Attention Democratic Underground! Please read!

[XemaSab]

If eight people are out protesting Bush on the street corner, and a nice young member of the Redding Police Department comes up and says "Tell me more about Obama," DO NOT tell the cop "Go look at his website," then immediaely go back to chatting with your friend. :banghead:

EVERYONE needs some sort of short spiel to say to interested people. EVERYONE.

THIS MEANS YOU.

I asked the cop, "Do you think we've been heading in the right direction for the last eight years? If you think we've been heading in the right direction, then maybe you'd want to vote for McCain, 'cause McCain is going to continue Bush's policies on the war, the economy, energy, and so forth. Obama is offering something different. He's hoping to bring our troops home and use the National Guard for emergencies like fighting fires here and helping with disasters like Hurricane Katrina instead of leaving them in Iraq indefinitely. I do encourage you to go to Obama's website, as well as McCain's website, and see whose policies you really support. There's a good amount of time between now and November to get educated about the issues and the candidates."

Perhaps not the most brilliant campaign pitch ever, but hey, I said SOMETHING. The cop seemed happy talking to me, and he asked a few questions, and the dialogue would have continued, but then Air Force One landed and everyone got distracted. When the hubbub was over, the cop came and thanked me for talking to him, and shook my hand.

But seriously people, WHEN SOMEONE ASKS A QUESTION, DON'T TELL THEM TO GO TO THE WEBSITE, THEN IGNORE THEM. :grr:

It's totally shabby, and makes us look like we don't have anything good to say about our candidate.

[LisaM]

1. Not everyone has a computer, either

Believe it or not!

[Captain Hilts]

2. Just tell 'im that three pilots - Bush, Rumsfeld & Gen. Meyers decided to invade Iraq...

while groundpounders and grunts pleaded against the war.

DON'T put another pilot/aviator in the Big Chair!

I have found this theory effective when dealing with conservatives, especially those that have been in the military, as many cops have been.

[The Magistrate]

3. Sound Advice, Ma'am

And opening with a question is a good means of drawing the curious in, for it makes the person addressed the point of interest, and invites continuation via a reply....

[bemildred]

4. Well put.

If you are going to be out there, be ready to chat, give them the warm puppy feeling. "Why hello, Thank you for being interested!" Lord knows there is plenty to talk about. Cops more than anybody, they have power.

[gateley]

5. RIght on, XemaSab -- I bet the cop votes for Obama in Nov! nt

[proud patriot]

6. I have the AFL-CIO endorsement paperwork

printed up up a couple of copies

[glitch]

7. Damn, did that really happen? Not the you part but the other part about go check out his website?

Holey moley, check out his website is at the end of the spiel, it's not the spiel itself!

But you did good.

[ihavenobias]

8. Great points! Also, tell them these THREE simple things...

Just tell them these .

They'd have to be insane to vote for a Republican after hearing them.

PS---K & R

[XemaSab]

9. Thanks for the info!

:hi:

[ihavenobias]

11. We all need to work together to win the information wars!

We should use as many different facts and approaches that we can get our hands on and find one that works for each specific situation/audience.

PS---If you're not sure how to respond to those laughably bad, factually inaccurate anti-Obama smear emails and or you want more information on John McCain, here is .

[populistdriven]

10. All of us should go to the Obama website and watch the training video

http://my.barackobama.com/page/votercontact/training

[Maddy McCall]

12. Worse, the "go look at the website" people look ignorant...

as if they can't discuss policy.

Excellent suggestions. K.R

[Robeson]

13. That's perfect, Xema.....

...engaging in dialogue is a good thing. You did it perfectly...:thumbsup:

[Canuckistanian]

14. Wow, that's major

A cop actually came back to you because of the points you made? AND you put it in a way that made sense to him?

Good job.

I salute you.
:patriot: :toast:

[Danger Mouse]

15. We won't win people over to our side if we don't make an effort to advocate for Obama.

You did a good thing, and who knows? You might've helped bring in a vote for the O-man.

[ihavenobias]

16. Kick

[XemaSab]

20. Thanks!

:D

[Oeditpus Rex]

17. You didn't try to photograph him, did you?

:scared:

[5thGenDemocrat]

18. Here's an insight on that, Xema

My brother Chuck is a police officer and a paramedic (yes, both) and a fine individual who I love very much.
Chuck is also to the left of me politically (I proudly call myself a liberal against all comers but, hell, sometimes I'm not sure my type of liberal has even existed since Lyndon Johnson). His most recent Hotmail message to me concluded with "remember the end of the fascist state is in sight. OBAMA '08."
What does this mean? I don't know -- maybe that not everyone who call themselves liberal are any such thing and maybe not all cops dig fascism. Or maybe it means that, when the revolution comes, the fascist powers that be have at least one unforeseen problem to concern themselves with. Or maybe it just means that I have a cool brother who just happens to wear a badge.
I'm sure, as you pointed out, that I'm hardly the only one. That's a way sweet anecdote to pass along to Chuck though, honestly, it doesn't surprise me (and probably won't surprise him) all that much. In a perfect world, it shouldn't. But, still, this ain't a perfect world.
John
Anyhow, you surely did the right thing. Keep up the good work and thanks for taking that extra little step.

[eridani]

19. Get an elevator speech for all your candidates and issues.

Practice them. You did good--thanks.

[PLE]

21. That's

Very good advice. Just five minutes could plant a seed of reason that could grow into a vote for sanity!

[Swamp Rat]

22. k&r

[LSK]

23. K&R

:patriot:

[MilesColtrane]

24. You mean, "Fuck off, fascist pig." doesn't work?

[XemaSab]

27. Next time I'll try that and tell you how it works

:P

[Mythsaje]

25. I've said it before and I'll say it again...

A lot of this stuff has to be done on a one-to-one basis. Personal contact is a valuable tool.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

26. Good point. (Although every single OP in this forum could have the same title!) nt.

[Major Hogwash]

28. Here's my speech - John McCain is a cocksucking, two-faced, warmonger.

Short, sweet, to the point.

I deal with a lot of "low information voters".

But, they all understand my message.

[Major Hogwash]

29. Here's something else I say - How many times has McCain voted to increase vets' benefits?

Answer: Zero.

Not one time in the last 10 votes in the Senate.

People can hardly believe it when I tell them that, because "the urban myth" is that McCain supports vets, so naturally he would vote to increase veterans' benefits, right?

Wrong!!

McCain doesn't give a shit about other veterans!!

And that's when I explain to them that's why I think McCain is a cocksucker.

[texasleo]

30. nice