad, brownies, spaghetti & meatballs, lasagna, popcorn, muffins, etc.) to one of our local campaign offices to fuel the people who are making the calls and doing the canvassing. They love it !!! They absolutely LOVE it !!! As soon as I learned that our campaign office was opening and dropped off my first food contributions, I learned that the campaign headquarters is not allowed to solicit food, but they are able to accept it !!! I swear ... I'm going to get a t-shirt that reads "COOKING FOR OBAMA" !!!
me too!!! i'm too crippled to canvas & too mean to be on the phones so i cook. just brought in a mess of chinese chix wings & i'm doing mac & cheese soon. election week, i'm gonna buy a bunch of pizzas then who knows what?
You rock !!! Way to go !!! I love that everyone simply does what they can do, whatever that might be, as long as they're not just sitting on the sidelines "hoping." Keep up the good work !!! Twelve days and counting !!!
You, and the commenter who follows, are wonderful. Absolutely fantastic!
Appreciate your kinds words. Believe that "maryhaze" would probably agree with me when I say, "It's truly our pleasure."
I am hard at work trying to stay afloat...b
My wife and I have contributed to the campaign and are phone banking.
There's no question that listening to McCain and Palin whipping their supporters into hate-frothed crowds is soul-destroying.
But working the phone bank and hearing voters affirm their support (as well as several polite Republicans, who declined without being rude) was wonderfully restorative.
Hate frothed crowds? Really?
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
