Honest Complaint about the Kerry Campaign

[Lord_StarFyre]

...No, this isn't that you might think from the title.

In fact, it's probably more my fault than their's. Here, let me explain.

Yesterday, (Saturday) I had planned on taking my daughters (7 & 10) to the Kerry/Edwards Campaign Office here in So Cal. Seeing that the address for the place is the ONLY one listed in So Cal, is about half way between my Apartment and the Santa Monica Pier, I had planned a whole day of it.

You know, get them both T-Shirts, buttons, stickers, etc, then take them down to the Pier for the balance of the day ( Shamelessly parade my walking, talking, cotton candy eating Kerry/Edwards 2004 billboards around the boardwalk ).

Well, after driving all the way to the Office Address (which is not easy to get to, BTW, due to a whole slew of major street re-design the city is doing) we finally make our way to the Office Building.

Mind you, both my daughters were excited about going there, so at that point, failure wasn't an option.

The building has one of those "Dial up the Occupant" security deals at the front door. So, I dialed up the # for the Campaign Office.

After a few rings, a guy answers the phone, and he seemed surprised that anyone would be stopping by. He explained that the Office we had come to was the "Finacial Office" and not the Campaign Office.

Maybe by now, you're getting the picture, and the source of my complaint. Here I have 2 Angel Faced Cheribs, (I'm Biased, so Sue Me!) REALLY looking forward to the Kerry Stuff I was planning on buying for them! If you don't have young children, ask a friend who does what exactly letting down a 7 year old feels like.

Well, the guy on the Phone was nice, but basically clueless about where we should go. He suggested the Democratic Club at 9th and Wilshire, but had no idea the exact address, phone number, or even which building.

We thanked him for his suggestion. and left.

So, we headed on down to 9th and Wilshire.

Have you ever been told to find the corner, in a Round Room?!?!?!

At this point, after looking around there, I opted for the "escape route" and just took the girls to the Pier.

OK, sorry about the long winded approach, but the jist of this complaint is this. The Original Address we went to is the ONLY So Cal (LA) adress listed on the Kerry/Edwards 2004 site. No Other addresses listed. (I know, I looked, and then looked again this morning before launching into this "tirade")

Mind you, I'm a staunch Kerry Supporter, and I view this as little more than a most probably personal failure of research, and not a condemnation of the Campaign.

HOWEVER, that being said, let's say I wasn't so staunch in my support, and was looking to meet someone at the Campaign office to either solidify or augment my support level? If I showed up at the only office listed on the main national website and was given the same lack luster directions or ideas, do you really think I'd be inclined to search further?

The damned Bush Offices are one stop shops, volunteering, buttons, stickers, etc, and there are at least 10 I know of that I've seen driving around here in LA.

OK, I'll quit my whining and sniveling here, but if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I've still got 2 T-Shirtless, Buttonless, Stickerless daughters who want to see more of this Campaign that on-line shopping!

[JI7]

1. i live in so cal also

i ordered my kerry stuff since i thought it was very unlikely to find stuff here since it's not a swing state. and because of limited resources they have to focus on swing states. even the swing states have a hard time getting things.

i suggest you call before hand and make sure you know if there are any places to go to get kerry stuff. and if there are make sure you get the right address and other info such as phone number and dates and times the place is open.

i'm thinking since you are in california you will most likely have to order the stuff and pay for it yourself. www.kerrygear.com has some good package deals if consider doing this.

maybe some others in the area will have more suggestions.

[Lord_StarFyre]

2. I had planned on

...Paying for the stuff, but I kinda hoped for something a bit more "in your face" approach, like actually a real office. I wanted my daughters to experience that.

However, you may be right.

Sadly, one of my memories growing up was my Dad (a staunch Nixon Republican) taking me, my brother, and sister to the "Re-Elect the President" office back in 72. I've still got a few of those buttons and stuff that I kept all these years.

Seeing all those people, with their funky looking foam "straw hats" the posters, buttons, flags, etc really stuck with me.

For me, it's the experience that's important, at least for them.

Does that make sense?

[JI7]

5. yes, i understand

but since we live in california it's very unlikely we will get a chance to experience much campaigning directly in the state. it's good in that we can be sure it's one state we will win for sure. but it also means we have less campaign experiences.

have you considered driving to one of the states like nevada or arizona which are swing states and hold rallies and have active campaigns in place ? there are volunteers in california who go up to those states to do campaigning. they even have a bus that can take a group of people at times. i'm guessing your kids are in school now making it less likely you have time for that. but it's the closest idea i can think of for direct campaigning.

