My family working for Obama

[ericgtr]

I thought I would share this email that I got from my sister. She was initially a Hillary supporter and took her loss in stride. She and my family took to the streets for Obama and I couldn't be more proud of them.

We all did something and together made this change. Now we can’t rest our tired aching wet feet from all that canvassing. I suspect a community organizer for president will keep us all moving towards a common goal. Man, this campaign was so dam together, one day to the next... they kept us involved doing some small thing at least weekly.

As mom and I slugged along in the pouring rain on our way back after another 3 hour stint of getting out the vote, and helping people get ballots and info., we knew we had been a part of a small step in the right direction even if that creep who stole my $8.00 Obama yard sign didn’t get it. It had Vaseline all over it, so I hope they got a hand full. Still wet and sticky I got a knock on my door. A neighbor lady stood before me, a crisp new sign she got to replace those stolen on our street. I told her about my afternoon and she was so grateful as she is not physically able to do canvassing anymore. I pointed out her thoughtful contribution to the campaign. Even Dylan (son) went out the week before with Grandma and they got a lot closer in this united task. Sarah (daughter) did the children’s celebration to get people to register and took over political arguments with Jon (husband) and held her own. Then Jackson (son) and I signed up voters in front of Walmart one hot day in July.

I gave my campaign leader’s Obama badge to my new boss and it sparked a closer connection. I met really cool people at a back yard wine & cheese planning meeting after the fair and facilitated the arrangement of a permanent meeting place at the Springfield democratic office which led to the union hall that served as the weekly canvassing and phone banking center for Springfield. Despite putting on the brakes when school started I still ended up at two rallies at the HQ in Eugene with Sen. Honda and Michelle’s brother (missed his talk ) but phone banked. There I discovered Shauna on the list of registered voters to call – remember we urged registration at the fam. reunion. Everyone who could vote – did. Portia thought she couldn’t vote due to a felony record, but I found the Oregon law which said she could and gave them reg. cards and even hand delivered their ballots. I got lots of homeless veterans registered and mom held Shawn’s ballot as a prerequisite for reentry back home.

Finally Martin (brother) and I discovered dad had a ballot in his glove box and we bugged him till he got it in. Meanwhile, I offered to take Jon’s ballot to the drop box, down by the river bank- but he opted for self delivery. In the end, he was happy with Obama. I suggested that he join the McCain for 2000 grief & loss support group. His dedication to McCain of days gone by held on tight, even as McCain flew off to save Washington on his demented silver horse with his sidekick – Milf on a moose. Jon stayed true. Loyalty is his quality and he now joins all the mavericks who have to get with the program or get out of the way. He still reserves the right to gloat when things get tough – which is probably a safer place to be.

We all did something within our ability, within our community to collectively make a change as a nation. This effort showed a new generation how to be involved so we can say “we know we can”. So in this night of victory, I thought I’d share this with you – the first one to introduce me to Obama. Thanks your sis – Lesa

PS I got mom some red, white, and blue balloons and put ‘Yes We Can’ to put on her yard sign to celebrate and thank her for her tireless efforts. Mom said Sandy who was such a political activist in her day, would have loved to see this day in history. I said Sandy (aunt) is part of all us and our family history, guiding our thinking and actions today. We only have to slow down to acknowledge her presence and say “hey Sandy, thanks for the help – look what we did – we helped make a political change and even avoided getting arrested in the process!”