The one phone call for Bernie that made my night

[CoffeeCat]

I've been making calls for Bernie in Iowa (calling people in my precinct). I was planning on doing most of my calling early this week but I figured that I'd make a few calls tonight.

I'm calling Republicans and Independents, so I knew the night would be interesting, and indeed it was.

I called "Matthew" and told him I just had a few quick questions about the caucus and that I was calling from the Bernie Sanders campaign. I saw that "Matthew" had an 'R' next to his name, so I knew he was a Republican. In my upper-middle-class suburb.

So, I braced for whatever might transpire.

Matthew said, "I'm not even sure that I'm caucusing this year. I'm disgusted with all politicians." The man sounded exasperated. I told Matthew that I understood, because clearly I do. He was a talker and a really nice guy. He said he drove a truck and listened to talk radio all day. He also said that the best presidential candidate we've ever had was Fred Thompson. He said he's only put one bumper sticker on his car and that was for Thompson. All I could say was, "It's wonderful when you find a candidate that truly represents you, and it's also disheartening when they don't go as far as you'd like them to."

He said, "I'm not even sure that I will caucus. I can't stand the Republicans. Hillary, no way in hell. The only candidate I would even consider voting for is Bernie Sanders. I like that he is honest. At least I know that he's not lying to me."

I about dropped the phone.

I told Matthew that I was tired of being lied to as well, and sick of politics as usual and that is why Sanders is such a transformative candidate and why I'm supporting him. Matthew agreed that Sanders was a decent man and not your typical politician.

I didn't get Matthew to agree to caucus. I told him that he still has a month to decide and there would be plenty of rallies that he could attend and television ads that may make things clearer for him. Even though I didn't get a "win" with Matthew, he's important because he's been identified by the campaign as a possible Sanders supporter. And he's a died-in-the-wool Republican. He will be contacted again. For sure.

Seriously, people. Two things are cool here. 1.) We may get Matthew. 2.) The Sanders campaign is calling Republicans and Independents.

So proud and excited to be a part of this historic campaign!

[PatrickforO]

1. Wow.

That's awesome. Good for you! I'm supporting Bernie because he's the only candidate in my lifetime that actually wants the same things I've wanted all along. Single payer. Strong SS. Free college. Having corporations pay their fair share. Better environmental regulation. Wall St reined in. I basically like the guy's whole platform.

My in-laws (the parents of my son-in-law) who are also 'dyed in the wool' Republicans, said they liked Bernie. My chin almost hit the ground, I'll tell you...

[CoffeeCat]

2. Sanders definitely has cross-over appeal

And I think people know that he's authentic.

And his messages about the top 1 percent amassing all of the wealth--while the middle class withers--resonates with just about everyone.

The world of politics is a very strange place sometimes. Fred Thompson's #1 fan actually likes Bernie.

It's a bit nutty. In a good way.

[Betty Karlson]

5. Authenticity is taking over litmus test positions as the # 1 voter concern.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Mathew was born around or after 1980.

[Fawke Em]

8. I actually liked Fred, personally.

I spent a day with him and Great Smoky Mountain Park rangers touring the Park for a story I was working on when I was reporting. It was when Congress was considering charging fees for the Park. The backstory is that the park was dedicated and was never supposed to have fees. The rangers took us on a tour to show why there shouldn't be fees.

Fred was just a good-ole boy. Nice man. Didn't care for his politics, but I can see why many people would like him.

[LibDemAlways]

3. On Christmas Eve my Republican sister-in-law

said she likes Bernie. I nearly dropped my drink. She can't stand the religious right and was in a business meeting attended by Trump years ago and remembers that he behaved like an ass. So she's looking at the Democrats and is impressed that Bernie is a no bullshit straight shooter. I think when those Republicans who are at least somewhat grounded in reality look at their pathetic field, they will be seeking an alternative and Bernie will be a good option. I think the media will freak out when they realize the extent of his support.

