My Apologies...

[qwlauren35]

I know that most of you won't see this thread, and it will hit the bottom soon, but for those who do see this, I'm glad.

I'm not a Republican thug. I'm not stupid or lying. I DO admit to being ignorant. I'm notorious at not keeping up with the pace of the media. But I'm also impulsive, and don't think through how people will take what I write. And sometimes, I want to be heard, and will take the risk of pissing people off.

So, I wrote the "Listen Up, White People" thread, and the "What Am I Missing" thread, and YES, I promise go back to just reading.

The honest truth is that I am scared sh*tless that we won't win this election. And I don't apologize for my negativity, because it makes me work harder.

Most DUers who write in this forum are very intelligent, articulate people, who research issues and use reason when making decisions. And are very, very Internet savvy. I just don't think that DUers represent a broad cross-section of the American voting public.

Yet somehow, we need to reach out to people who may not fit all or any of these attributes, and convince them to vote for Obama. I think it will take some out-of-the-box thinking. We're capable. We just have to be willing.

But again. Please know, above everything, I want Obama to win this election. I apologize for launching a thread that angered so many of you.

And to each of you who took the time to seriously answer, even if you were furious with how I phrased my e-mail, you have my deepest thanks.

Lauren F...
Baltimore, MD

[ColbertWatcher]

1. k+r. n/t

[tekisui]

2. THey way to reach the local people is locally.

Door to door, neighbor to neighbor. Boots on the ground is how the election will be won.

[qwlauren35]

4. I hope you're right.

There are a lot of true Obama supporters who are intimidated by the idea of doing this. Some are just uncomfortable with the concept, others are worried about the negativity.

As for neighborhoods, I think they are more segregated than you think. By class as well as race, by culture, by economics, even possibly by religious thought.

But yes. It's boots on the ground. I think we have to help as many people as possible in getting comfortable wearing them.

[CTyankee]

3. Well, I'm in CT so I am not worried here. But I am signed up for a trip to New Hampshire

with some Planned Parenthood donors to spread the word about McCain's anti Roe stand. We'll be knocking on doors and giving out literature to unaffiliated women. We will probably get a few votes changed just by doing that.

However, this is not something everybody can do (I have to foot the bill for my hotel stay for one night -- $135, which a lot of people just can't afford right now). But if I can change just 4 or 5 votes in one weekend and help in my own small way to put NH in the blue column, I'll feel my time, money and effort was worth it.

[qwlauren35]

6. I think you're a WONDERFUL person.

Some previous commitments are keeping me from heading to Pennsylvania and Virginia, but I think I'll be able to do so after the 23rd. I'm looking forward to it - for 50 no's, each yes becomes more precious.

[CTyankee]

11. Thanks, you are so nice!

But it's hardly a heavy sacrifice. I'm retired so I can spare the time. Plus, at the end of September New Hampshire ain't the worst place to go!

Yep, knowing that you've changed even ONE vote is great. Just doing my bit for Obama. He deserves that from me...

[bunkerbuster1]

5. I didn't see either thread.

But public displays of modesty are rare, and I figure yours is worth keeping afloat a bit longer. So I'm kickin'.

[CK_John]

7. Please edit out or ask the mods to delete your name. Id theft, etc. n/t

[petgoat]

8. Reach out to people who are not like me?

You've got to be kidding! Why would I want to do that?
I'd much rather sit around with my like-minded friends
building up our castle of groupthink prejudices and
expounding on how awful and hopeless the world is and
how heroic we all are simply to endure it.

:sarcasm:

[qwlauren35]

12. Actually...

Thinking through how "they" think in order to reach them and possibly change their minds is difficult for me. All the "opposition" has to do is reinforce what they already think.

We have a much harder task.

[petgoat]

13. To understand where they're coming from, first you have to just listen to them.

If you come on like a salesman from the start, you won't get anywhere.

But we all agree about 95% of everything (peace is better than war,
freedom is better than slavery, clean air is better than toxic gas)
and that's a good place to start.

[qwlauren35]

14. I'm not sure about those!

I don't think that they all believe that peace is better than war - many of them think that war is necessary!

As for slavery vs. freedom, I think they link that back to the need to war on people who think differently.

But yes, I think they get the clean vs. toxic gas concept.

There are a few others that I think are safe.
* The price of gas is to F^&*ing high.
* Too many people are unemployed.
* Too many houses are being foreclosed on.

[Peacetrain]

9. Don' t be ill at ease or over worried

Lots of hard work and keeping our eye on the ball, will mean we get a new direction and new administration. GOBAMA!!! :)

[Mike Nelson]

10. Don't know what this responds to, but

you are correct.