"I'm 57, I have never voted before in my life..."

[Fran Kubelik]

I spent the morning and early afternoon at our Obama HQ calling registered voters over 55 years old who are expected to be undecided. Lots and lots of hang-ups, but the one call that made my day included the quote above. I asked the man how he thought the government had been doing for the last few years. He laughed and said:

"You can make a note of this. I'm 57 years old. I have never voted before in my life. Never voted. And I am going to vote for the very first time on November 4th, because I'm ready for change and I think Barack Obama is the man to do it. We can't take any more of this."

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Captain Hilts]

1. Sure wish they'd thought 2000 and 2004 was important enough to show up and vote.

We - the US - could have used that vote.

I hope they know that by not voting they're responsible for 'this'.

[Fran Kubelik]

3. While that may be true, of course blaming people doesn't help anything

I'm just happy to hear that we're finally resonating with people who didn't give a shit before.

[Captain Hilts]

5. True. But it's sad that things have to get this fucked up and we have to lose over 4000...

lives to get people motivated to vote.

[Fran Kubelik]

7. I totally agree.

Totally.

[Captain Hilts]

9. Keep up the Good Fight!

There's always room for one more in the Democrats' car...

Hop in!

[MadMaddie]

2. One at a time..One at a time

Thanks for sharing!

[Fran Kubelik]

13. Yup. Especially in swing states. We can't afford to just wait and see.

[marylanddem]

4. Sort of similar experience here in Merryland

I got a call from local Obama headquarters to sign up for volunteer work - the lady who called sounded a bit elderly - anyway, she said she herself had never volunteered in any election, but was really revved up for this one. I'll be canvassing in Virginia (Maryland is Obama territory - we in the d.c. burbs have to do what we can to swing Virginia democratic this election.

[Fran Kubelik]

6. Lots of seniors volunteering in the headquarters

I'm in my mid-30s and definitely brought the average age down with my presence there. :)

[Captain Hilts]

10. Same thing here in Bethesda - Wisc. Ave.. We're lining up more. nt

[cyndensco]

8. You said you had lots of hang ups.

Did they hang up because you were calling for Obama, or just because it was a political call?

[Fran Kubelik]

11. Because it was a political call.

The script they gave me had me asking almost immediately who they intended to vote for. That got a lot of people's hackles up, so I altered my approach. Instead of going right in for the kill, I said I was calling from the Obama Campaign for Change and that we were calling people today to get a feeling for how they think the government has been doing these last few years. That opened people up to talk a little more. Most agreed that they aren't happy with how the country has been run. Many then said they hadn't decided who to vote for and then hung up on me. Only one said she was planning to vote for McCain. And probably 1/3 of the people I actually spoke to said they were planning to vote for Obama. I even got a few to say they would volunteer to help.

[writes3000]

17. Smart, smart change in tactic. If you get people talking about themselves, it opens doors.

Just heard that at Camp Obama.

[ForeignSpectator]

19. Did you share or discuss your improvement of the script?

Lots of others on the team could profit from what you found out, I imagine...

Or is there a special reason the original script is meant to "go right for the kill"?

EDIT for "what"

[Fran Kubelik]

21. Good point. I will mention it tomorrow when I go back in.

The supervisor I was talking to was deep in conversation with a local politician when I was on my way out.

[ForeignSpectator]

28. I hope your supervisor is somebody who is open to suggestions...

I just love to read about stories like yours, lifts me up. I am sitting here on the other side of the Atlantic hoping to whatever Power there is that this thing goes right. And these kinds of posts help to not get depressed over the close polls which are cooked it seems but I digress...

Anyhow, keep it up! :hi:

[bdamomma]

12. people in other countries fight for the chance to vote

we got to realize that this election affects everyone. remember that, whatever we do has a ripple effect in the world.

[Fran Kubelik]

18. We as a country AND we as individuals

Anything anyone can do to help during this campaign is invaluable.

[tblue37]

20. When the South African blacks were finally allowed to vote,

lines at their polling places snaked for miles. Those pictures were very moving. I am hoping that Americans will be just as insistent on getting their chance to vote for Obama this year, inspite of the electoral shenanigans the Republcians will inevitably pull.

[Eric J in MN]

14. Thank you for your work getting people registered. NT

NT

[Hope And Change]

15. K & R!Keep up the good work!

[Fran Kubelik]

16. I love your user name!

[democracy1st]

22. great job Fran

[Fran Kubelik]

24. As much as I hate calling people, it felt really good to be doing something.

[goodgd_yall]

29. good on ya

That shows real dedication to do something you hate doing, for a higher cause.

[sonias]

23. Wow - stunning!

Good work Fran! Keep it up.

:applause: :yourock: and so does first time voter - 57 year old voter!


Sonia

[grantcart]

25. and these are the voters that the pollsters can't count

how can a pollster give weight to someone who has never voted before - he won't become statistically significant until he goes in and marks his balltet.

this election will be all about getting guys like this to the polls,

[Minimus]

26. Calls like that make phone banking all that much better. I make calls

for the Obama campaign in NC and I love it! I highly recommend it to anyone that has time to volunteer.

[Cha]

27. I can relate..I came to politics later

in life only I got into it in 2000 when I thought I should be active for Social Security.

Little did I know how far beyond that it would go.

Thanks Fran, for your activism! :bounce: