I spent about five hours canvassing today in Laconia, NH. Mostly Obama supporters, with a few undecideds. A few people who said they did not want to vote this time. I asked why. The answer is that they felt disillusioned by both candidates. Really, I said. Do you care about pay equity? Do you care about women’s health issues? Do you have daughters, granddaughters, sisters, mothers, aunts, women friends? Are you a big fan of Mad Men as a real life experience? Do you want to go back to the 50’s?
One woman said well yes, she would reconsider. She seemed tired. I felt tired. I am tired of having to re-visit these old, ought-to-be settled issues. Another woman said she did not believe in abortion. I said neither do I, but I do not want someone else’s religious beliefs dictating the kind of health care or reproductive rights choices that are available to me, my daughters or anyone else!
An elderly gentleman said that he is supporting the President because he lived in Massachusetts during the Romney years. It’s not his state, and he did nothing good there, he said. He told me that during his four-year term, Romney spent more than 400 days away on vacation!
Tomorrow more canvassing and phone banks in the evening. And more stories as I find them.
I have never wavered from my support for President Obama. I watched the debates, all of them. I watched because I needed to be sure. I was never as sure as last night. The only real man in the house needs to be reelected. I will be voting for all the right reasons.
That’s a lot for the first day! Whew! It astonishes me too that people can actually say that they won’t vote…it’s a privilege that is taken for granted–so many things at stake: freedom of choice,the Supreme Court,taxes(federal in NH’s case) !!
Do these people know Romney wants to privatize Medicare and repeal so-called Obamacare? Have they observed his waffling? Don’t they think the 1%, with most of the wealth in the USA, should pay their fair share of taxes? Do they understand the grasp that the Tea Party has on the Republicans these days? There IS a difference. There’s a myth that there’s a “perfect” candidate out there. Thank you for your dedication and your work. Hang in there. xoxo