[AP]

3. Always call ahead! Even if it's the right office, they might run out of...

...stuff before you get there.

[daydreamer]

4. very good point

Maybe if you post in forum.johnkerry.com somebody at the campaign might get to read it. I have not been completely happy with the campaign.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Darn, what a shame for your daughters.

I'm of the mindset that if you tell a child you will do something with them, you do it. It's one way to teach responsibilty. It's unfortunate that this time it was completely out of your hands. :( You tried!

Sit your girls down with you at the computer, go to JohnKerry.com and let them pick out their t-shirts, buttons and stickers and then take them to a rally if there's ever another one in your area. Or, after you get the merchandise, go back to the Pier and do your thing. :hi:

[goclark]

8. Other ideas!

I live in California and I know how you feel.

Most of the Democratic Clubs have lots of bumper stickers,yard signs but you have to contact them beforehand.

Go to johnkerry.com and get the email addresses for the California headquarters in the area you live in,the meet ups chair people are the ones that can generally find things for you.

BUT...I think it would be better, with only 4 weeks before the election,for you and the kids to make their own stuff for Kerry!

Paint their own lawn signs
Lemonade Stand in front of the house with you with them.
Let them join you at a Kerry Meet Up... I have seen a few kids there.
Make their own Tee Shirts..they have special paint that would be adorable!

Since Halloween is just around the corner...they could dress up as John K or Edwards or Teresa or one of the kids and carry their home made signs. Vote for KERRY ( take them only to homes of supporters of Kerry so no old meany won't scare them )

I have been making Address Label STICK ON's that are adorable...
In two minutes you can go to make labels on the computer and enter...

VOTE FOR JOHN KERRY!!!!!!
bush is scary!

0R

KIDS LOVE KERRY!
Please vote for him
for us!

I think it is fantastic that Kids are taught to enjoy the thrills of politics!
Congratulations for working so hard to help them understand how much politics matters in our world.

[livetohike]

7. I found this on the democratic club web site

for Los Angeles. Hopefully, one of the other offices can help you. We have three temporary offices here in the North County (San Diego) and they all have Kerry/Edwards stuff. Good luck! :-)

http://www.lacdp.org




VOLUNTEER AT YOUR LOCAL DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS

Burbank-Glendale UDC
Jon Eifer 818.247.8403
1100 E. Chevy Chase Dr., Glendale


Claremont-Pomona UDC
Dwaine Kaiser 909.621.4636
879 E. Arrow Hwy, Pomona


Downtown-California Democratic Party
213.239.8730
888 S. Figueroa, #400
Los Angeles, CA 90017


Eagle Rock-Mt.Washington UDC
Mike Lee 323.257.3366
4777 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles


East LA - CDP/EVC
Campaign
4512 E. Cesar Chavez Ave.
Los Angeles, 90022


Inglewood - CDP/EVC Campaign
3535 W. Imperial Hwy Suite G
Inglewood, CA 90303


Lancaster-Palmdale UDC
Mark Walters 661.267.1967
837 E. Ave. Q-9, Palmdale


Long Beach UDC
April Black 562.986.9977
1032 Redondo Ave #A, Long Beach


Los Feliz-Silver Lake UDC
Jon Eifer 323.913.3033
1521 Griffith Park Blvd., LA


Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown
- CDP/EVC Campaign
2420 W. 7th St.
Los Angeles, 90057


Pasadena UDC
Megan Jones 626.583.8717
140 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena


San Fernando Valley UDC
Agi Kessler 818.995.3367
18425-A Nordhoff St., Northridge


Santa Clarita Valley UDC
Larry Kanner 661.259.8463
23942 Lyons Ave., Unit 104, Newhall


Santa Monica-West LA UDC
Marcy Winograd 310.451.1094
900 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica


Southeast LA-South Gate
CDP/EVC Campaign
9918 S. Atlanic Ave.
South Gate, CA 90280


South LA/Crenshaw -CDP/EVC Campaign
3775 Santa Rosalia Dr.
Los Angeles, 90008


West Hollywood-Beverly Hills-Hollywood UDC
Michael Andraychak 323.650.8190
8465 Holloway Dr., West Hollywood


West San Gabriel Valley UDC
Rosemary Ready 626.459.9011
19 S. Garfield, 2nd Floor, Alhambra


Westwood UDC
Helen Stein 310.441.9974
10651 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles


Whittier UDC
Lillian Gonzales 562.693.7241
6553 S. Comstock Ave., Whittier