So... an Obama canvasser came to my house this weekend (in NH)

[bunnies]

And of course... I was more than happy to talk to her. She asked me who I was supporting and I answered her honestly... "undecided". So she starts talking about the war and goes on and on about how Obama voted against it. What?! I say... I'm sure you know Obama wasn't a US Senator at the time of the IWR, so he didnt get to vote on the bill, either for OR against. She doesnt believe me. Asks if Im sure. Looks confused. Then she says... well actually... I dont really follow politics that much. I just read the headlines & go by what other people tell me. She goes on: My son works for Obama in Chicago and really I'm only doing this because if he gets elected my son will make a lot of money and I'll get to retire. Then she admits that she knows no more about Obama that whats in the pamphlets she's handing out. And oh yeah, they told her not to tell people about that "whole retirement thing"... but she figures what the hell. What the hell indeed! By this time Im thinking to myself: you've got to be shitting me. I did however learn that it was Obamas birthday Sat. Whoo! Too bad I'm not basing my vote on astrological signs.

Now how the hell does his campaign think they're going to win people over when they're sending out people like this. I mean... shouldnt they AT LEAST give the canvassers a print-out with the candidates views.. or SOMETHING? Am I completely off with my expectation of a canvas?

Anyway. Next time, I might not be so quick to open the door for them. Talking points? Yeah. Got em already. Sheesh.

[quinnox]

1. lol, wow what a poor representative!

She probably is hurting Obama more than helping with that lack of knowledge.

[bunnies]

6. My thougths exactly.

Especially by saying she only wanted to retire. It was like... great.. ok.. you convinced me. :eyes:

[regnaD kciN]

7. Was she REALLY an Obama representative...?

It has become par for the course for Republicans to pose as supporters and/or representatives of Democratic candidates, with the point of annoying voters. (Calling at four in the morning to remind them to "vote for John Kerry so that gays can get married" and the like.) It wouldn't surprise me a bit to find that said canvasser was actually a representative of the Republicans or even...gasp!...another Democratic candidate.

[quinnox]

14. Maybe

but most likely its just as it sounds, some lady who walked in off the street to help Obama because her son is a supporter.

[bunnies]

17. Well... they talk about canvassing my neighborhood on Obamas NH website...

So I doubt thats the case here... but anythings possible I spose.

[Ethelk2044]

18. It is hard to believe he has classes for his supporters to educate them on the issues

before allowing them to canvass.

[bunnies]

21. Maybe its different if she's the mother of one of his employees?

I really dont know. She was wearing a green Obama t-shirt with a shamrock on it... had tons of literature... and knew my name. Said she lives in MA but drove up just to canvass on Obamas birthday. I will see if I can find out her name... I'd think the campaign would know who was here. At least Id hope they would.

[Ethelk2044]

23. No different. That is one of his requirements

[demigoddess]

20. exactly what I was thinking, they are very subtle, and I had a similar

experience last election. Over the phone.

[Clintonista2]

34. The problem with that theory is that

Had the OP been unaware that Obama was not in the senate during the Iraq vote, he would have been left with the impression that Obama really did vote against he war, thus not hurting the OP's view on Obama in any way. Most voters are probably unaware of that fact anyways.

[SaveElmer]

2. Well to be fair...

It's not like a campaign that size can screen every volunteer that comes through the door...plenty of reasons not to support Obama, but the behavior of one ill informed volunteer shouldn't be one of them

[bunnies]

5. oh I agree.

She'll have no bearing on whether or not I decide to support him. It just shocked me that they dont inform their volunteers at all!

[laugle]

16. But you have notice some

people here at DU seem to have a limited knowledge of his background and stand on issues. I've noticed it!

[FrenchieCat]

3. You are correct.....this type of supporter doesn't help much.....and I am amazed that

she'd be sent out to campaign without accurate talking points on the candidate!

Hope they have more volunteers that know how to communicate the fact that Obama was against the IWR but didn't vote for it.......as opposed to those who think they know when they don't. :(

[bunnies]

9. I actually felt kinda sorry for her...

I could tell that I made her feel silly. But hopefully she didnt make that mistake with anyone else.

[Ethelk2044]

4. What is the actual supporter name?

[bunnies]

8. no clue.

She told me, but Im awful with names & have forgotten. Id recognize her in a line-up though. ;)

[illinoisprogressive]

10. You should let the campaign they have this person out and is horrible.

[durrrty libby]

11. Why would her son make a lot of money? What am I missing?

[Ethelk2044]

12. That is why I asked for a name.

[bunnies]

13. I was a bit confused by that too...

but she implied that if Obama was elected, her son would get a big $ job out of it. I should have asked more...

[regnaD kciN]

15. This has "opposition dirty tricks" written all over it...

I wonder which candidate Rove is supporting? Romney? Thompson?

[Sal Minella]

19. That's what I'm thinking -- oppo tactics.

Like the "Kerry supporter" who screamed and yelled at me on the phone to be sure to vote for Kerry. Obviously designed to turn people against the candidate. People desperate to make some money will do strange things if they don't have much for scruples.

Having hungry kids to feed would shrink my scruples pretty rapidly, actually...

[smalll]

32. OMG - it's Mother Axelrod! /nt

[Meldread]

22. Dirty Tricks.

I am pretty sure Obama has classes for all of his volunteers. So she was either free lancing (unlikely if she had pamphlets), was given an assignment by someone really low down on the campaign ladder, or it was another one of the Candidates (either a Dem or Repub) playing dirty tricks.

It seems to be the former due to what she said, but all the same I'd call the campaign headquarters and let them know what is up.

[Ethelk2044]

24. Agreed

[Buck Laser]

25. Sometimes, genuine supporters can be inarticulate, too...

I don't know if this is the case, but she may have been trying to do something she just wasn't cut out to do. As the say, "never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by stupidity."

[Colobo]

26. Any excuse to bash Obama is good.

[bunnies]

27. Any excuse to accuse someone of bashing Obama is good too.

Right? I talk about an experience with a canvasser and Im "bashing Obama"? Please. :eyes:

[MalloyLiberal]

28. HAHAHAHHAAHHAH

Obama is getting lamer and lamer.

[Superman Returns]

31. yeah definitely

because we all know he handpicked that canvasser.

:eyes:

[Ian David]

29. I would call the campaign HQ and let them know. But you know what...

I think I might sign-up to canvas for Romney and make a complete ass of myself on purpose.

[beyurslf]

30. Govt employees don't make lots of money. While I am sure he would be well-paid,

I doubt it is enough for his mom to retire on.

[fujiyama]

33. That's just embarrassing

[killbotfactory]

35. Seems like an easy mistake to make

We have a Senator who opposed the Iraq War. It's probably easy for someone to conflate "voting against" and "opposing" if they are not well informed about the candidate. However, if that's the case, they probably shouldn't be canvassing in the first place.

[jillan]

36. The sad reality is that most people wouldn't have questioned his non-vote.

Most people would have said -Really?!

[cd3dem]

37. had Obama worker hang-up on me

Obama worker called me last spring asking for money... I said I was not giving anyone money at this time... (I don't have any money)... again she asks me for $100... I repeated myself simply and politely... I am not giving any candidate money at this time... she hung up on me...

sounds like they are not well organized or trained...