[MuseRider]

4. I witnessed a discussion like that on a friends

cousins FB page. I was looking at a photo that led me on to some others since I know many of the people and low and behold there were a couple of political posters with discussion. They were all Republicans or Libertarians or Teabaggers and all but one were considering staying out of the primaries because they did not see one candidate that they could stand or would not be embarrassed of. When it came to the Democratic side they all said they would never vote for Hillary but one or two of the others were considering Bernie and 3 of the others went as far as to say they would be glad to vote for him, he was the only honest and sensible candidate running. They did not agree with him entirely but were happy he was there, they just hoped they had a chance to vote for him. This conversation was written in August I think. There were a few more almost the same. I smiled a lot and stopped snooping after that.

I honestly do not know how much any of this means but it always makes me feel happy and more confident. The only committed vote to anyone else was to Trump. I keep seeing these discussions and hearing them as well. It is always one out of a bunch who say they are going to vote for Trump.

[Attorney in Texas]

6. thanks for this

[senz]

7. Yes, it's happening and it is very cool.

I'm hearing more stories like this. It's looking better and better for Bernie!

[cui bono]

9. This is why Bernie is a sure bet in the general.

"Hillary, no way in hell." That right there is why she could very well lose the general.

Come on people, Bernie will do everything a Dem wants that Hillary will do and more, and he will win in the general. Time to get on board if you want a Dem president.

.

[Beartracks]

10. "Hillary, no way in hell."

I fear not much cross-over support for Hillary if she's the nominee, while at the same time LOTS of Republicans (not Matthew, apparently) will go out of their way to vote Republican to ensure she does NOT win.



===================

[Divernan]

13. Hill will generate NEGATIVE turnout.

If she is the candidate in the general election, as a judge of elections, I will be braced for a record high turnout - even expecting to get the county election board to give me an extra member for my team. She is so hated by the Republicans, they'd be lined up in record numbers when we open the polls at 7 am for their long awaited chance to vote against her. And these folks vote straight R, which will seriously damage the chances of all the state and local Dems down-ticket.

In my blue county in a blue state, I know tons and tons of active Democrats, including the former state chair, current state legislators and many committee people. Officially, they are pressured by the DNC to support HRC, but I have not heard a single positive comment about her, either in public or in private. Zero enthusiasm - zip- nada.

There is the multimillionaire Republican businessman who hosted her local "Conversations with Hillary" at his gated estate, but he is too important, doncha know, to talk to the press.

[SheilaT]

11. Amazing.

[delrem]

12. Fred Thompson?

Fred Thompson?

My gut instinct is that there's no way even given a frozen hell that this guy will ever vote for Sanders.

[CoffeeCat]

14. I was almost chuckling

because...Fred Thompson. Fred Thompson?

I thought his story and what he was saying was incredibly interesting--even if he hadn't mentioned Bernie.

And who knows if we'll get him. He's been identified. That's the important thing. And he's in my precinct.

I'm going to ask him if he wants to go to a Bernie rally with me and my husband--when Bernie makes his way back to Des Moines.
We'll see if that helps!

Gotta go the extra mile!

[Le Taz Hot]

15. I disagree with you on one thing.

It was a "win." You got him to not completely close his mind to caucusing this year and you got him to think more about Bernie Sanders. That's a "win" in my book. Good job!

[Oilwellian]

16. Great story, thanks for sharing. n/t

Kick

[SoLeftIAmRight]

17. In Colorado 60 percent of the calls to independents republicans and unregistered

receive a warm welcome to Bernies callers and say that they will go on line and register and be ready to caucus for Bernie

No enough time and money to see how many really are doing it - we will know in less than two months

This number, for me, is not believable but it is what is reported.

If true, and any significant portion do follow thru, this movement is real and can win.

[rhett o rick]

18. Since not all Democrats will vote for H. Clinton, then the math is simple. Sanders will get more

Democratic votes than H. Clinton. That's important right there. In addition, Sanders will get some Republican cross-over votes while H. Clinton running in the general will galvanize Republicons to vote their candidate.

Those that support Clinton understand this simple math, so why continue to support HRC? Seems to me that they would rather risk losing the General than let a true progressive win. And yet they call themselves Democrats.

[Uncle Joe]

19. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for sharing, CoffeeCat.