Confronted by a FREEPER while canvassing my community.

[JohnnyCougar]

Me and a few other Obama supporters were canvassing our gated community here in Lakeland for Obama, reminding supporters that that today is the last day to early vote. We were waiting in my friend Jerry's vehicle as he knocked on his last door of the street. Jerry's car has a bunch of Obama stickers on it. Up pulls this black SUV with some guy asking us where we lived. We told him that we all lived in the community, and we were talking to certain people and letting them know to GOTV. He said that we were soliciting, and that there was no soliciting in the community and that he would report us to the community board. He said going door to door was against the rules, so then we showed him our walk list and said "that's not door to door, we're only going to specific doors". He got befuddled, and asked for my friend Jerry's address. Jerry was happy to give it to him. Jerry, a Vietnam veteran, also asked if he wanted his name, rank and serial number, and stated this to him. The Freeper's eyes got a cowering look. At this time, I noticed he had an NRA magnet on his SUV and a McCain-Palin button hanging from his rear view mirror. Despite the Freeper's NRA bravado on the outside of his car, I could tell he was a coward inside. He never fought in any wars or fought for this country like my friend Jerry did, even though they were the same age. His NRA and McCain-Palin propaganda on his vehicle were simply a substitute for real courage -- a way to make himself look tough without actually having to make brave decisions.

He told us that we can't be soliciting, but we said we have to finish up our walk lists, and that we could finish up quicker if he got out of our way. As he pulled away, I saw five or six McCain stickers on the back of his SUV, including a "Country First" sticker. As we were knocking on our other doors, the Freeper was driving around stalking us. He passed us two more times driving around the neighborhood. I smiled at him whenever he passed. I wondered if he had mental problems -- what kind of loser would go around stalking people who were knocking on supporters' doors informing them of early voting?

We finished up our walk lists and went home. I know I got at least one person to vote that wouldn't have had they not known they could early vote today. They were going out of town over election day, and wouldn't be able to make it to the polls, but they thanked me and told me they were definitely going to go early vote then. Haha, freeper. I just canceled out your vote!

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. They are scared, knowing McCain's going down big.

[crazy_vanilla]

2. good for you, cougar

I hate the cowardly lion type of freeper who is full of bravado and light on actual achievement. Just like Joe the PlumbAsshole.

And thanks for your work on GOTV.

[Kdillard]

3. Thank you and you handled that creep brilliantly.

[TommyO]

4. It might be time to report him to the community board for his stalking

It's clear that he's a danger to you and others in your community.

[TankLV]

15. I strongly recommend that. These assholes cannot get away with that shit...

[intheflow]

18. Yeah, that's my suggestion, too.

If he was really so "concerned" you were breaking the community covenant, he could have talked to the management or community board. Stopping once to to enquire if you're soliciting is being a good neighborhood watch, but the driving around multiple times is really a stalking behavior--and I'm sure it's not looked at kindly by whoever enforces the communities' rules.

[BlueState]

5. Great Story...

...thanks for sharing!

[SpiralHawk]

6. Typical fascist-inclined Republicon Chickenhawk

Did not serve America. Wants to control everyone, out of his own fear and his own inadequacy. Loves Having a Big Daddy, like Commander AWOL or McSame, in charge to make him feel safe. Resents adults who exercise their basic human and Constitutional rights.

No wonder America is giving the COLLECTIVE FINGER to the Republicons who have so trashed and FAILED our beloved country.

[iamthebandfanman]

7. say what i say to freepers

GET A JOB!

lol.

i love yelling that at stupid freepers. makes them so angry.

[Hepburn]

8. Good for you and Jerry!!!

I love it that you got to another coward hiding behind NRA and McCain-Palin bullshit stickers!

:applause: K&R!

[VOX]

9. Good work, JC. Freepers get a buzz out of playing cop, or making lists of names, etc.

You handled this all quite diplomatically and thoughtfully. Bravo, and thanks -- :toast:

[Kixel]

10. Amazing

If he cared that much, he should be working for the McCain campaign and going out door to door instead of worrying about you. You more than canceled out his vote because of your activism. The nice thing about supporters like that-they lack the foresight to realize what actually wins elections. Bumper stickers and stalking don't get out the vote!

I'm off to get ready for my afternoon shift door knocking.

[Tutonic]

11. Where was their zeal when their illegally selected preznut was

taking us into an illegal occupation, or practicing torture or stripping the constitution bare? All hat no cattle.

