You know what gets me enthusiastic about GOTV activism?
It has nothing to do with which Democratic presidential candidate gets the nomination. It's my state legislators and congressional representative. They have far more to do with my life than any President. It's my city council members and mayor. They affect my daily life constantly.
And that's exactly what I'm selling when I walk my precinct and knock on doors. When I hear, "I don't like the Democrat for President," I ask how they feel about their congress member and their state legislators. "What?" Then I explain who the Democrats are who are running for their offices and their proposals to make things better. "Oh."
I tell them to go vote for these excellent progressive people and vote for the Democrat for President while they're at it. That's what I say. That's what brings out the voters where I live. The President? Well, that's important too, so vote for the Democrat, not the asshole from the Repubican Party.
That's what I do. No President affects people's lives as much as local elected officials. That's the message I bring when I GOTV.
We need a Democratic President. No doubt about it. But, the President isn't elected in my precinct or district. That happens with the vote in all 50 states and the electoral college. If someone wants to know about that, I can explain that, too, and detail what a Democratic President will do that the Republican would destroy. But being enthusiastic about the candidates down-ticket is what works to get people to go vote. It's easy to explain how important that is.
Enthusiasm about GOTV? I don't understand how anyone can be anything but enthusiastic about it. The President? Just vote for the Democratic nominee. It's a binary thing. The Democrat will support legislation that is progressive. The Republican will not. It's that freaking simple. I'm not enthusiastic about Presidential elections. I get enthused about a progressive state legislator or congress member. That I can sell to the voters where I live.
Hillary Clinton? Bernie Sanders? Joe Biden? Any of those three will gladly sign bills from Congress that are progressive. Any of them will appoint SCOTUS justices who will reverse Citizens United. Any of them will do their best to move the country forward. They're all good Democrats who will help. Whichever one is the nominee will get my support, vote, and campaign message told to the voters where I canvass. Any of them.
We pay far too much attention to the President. That's not who changes our lives, frankly.
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