Campaign Journal: Fear And Loathing Heard At The Phonebank

Tania Arias is an OffTheBus grassroots correspondent. Each week she contributes a campaign journal documenting her life out on the trail.

On this gorgeous October Sunday in New York City, I volunteered for The Barack Obama Campaign phone bank to phone registered voters in Pennsylvania. Out of the 75 phone calls I made, only 26 people were home, out of the 26, only 12 agreed to speak to me, five of whom were staunch Obama supporters, three were for McCain and four were undecided. The one that struck me the most, however, was a Democrat.

The Democrat in question is a lovely, gritty 69-year old ex-military man who has been a Democrat his entire life and who was eager to inform me that, in spite of this, he will vote for McCain. I decided to engage him in conversation and he was eager to join me. He informed me that he is "a union man," a trucker his whole life (now retired) who likes to live in Democratic cities because "that was where he could always find work." I asked him if he was better off now than eight years ago and his resounding answer was "NO." I asked him if he had been happy and successful during the Clinton Administration and his answer was "those were the good old days." Imagine my dismay at his decision to vote for McCain!! His answer made my heart sink... . "He is black, I lived in Chicago and I know the filth Obama has mixed with and brings with him. He is going to fill Washington with Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and the likes of them. I do not agree with mixed marriages (meaning Obama's parents) and I do not trust him, he is black." "Furthermore, McCain is a war hero and Obama was never in the military, I want to vote for a war hero."

The "coup de grace" was when he informed me that, if Hillary would have been the candidate, he would have voted for her (never mind that she has never been in the military either). I explained that the same economic team that backed Bill was behind Obama and that Obama was best prepared to deal with the present crisis but, he would not be persuaded. We spoke for at least 25 minutes while I made the case for Obama. We established a rapport and he actually was very interested in listening. As I said goodbye I said "Please sir, on Nov. 4th, when you enter that voting booth, think of me and our conversation." I fear that he won't.

However, I had two lovely elderly ladies, both undecided, who did leave me with great hope. The first lady (age 72) was still undecided but leaning towards Senator Obama. She said that her husband does not want Obama "because he will take his hunting gun." I explained that Mr. Obama would do no such thing and that the only thing he wants is to make sure that AK-47s and illegal arms do not fall in the hands of disturbed individuals or criminals. Law abiding citizens, with legal permits, will not be disarmed. I even volunteered to give her my home phone number to call, even at 3:00 am, if ever Mr. Obama comes to take their gun away. We spoke for another 15 minutes and she opened up to my discourse on Senator Obama. She laughed quite a bit and as we said goodbye, she thanked me for the call and said that she felt much better about Senator Obama.

The last undecided and second elderly lady was my favorite. A farmer, age 75, Pentecostal, simply lovely, informed me that she did not like Obama very much because "he wanted abortion." I explained to her that he does not want abortion, no one does, that I am the proud mother of an adopted daughter and know the pain of losing a pregnancy since I had miscarried a son. The difference is the right of all Americans to be able to choose and not dictate whether to abort or keep a baby. She fully understood. Then she said, "he wants gays." Again, I explained, he does not promote being gay, as an American and by the spirit and letter of our constitution, he believes that all men are created equal. As Christians, we should love our fellow men and women, regardless of creed, sexual orientation or race. She, once again, agreed with me.

Her frustration was reflected in this statement: "Oh dear, I hear so much terrible stuff about him from Republicans." This lovely lady admitted that even in her own family life had become difficult, her nephew had lost his job, times were tough. Again, I asked her, "Are you better off now than you were eight years ago?" I asked her who her nephew was going to vote for and she said "My whole family is for Obama" to which I answered, "Then do not take it from me, listen to your loved ones, I am just a stranger." She laughed and said that if she did not vote for Obama, her family would kill her. I answered " Please do not vote for Obama because of fear of your family, vote for him because, in your heart, you know he is the right choice." Before we said goodbye, she asked me to join her in prayer for my family, her family and for the country...we prayed together.

