I just got a call from the Obama campaign.

[nonconformist]

I kept them on the phone for 17 minutes, lol.

At first, I was talking to a young man and I told him right off the bat that I'm a Clinton supporter, and formerly an Edwards supporter. He started reading a message about hope and change, and I challenged him on it and asked him what, specifically, that means since both Obama's and Hillary's positions were very similar. He kind of stammered, and starting talking again in very general terms. I again asked for specifics about the issues, and he admitted to me that he didn't know the details of either Obama's or Hillary's positions. I started talking about their health care plans, and again asked for how, specifically, Obama intends to change the world, considering their policies are nearly identical.

At this point, he put me on hold and then came back and gave me to a supervisor. She came on and said "I hear you're giving him quite a workout"... lol. She said she was calling from Massachusetts. We talked for several minutes about my biggest concerns with the Obama campaign. It was a nice, civil conversation... but I don't think that she'll forget about me soon, ha. I challenged her on several key points, like moving the party to the right and Obama's trouble with the GLBT, Hispanic and Asian vote. At one point she exclaimed, "wow, you really know your stuff". Haha.

All in all, it was interesting.

[blogslut]

1. Gosh, you mean they listened patiently to you?

Those mean Obama people, how dare they!

[DJ13]

2. LOL

:thumbsup:

[Clintonista2]

10. As long as you don't call Teddy's office

I'm sure they are happy to talk about Obama's policy without hanging up on you.

[MADem]

20. Heh , heh.....

I phone banked for Ted eons ago. Not that he needs the help nowadays, and he's not up again until 2012, but I won't again.

I'll still vote for the guy, but my enthusiasm for him has been dialed back substantially.

[MADem]

Well, they'd be smart to--they'll probably be hearing more of that as more people

start really focusing on the remaining two candidates.

And if he makes it to the general, they'll be hearing it six ways to Sunday.

[Indenturedebtor]

3. Hahah sounds like fun

I didn't know they were actually working phone banks. I made some calls for them through their website, and there was pretty much no script whatsoever. It was all about the discourse :shrug:

Aside from the Visa collections guy who called me the other day I don't think i've had any Clinton supporters call me yet but that would be fun :hi:

[Neecy]

4. that's nice

I phone bank and I think it's shitty just to play with volunteers because they're calling on a candidate you don't support. Tell them so and let them get on with their work. This post just makes you look like an ass.

[nonconformist]

6. An ass because I wanted to discuss the issues?

Actually, as soon as the guy called I told him right off that I was a Clinton supporter and this call was not going to change my mind, so I didn't want to waste my time nor theirs. He said "wait, wait" and was the one that engaged me in conversation.

[Neecy]

12. I doubt you wanted to discuss the issues

Based on the first line of your post:

I kept them on the phone for 17 minutes, lol.

Ass.

[ronnykmarshall]

13. So you can read the poster's mind and tapped his phone?

Ass.

[Neecy]

16. no, I read the OP

Which, by the way, didn't mention the 'wait wait' "new information" or indicate at all that the caller started engaging. Funny how the story changed.

It was something an ass would do. People are giving up valuable time to work for the candidates - either of them - and this is just shitty to come here and brag about 'keeping them on the phone for 17 minutes - lol'.

[nonconformist]

26. The story didn't "change"

I'm sorry that I didn't post a verbatim transcript for you.

Are you implying that they wanted to let me go and I just hammered them?

[Neecy]

41. It did and yes I am

"I hear you're giving him quite a workout"... lol.
but I don't think that she'll forget about me soon, ha.
"wow, you really know your stuff". Haha.

It's pretty clear what your purpose here was.

[nonconformist]

14. Well that's exactly what I was doing - trying to discuss the ISSUES.

They called me, not the other way around. I told them they were wasting their time, but they didn't give up. Name call all you want.

[jsamuel]

18. I got a call from an Obama person and told them I supported another candidate and they just kept on

going. I was a little angry because I have to pay by the minute but didn't want to be rude, so I ended up spending money on my cell phone bill because of it.