[progressivebydesign]

12. Good for you and Jerry. You handled him well. this is why I moved out of our gated community.

I just hated people trying to tell me what to do all the time. We had a no soliciting thing, too, but neighbor to neighbor we could do it... and you weren't soliciting. I'm sure that jerk will report you to the Board, because there are always people like that in a neighborhood.. and they're always republicans.

[intheflow]

19. I recently me a woman at a dog park who was wearing a McCain/Palin pin.

She was sooooo distraught because they got this dog but their neighborhood association won't let them put a fence around their backyard so they can let their dog out. Well boo-hoo. That's what you get for being so "exclusive" -- your property freedoms get curbed. And then, in typical Repuke fashion, they whine about it like they didn't make the decision to to live in an "exclusive" community. :eyes:

[progressivebydesign]

30. No kidding. we had bought our house because.. well. we loved the house.

and our gated community was rumored to be pretty low key. You could have fences, but they had to be fairly similar. I know that most people equate gated communities with.. well.. being white and republican. While I can attest that most people there were probably repubs, our neighborhood was fairly mixed racially. Most people bought there because it kept the traffic safer so kids could play softball in the cul de sacs, or ride their scooters, and such. Nice enough people.. but we just got so burned out on feeling like people were measuring your lawn, watching to see if your paint is peeling. The final straw for me was when I wanted to paint our front door, and was told i had to clear the color thru the ARC committee. We're much too free-spirited for that. I do miss the neighbors and how friendly they were, and how much they'd wave and say "hi!" But we got a different house in a small neighborhood with no HOA. Much nicer. Where we live there are very few neighborhoods that don't have an HOA.

[quantass]

13. Interesting read! Thank you.

[nomaco-10]

14. He's the same kind of nut....

out stockpiling guns and losing any, if there ever was any, tiny bit of sanity they ever thought they had. They are so conflicted and frustrated, I expect they're also the type that will begin beating their wives on a more regular basis and kicking their poor helpless dog everyday.

A bunch of bigoted losers that see their so called vision of murikan slipping away.

Keep your eyes out folks, some of them ain't going away that easily. They inhabit your neighbohoods and teach in your local schools, they preach in your churches and hold positions of power in your communities.

Keep an eye out and don't hesitate to call any local, statewide or federal agency when you see or hear of them trying to act out.

THEY'RE DANGEROUS.

[BlooInBloo]

16. Intimidation tactics.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

17. I guess someone died

and the freeper appointed himself hall monitor.

[mopinko]

20. i think they are all cowards. that is the root of the problem.

they live in a scary world that they can't control. they are trying to make up for that with big cars and guns. and a god who takes care of them and grants their wishes.

good on you guys for not letting him push you around.

[JohnnyCougar]

24. Right on target

The right-wing message is many times nothing more than overcompensating toughness marketed to people who feel weak, powerless, and often cowardly. The hardcore freepers I have met in real life generally are about some of the emptiest people one could imagine. Right-wing propaganda is rooted in the attempt to make weak middle-class conservative white people feel strong again -- except they base this empty "strength" on tearing down others not like them and blaming the destruction of the country's morality on people who can't emulate their boring, pathetic lifestyle.

[mopinko]

25. have you ever seen my truck? it scares the bejezuzz out of them.

i have had so few people flip me off, or start anything with me. a handful. compared to the zillion people who have honked and waved, and taken pictures. i watch them sometimes, as they sneak a peek out of the corner of their eyes. they just freak and cower. it is really quite amazing.

more pics here
hmmm. trying to get this link to work right, but it is haywire. the question mark on the page is the link to the truck pictures. :shrug:

so how are things, johnny?

[leveymg]

39. You may not be older and better insured, but you sure are bigger than they are.

Love that line from Cathy Bates in "Fried Green Tomatoes" where she repeatedly rams the VW that stole her space in the parking lot.

That truck is awesome.

[mopinko]

42. mostly i am

older and better insured. so far i have resisted having my own cathy bates moment, but i do wonder how.
i think all of the guys (always guys) who have flipped me off are driving a vehicle as big as mine. most of them would have been a lot more upset about some dents in theirs that i would be, tho.

[JohnnyCougar]

43. I am good. I am slowly adjusting to Florida

It's not the same as Chicago, I will tell you that. At least I am in a crucial battleground state. Aiding in the defeat of Republicans is very satisfying.

[stillcool]

21. I hope you got the pricks name..

[JohnnyCougar]

22. We did.

But I'm just going to forget about him now because nothing could satisfy me more than making that asshole completely irrelevant to my life.

[fNord]

41. well put...........

the more you actively think about him, the more power you give him and his bull shit, and the less power you give to your own ends.