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Comments

[nyceconomist1]

Raines left with a "golden parachute valued at $240 Million in benefits. The Government filed suit against Raines when the depth of the accounting scandal became clear. http://housingdoom.com/2006/12/18/fannie-charges/ . The Government noted, "The 101 charges reveal how the individuals improperly manipulated earnings to maximize their bonuses, while knowingly neglecting accounting systems and internal controls, misapplying over twenty accounting principles and misleading the regulator and the public. The Notice explains how they submitted six years of misleading and inaccurate accounting statements and inaccurate capital reports that enabled them to grow Fannie Mae in an unsafe and unsound manner." These charges were made in 2006. The Court ordered Raines to return $50 Million Dollars he received in bonuses based on the miss-stated Fannie Mae profits. Net windfall . . . $190 million!

Tim Howard - Was the Chief Financial Officer of Fannie Mae. Howard "was a strong internal proponent of using accounting strategies that would ensure a "stable pattern of earnings" at Fannie. In everyday English - he was cooking the books. The Government Investigation determined that, "Chief Financial Officer, Tim Howard, failed to provide adequate oversight to key control and reporting functions within Fannie Mae,"

On June 16, 2006, Rep. Richard Baker, R-La., asked the Justice Department to investigate his allegations that two former Fannie Mae executives lied to Congress in October 2004 when they denied manipulating the mortgage-finance giant's income statement to achieve management pay bonuses.

[nyceconomist1]

People should dig a little deeper on the facts when they vote. I voted for Clinton based on his proposed tax cuts for the middle class (which I am apart of like most of you). His message was similar to Obama's current message. Details show Clinton raised taxes on all earners of $30K. The Govt will spend nearly $1.5 trillon when its all said and done to prevent the financial system from collapsing. The tax cuts Obama speaks of for the middle class and small business owners is mathematically impossible. Here is a quick fact below that many are unaware of:

Here is a quick look into 3 former Fannie Mae executives who have brought down Wall Street.

Franklin Raines was a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Fannie Mae. Raines was forced to retire from his position with Fannie Mae when auditing discovered severe irregularities in Fannie Mae's accounting activities. At the time of his departure The Wall Street Journal noted, " Raines, who long defended the company's accounting despite mounting evidence that it wasn't proper, issued a statement late Tuesday conceding that "mistakes were made" and saying he would assume responsibility as he had earlier promised. News reports indicate the company was under growing pressure from regulators to shake up its management in the wake of findings that the company's books ran afoul of generally accepted accounting principles for four years." Fannie Mae had to reduce its surplus by $9 billion.

[artlisa]

Your article just inspired my husband to volunteer for Obama!! Thanks for writing about your thoughtful experiences.

[childrenfirst]

The things I hear and see here in Florida amaze me. One lady said she's afraid Obama will be assassinated so is afraid to vote for him. She said her husband, a raving redneck is thinking about voting for Obama so he WILL get assassinated. Another friend told me she was voting for McCain, and she thought Palin was really cool. After I talked with her and told her a few facts, she was stunned. She said OMG, how could McCain be so irresponsible? She is no longer a ditto head! I have my yard sign and bumper sticker, and I'm waiting for a cross to be burned on my lawn. This is a very redneck area, but if I could change one mind, perhaps I can still change another.

[trailblazer]

I wish I could be as calm and collected as you when talking to people about this election. My hat is off to you.

[SisterSoul-08]

I have a co-worker who is not into politics, AT ALL. She and I are the only ones sitting at a desk doing a night shift. I rarely say anything political to her. It's a turn-off to her. I picked her up for work one evening and turned on the right-wing radio station. We were 2 minutes away from work. Her response was, " Oh they're so racist! She arrived at that conclusion after listening to 2 minutes of right-wing radio.

My point is, if someone who can arrive at that conclusion after just 2 minutes, just think of the garbage that is distributed day after day of listening to right-wing radio. That's where a lot of people get their news and information.

[joanVA]

From my own experiences canvassing and phone banking, you waste your time talking to those already leaning or strong for McCain. The undecideds are open-minded at this point.

[akhajawall]

McCain-palin bad for USA

. Temperamental and Angry McCain is out to play and create a card mistrust and distress around Obama with the Vail of claim that he will bring bipartisanship in Washington DC. He is destroying him claim every by painting Obama naive. It is tragic, sad, and unfortunate that so called Maverick McCain has already generated a disdain and demeaning face off in the debates and bailout suggestion. Obama is real Presidential and he maintained a smile during the debate and while McCain had a constant grin and disdain towards Obama.

PS: It is sad and unfortunate that Hon, Temperamental and angry Maverick McCain has changed into bitter rather than better man.