Mad Over Sarah Palin? Time To Get Busy for Obama.

Until last week, recent events in the presidential race might have seemed too strange for fiction. A movie about a candidate battling age-related concerns, who would be the oldest president in history if elected, choosing the least experienced VP ever, and announcing the choice on his 72nd birthday? It would have been laughed off the screen. Thanks to John McCain's warped judgment, no one's laughing now.

Add in the fact that the McCain campaign rolled out Sarah Palin by focusing on her family and biography, managing to whitewash most of her extreme right-wing views, and you'd have more cause for disbelief. Yet the mass media was celebrity-struck. McCain played the Paris Hilton card against Barack Obama, accusing him of being too famous. Still, McCain wanted his own infotainment soap opera star to juice up his lackluster campaign, and in Palin he got one.

Palin has rallied the far right Republican base, drooling at the 1 in 3 actuarial chance that McCain will die in office if McCain/Palin win. Since she wants to ban abortions with no exceptions for rape or incest, what would a President Palin's Supreme Court picks look like?

But she's also got Democrats and independent voters mad as hell that McCain would gamble with the future of our country so recklessly.

So what to do? How can progressives channel our outrage over the prospect of an unqualified, dangerously far-right wing ideologue, rabidly partisan pitbull with lipstick like Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the presidency?

Here's a simple solution. If there's an Obama campaign office near you, get down there and volunteer. Don't fool yourself into thinking one more volunteer won't make a difference. It will, and they need us. If your state is true blue or red and not in play this cycle at the presidential level, you can volunteer for a Democratic candidate for Congress. And it's not too late to donate or raise some money from friends for Obama. Log onto MyBarackObama.com to get started.

Four years ago, I worked for John Kerry in North Carolina. Based in Durham and Orange counties, the most liberal part of the state, I oversaw a voter registration effort that added more than a quarter of all the voters registered that year by the N.C. Democrats.

The most important factor was that we mobilized a huge number of local volunteers into a grassroots voter registration army. In 2004, Democrats were fired up to get rid of George W. Bush. Even folks normally detached from politics were energized by the unfolding disaster of Bush's first term in the White House, and the mess he'd gotten us into by invading Iraq.

By the voter registration deadline, more than 400 volunteers were working with us to register voters in both counties, with teams on the ground three shifts a day. From the Durham Democratic party office, we deployed volunteer voter registrars to high-traffic sites - grocery stores, bus stations, college campuses, libraries, concerts, festivals, and anywhere else we could think to register likely Democratic voters. As our volunteer ranks exploded, the number of voters we added to the rolls reached into the thousands.

The weekend before election day, U.S. Rep. David Price was on hand to watch the crowd of get-out-the-vote volunteers streaming into our headquarters, so big they filled the parking lot. "They trained 1,000 people in Durham," he was overheard saying later, in wonderment. It was the largest outpouring of support ever seen for a North Carolina election.

Yet even with all the volunteers we had, and all we accomplished in our office, we could have done a lot more. We did everything we could to get volunteers in the door, but there were still many nights in the campaign's final two months with work to be done, and not enough hands on deck to do it.

A big part of the reason Bush was able to add three million votes in 2004 to his popular vote totals from 2000 was because Karl Rove masterminded a sweeping Republican voter registration drive during those years. GOP activists all over the country signed up voters at conservative churches and events like state fairs, NASCAR races, and country music concerts.

During 2008, the Obama campaign has flipped the script. Our efforts in 2004 were funded by the N.C. Democratic Party. By contrast, Obama has directly invested in voter registration as part of his national strategy. Obama field organizers started registering voters during the primary season, and have picked up where they left off in every state being contested for the general election.

And it's working. News accounts have trickled out all year long about Democrats adding voters to the rolls since 2004, while Republican registrations have declined.

September is possibly the month in an election cycle when volunteer help is the most productive. Voter registration deadlines in most states (the ones without same-day registration) don't occur until early October. If you show up to volunteer now, you can bank votes for Obama. You can roll up your sleeves and transform your distaste for Sarah Palin and John McCain into on-the-ground activity that will help win this election.

Plus, you'll have a good time. I met my wife on the campaign trail in 2004. Campaign offices are social places. You'll meet dedicated, good-hearted people who share your views and have fun fighting for a common goal. Make time to do it. Turn the local Obama office into your hang-out spot for the next couple months.

Four years ago, after John Kerry failed to respond forcefully to a month of swiftboating attacks, we saw a marked decrease in volunteer enthusiasm in our office. The energy picked back up, but it was valuable time lost. At a moment when McCain is coming off his convention bounce in the polls, Republicans would love it if we lost hope again, sat back on our hands and did nothing.

