Thursday, October 23, 2008

Obama 2008: Everything Counts: A 'To Do' List

Photo: Over 100,000 in St Louis

Approach the
Election as an
Organizer, Not
Just as a Voter




By Carl Davidson
Keep On Keepin' On!

It's the home stretch everyone, the last two weeks.

Don't pay too much attention to the polls, even if they're on our side at the moment. They change like the weather.

At this stage, the 'ground game' is what counts most, and believe me, it counts a lot.

So this is a direct appeal to each and every one of you. Get fully engaged. Everything counts in these final days.

Approach the election as an organizer, not just as a voter. Keep lists of names, make new friends, meet new groups. We'll need them to bring pressure on the White House no matter who is in it.

Here's the key tasks: GOTV, PTV, CTV

--Get out the vote. Just because people registered, doesn't mean they go to the polls. This is especially true with youth. Organize 'early voting' parties. Make a list of your 'pluses'--pro-Obama votes--and 'run them' all day, checking them off as they vote. Drag out the slackers. Everything counts.

--Protect the vote. Yes, they do nasty things in some polling places. Volunteer as a poll watcher, or election-day judge. Take a training. Do it. Judges even get paid for the day. Make sure the tally in your precinct matches the tally actually turned in at the election board. Raise a stink if it doesn't. Also, the GOP is already doing 'Depress the Vote' tactics by spreading false information and sending intimidation teams to early voting sites, harassing people. Organize a 'counter-intimidation team.' Face them down, non-violently but resolutely. It works.

--Claim the vote. If and when we win, let the local incumbents know. If many cases, they didn't do that much. Tell them you'll stay organized for the long term, and not just on elections, but tell them they better stop the damned war, and a lot more. Exercise your newly gained 'clout.' You've earned it.

Just remember, like our candidate asserts, change comes from below, and sprint all the way to the line and through the ribbon.

Carl Davidson
'Progressives for Obama'

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Republican Party is just a bunch of white racists. It is filled with a bunch of Angry White Guys (and Gals) who think the 1965 Hart-Celler Immigration Act ruined America because it made it a lot harder for whites from Ireland, England, France, Germany, Italy, etc. to immigrate to the U.S. and made it a lot easier for the Chinese, Indians, Jamaicans, Mexicans, Egyptians, etc. to immigrate to the U.S. What these racists don't GET is that the 1965 Hart-Celler Immigration Act (Thank You Senator Ted Kennedy) greatly increased Diversity in the U.S. which has made OUR Nation stronger and a much more multicultural place to live. Before 1965 Whites of European descent made up 88% of the U.S. population. Now whites only make up 65% of the U.S. population and by 2042 they will only make up 49% of the population. By 2100 Whites of European descent will only make up about 30% of the U.S. population and also by the year 2100 only 3% of the World Population will be White. The 2008 Election is just a turning point in American History though. By the end of this century white Europeans will be out of power in the United States(FINALLY!) and then we can finally end WHITE PRIVILEDGE and can get REAL Affirmative Action, REAL Reparations, REAL Change, and begin to redistribute wealth and property back to those who deserve it. The World is Flat. The white racist Republicans just don't seem to get it!

Joey said...

Republicans? Racist? ...naw thick headed and just as vindictive as you Democrats when you think your going to lose. Either way this bullsh*t of a 2 Party system is foolish and a true definition on why this nation doesn't believe in "checks and balances"...oh wait maybe they do... "checking account balances" Racism is an absolution to the idiots that are racist just the same. Black Supremacy anyone? Is this what people call equal rights. Same thing for White Supremacy. Black/White, Republican/Democrat, fools equip themselves with 2 sides of the story instead of 5+. Oh also on the topic of the white race.. prove to me your facts from a non-biased perspective. Post it...come on .... typical Liberal....all opinions but no facts. Ha....some things never change. Same thing for Republicans... all facts and no heart. I see disadvantages with both sides... Politically and socially....See you all have the pieces to fix the problems....problem is you all are too ignorant and self-guided in the crash of America as we know it. When the great people of this nation uprise and truly understand what the government has done to all of you... and you by constitutional doctrine have the right to overthrow your government. Idiots. Wake up...such an easy thing to blame sides and when all else fails blame it on ONE man....that will work right? duh

Carl Davidson said...

Yes, the GOP holds no monopoly on racism.

But I wouldn't worry even a little bit about 'Black supremacy.' There's no social power structures to back it up, even if a few had the wacky idea.

And the sooner we get IRV, preferential voter and fusion as an election law reform package, the faster we'll get to a real multiparty democracy, as opposed to our current dollarocracy.

So, yes, by all means, to wider choices.

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