[grantcart]

23. I believe that the Supreme Court has clearly said that community associations cannot

proscribe door to door political canvassing (and I realize that you weren't doing that). I am sure if you call the Obama campaign that they will have an article that explains the law for the next time.

Also they cannot prohibit reasonable signage.

[RollWithIt]

26. Grats on the cancel out... that's one thing about GOTV....

Even if you can persuade one person to vote who otherwise wouldn't have your time was WELL SPENT.

[VoodooGuru]

27. There are some bitter people out there.

And for once, it's not us. Nyaa! :7

[4_Legs_Good]

28. Fantastic!

And thanks for the great work!!!

David

[AZBlue]

29. Thank you for volunteering!

And for putting up with this jerk!!

[MrMickeysMom]

31. That's great! How classic.

-- what kind of loser would go around stalking people who were knocking on supporters' doors informing them of early voting?

I'll tell you what kind- the same ones who would, for lack of their personal development and consideration of others, buy a big ass SUVs, tout the NRA, and love the half wits who drive them into the burbs to talk about things of which they have no knowledge.

These guys should buy stock in Kleenex and Vasoline.

[ACTION BASTARD]

32. They are scared out of their minds.

They hate that Dems do the things they won't do (door2door/marching/volunteering)and the only way to keep the bad thoughts down is to try to intimidate with supposed "authority" figures. Not realizing we have nothing but contempt for those in power right now.

I too have found that the biggest mouths have never served a day in uniform. Wannabe's and NeverServeds spend their whole lives living a sad, pathetic lie.

[grannylib]

33. Sounds typically rePigliCon...tough Mr. Macho on the outside...

cowardly little boy having to make cheap threats and sneak around in reality.

All hat, no cattle...
Lights on, nobody home...
Sharp as a mashed potato sandwich on soggy white bread...
Style but no substance...

However you want to say it, it adds up to EPIC FAIL!

[No Elephants]

34. Thanks to you and your friend. Blessings.

[krispos42]

35. Cell phone cameras come in good use for this stuff.

And movies that capture audio... excellent.

[lebkuchen]

36. campaign volunteers are going to win this election for us

Thank you for YOUR service.

[and-justice-for-all]

37. What a fucker...

good for you for sticking up to that asshole.

[leveymg]

38. Political canvassing isn't soliciting - distribution of political messages can't be

barred in public places. We ignore No Soliciting signs in our canvass, and explain that to people who try to challenge our canvassers.

However, you must observe No Trespassing signs, as these indicate a privately-owned area where no one can go without the owner's permission.

[Rebellious Republican]

40. Great canvass story JohnnyCougar, me and my Evil Duer Nephew

Have been doing GOTV canvas work for the Obama campaign ourselves here in Florida. I usually where one of my "Wildland Firefighter" T shirts, my "Veterans for Obama" button. Also my stepdaughter's fiance' is a structural firefighter up in Dekalb county, Ga. Some time back he gave me an Official Dekalb County Fire Rescue ball cap that I where while out canvasing. I never have any outright hate directed at me because of all that.

I have at the most had a man at a bad address open the door and I start my spiel, just get red in the face look at my stuff that I am wearing and very curtly say "Goodbye" and close the door. Some people I have met while walking through the neighborhood stopped to ask me if if was really a Vet or a Wildland Fire Fighter. Which allowed me to strike up a conversation by answering yes to all and explaining about the hat (and how my soon to be structural FF son in law in GA. is an O supporter as well). Some were veterans themselves and confided how they disgusted with their choices on the republican ticket. I think it is safe to say I was able to make them feel a little more at ease about not having to lose any machismo by checking the Democratic candidate. Because for a lot of these people they honestly associate democrats with wimps. I am about as normal a red blooded American male as they get, and am or have been willing to put my life on the line for my beliefs most of my adult life. I have the medals, ribbons, citations and DD214, and Fire certifications to prove it.

Also these people who I chat with are up on the military slang, and speak in military talk and know I am not bullshitting them when I converse(these guys know if someone is full of shit or the real deal). Other Vets on this site can vouch for that.

Needless to say me and my Evil DUer nephew (fnord) who is leaving for boot camp in a couple of weeks have been pretty successful with a lot of the undecideds and disgusted repubs.

I believe Barrack Obama is going to win Florida with no problem!

:kick:

[Phx_Dem]

44. I wouldn't have given him my address or any other information.

What is he, the neighborhood police? He only needs to worry about who is knocking on HIS door. Fuck him.