The stakes are high. Go volunteer today.

Erik Ose is a veteran of Democratic campaigns in North Carolina and blogs at The Latest Outrage.

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Comments

[infobahn]

At our local county fair today, I stopped by the Democratic booth and purchased some bumper stickers, and walked to the parking lot and slapped it on the car. I know that my state (ID) is going red (and is very hostile to Dems), but not without a fight. I have donated to the campaign (as a former MN resident, I have donated to Al Franken as well) and will continue to do so when I can. I supported Obama from the beginning, and as long as Hillary is out sincerely stumping for Obama, I will work to retire her debt as well.

[wfalda]

Film critic Roger Ebert wrote an illuminating column today why Sarah Palin is so popular: she is the epitome of an American Idol contestant.

American Idol is popular because most people are still stuck in high school emotionally. In other words, we have 14,15 and 16-year-olds in aged bodies deciding for the world who will become POTUS. My theory is that 90% of all Homo sapiens have an emotional dysfunction ranging on a scale of 1-10, with 1s being darn near perfect people and 10s being the incarcerated and the institutionalized. 0s are those few lucky souls who have the right/appropriate emotional, at the right time, and at the right duration and intensity.

The Republicans know this. Their ploy to deceive and dupe is to keep the emotionally dysfunctional hyped up - and that is the real reason why Sarah Palin was chosen, her vast experience notwithstanding. They also use lies, deception, and deceit to emotionally rile their opponents by firing up their amygdalas in ways that produce disorientation. The same tactic - an ugly slur - will also fire up the amygdalas among Republicans voters to given them an emotional high.

One slight,problem: this is an assault on Democracy and one of Democracy's chief pillars: an informed electorate. But then, the Republicans don't seem to care much about Democracy. Just win at all costs, even if it tears the nation apart.

It's all about brain wiring Rog. And that is not going to change.

[arthur2008]

"I have had a strong and a long relationship on national security, I've been involved in every national crisis that this nation has faced since Beirut, I understand the issues, I understand and appreciate the enormity of the challenge we face from radical Islamic extremism. I am prepared. I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training. I wasn't a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn't a governor for a short period of time."

John "Country First" McCain

October 2007

[AKToonster]

I went to volunteer at the Obama office in Juneau, and they are out of yard signs and don't know when they will have more. This is Juneau, the capitol of Alaska, and there are many here who want absolutely nothing to do with McCain / Palin. People here love to put up signs, so I decided to use my energy rebate check as an Alaskan to buy Obama signs on their website. Helping Obama win & donating my rebate check is the best investment I can make at this time for a sane and effective energy plan for the US. Everyone knows by now that all Alaskans received $1200 today for energy rebate. This will not solve our statewide energy problems and many feel it was rushed out by Palin as a talking point and another thing to take credit for. So it felt good to spend that money on a real energy solution, the Obama administration. Volunteer, get people to register, or at least put up signs everywhere you can to show your support for a much needed change from the Bush Years.

[Pamk]

wow that is fantastic!!!

[thecanadian]

Have you contacted the Obama Office to ask for More signs. Way to go up there in Alaska!!
If you need anything - can't find phone # or contact - suggest you call the Democractic Office up there and tell them it is Urgent!! You need Obama Signs. Let us know back on this blog if you need more help? Great going - we will be watching the news - am sure they will do a story on your Obama Alaska efforts!!!
Does anyone else out there have any phone numbers/suggestions for this Alaska Obama Great Leader?

[suszennn]

i agree we have to work if we want to win.....i will tell you i live in florida and this past week i have heard to remarks from diffrent woman...one woman a waitress at ruby tuesdays and a house keeper for one of my client they both thought that obama was a Muslim, these are the people we need to get out and talk with

[AlteSoldier]

Face it. John McCain and Sarah Palin will be your next leaders of the US unless a vast movement of volunteers step forward and push back as hard as they can. It is out of Obama's and Biden's hands. Rove, McCain, Palin, and Cheney will have massive wars and business will continue to milk the people of the United States and make them slaves to their own government. Give money to Obama and any 527's that support Obama. Six weeks and it will all be over except for the crying if you don't step up now.

[FatherKindly]

Hear, hear! It may already be too late if Biden doesn't shut up about how great Billary is and tell the American public how bad McCain.Palin will be for the country. Obama is too much of a gentleman to scratch and bite, but this was why Biden was brought onto the ticket. Why isn't he fulfilling his role as designated basher?

[Peosmom]

I just signed up for an event to call voters in Nevada. This guy is totally right and it's basically what Obama's been saying all along. We are the change we've been waiting for.

[kmich718]

let's also remember to sign this! Pass it along to all you know! If this thing gets traction, it will make the media pay attention!!!

Give back the Bridge To Nowhere Monies petition!

http://www.petitiononline.com/giveback/petition.html

[AKToonster]

I am an Alaskan of 29 yrs & I live in the capitol city of Juneau. Whatever respect I had initially for Ms. Palin was fatally crushed as soon as I heard her screechy, mean spirited speech at the RCN. I had no reason to dislike Ms. Palin as our very short term governor so far - I don't agree with many of her policies but as everyone says, she seems likeable and smart. We were in recovery from the previous governor whose hubris and corruption was so great it seemed like a bad dream unfolding around us. So many undeclareds, undecideds and independents in Alaska were willing to give her a chance since she started cleaning up the Murkowski Mess. If it makes anyone feel more hopeful, there are many Alaskans who feel very torn or disgusted by her speeches which ignore the issues & focus on snide quips. She is not backed wholeheartedly by our R party, either - there are many who do not like her after dealing with repeated absences and an imperious attitude in the Legislature. Time to get rid of the Bush with Lipstick - I've donated for the first time in my life & am volunteering for the local Obama campaign office. I feel GREAT - your article is an inspiration to those who want to wring their hands and cry. I had a week of that myself - now I'm off to cancel out as many votes as I can and it's

[kmich718]

Thank you so much! I've been sitting here thinking about how miserable I am thinking that we could actually be that stupid of a country to let this charade actually happen.

I can hear Rove laughing his butt off at us! He's the Puppet Master and we're dancing! I want to wipe that smug smile off of that bastard's face!

Please everyone here - Listen to AKTooster - get involved locally.. that's where it's going to happen. Let them say whatever they want in the media. Down here on the ground is where we're going to be heard.

DON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN!

[goldnchyl]

It would probably help if these Alaskans spoke out as a group, about their concerns about Gov. Palin. And, tell me, doesn't her popularity there have a lot to do with the rebate checks that Alaskans receive?

[goldnchyl]

i meant revenue checks.

[eden4barack08]

THANK YOU!

[AKToonster]

Governor Palin is my governor in Alaska and I live in the Capitol City. She is no harbinger of change - look how quickly she started parroting the sarcastic and mean spirited campaign platform of the R party and it has deeply disappointed many of us here in AK. Many of us liked her, even tho we don't know her well, because she came in

[robjh1]

Erik surely you jest in writing, "... she's also got Democrats and independent voters mad as hell that McCain would gamble with the future of our country so recklessly." Think my friend the media and its pundits did the same when they gave the currently President favorable media coverage in 2000 and 2004. And again with Barack Obama. While Obama is better than Bush but is he ready to lead? Even Biden question his ability, yet the media and pundits have decided to look beyond this, because they are fascinated with the idea that a Black man with an unusal back ground can become president. I got news for ya they all "presidential candidates" have fascinating backgrounds. Fact of the matter is it depends on what you consider fascinating.

[MysticMichael]

Amen! I've already donated $275 during the past year, and am prepared to give more. Have also done some local volunteer work for Obama, and will be doing extensive phone banking from home throughout the fall campaign.

Now is the time to act! If the idea of four more years of Republican domination makes you ill, then DO SOMETHING to help put Barack Obama in the White House. DO IT TODAY!

[RidleyGriff]

For those familiar with George W. Bush's rise from relative obscurity in 2000, the recent appearance of Sarah Palin in the 2008 race must sound awfully familiar...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO93vmhSaKg

[Karisma]

Sarah Palin's going to BS her way to the White House, like George W. Bush did with his Fuzzy Math!!!

[thatslife]

I'm off to my Obama office.
Another thing we can do to win this election is to stop talking about Palin.
Do not say her name, call her the VP choice, talk about her right wing beliefs, but every time her name is mentioned it is an endorsement. Let's stop making her so important.
McCain is the candidate we want to beat.

[boophus]

I agree 100%. The media frenzy will fade and she will fade. She can't buy popularity in lower 48 by dispensing windfall oil profits sucked from there. Every day the media digs more up about her and the usual media talking heads can spin all the want but most people know where they are coming from.

[kellygrrrl]

exactly!
the more we talk about this ShockinglyFreakishPalin
the less people talk about the WAR and the Economy

FOCUS!!!!!