[nonconformist]

23. That's the main reason I stayed on the phone for so long

I didn't want to be rude, and they weren't giving up. So I started challenging them on things.

[Hawkowl]

72. Dupe

[Hawkowl]

73. Discussion is not asinine

WTF? We are all supposed to be on the same team and the issues are fluid. Honest heated discussion should be encouraged.

Ass? Try using two hands to find yours.

[LaurenG]

25. I don't think you're an ass for that

I do think it's weird that people think Obama is going to pull us too far to the right though.

I think our problem is McCain who will pull us too far into hell and he may even manage to blow all us to kingdom come.

I like Obama but I loved Kucinich and Edwards.

[MADem]

15. You PHONE BANK? And you don't think it's MANDATORY for the banker to be able

to articulate BEYOND the script?

I make sure I know my candidate's positions backwards, forwards, and sideways...and if I get asked a question I don't have the answer to, I'll take a note, find out AND call back.

I've changed a few minds by not being a simpleton reading a fucking script.

Such a concept--INFORMED voters!! How DARE they!!

:eyes:

[Neecy]

21. Of course I do

But there are some first-time phone bankers - I've seen a lot of them in this campaign - who might get flustered if someone is confrontational with them. And I suspect that's what happened, based on the gloating in the OP.

[MADem]

38. The campaign needs to do a little TRAINING. Sounds like they threw

a few mimeographed oops, showing my age, xeroxed sheets at the kid and said "Go for it."

I think the kid got an important little civics lesson, there. It's fine to be "involved" but it's more important to know what the fuck you're "involved" in.

I won't go so far as to use Hitler references like some have in this thread, but there are plenty of campaigns, from mendaciously evil to benignly stupid, from quixotic to visionary, that attract "supporters" for all sorts of reasons, ranging from "Look at the Pretty COLORS" to "Look at the HOT CHICKS" to "Gee, All My FRIENDS are DOING it--It's Counterculture-COOL!!"

And then, there's the odd individuals who actually have a grasp of the issues...there's a lot of "assuming" going on in Obama's campaign, and some of those assumptions have no place in reality.

[HughMoran]

88. This post makes YOU look like an ass

If a campaign can't explain their candidates positions, what good are they?

[mirrera]

5. The poor kid was probably just inspired not informed.

That is good! That is how political involvement starts. That is how we take our democracy back. Him by taking the time to call strangers, because he is moved by a candidate, and you questioning him on the issues, because you are knowledgeable and you care. It is all good!

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. you did better than me

when Clinton's people called me and found out I was an Obama supporter I got hung up on faster than it took to write this sentence.

[sallyseven]

8. Yes your right. When you question

the facts about Hope and Change they don't really have an answer. It is all a script but then most of the callers are young and have no idea what they are talking about. Over the years I have made hundreds of calls. I did however know what I was talking about and could answer their questions.

[cali]

17. LOL! what you and others don't seem to be able to graspis

is that the OP's comments speak very well of the Obama campaign. And their substance. The OP got 17 minutes of time from them and he got to speak to a supervisor. This clearly indicates that they treat voters with RESPECT- even those who support Clinton.

[nonconformist]

30. Which is I guess why I (she, btw ;)) is now being attacked for it by Obama supporters.

As if I called them and demanded they speak to me in depth.

[ronnykmarshall]

9. That's funny.

But you know now you'll be labeled a horrible, blood sucking Hillary supporter.

[BuyingThyme]

11. I'll explain the difference for you:

Hillary supported a holocaust. Obama spoke out against it.

Any more questions?

[ProudToBeLiberal]

24. Proof that she supported the death of 6 million jews?

links? This is a major accusation sir, I hope you can back it up.

[BuyingThyme]

31. There have been many holocausts.

Have some respect for the people killed for no reason by people like Hillary Clinton.

[nonconformist]

36. Did you say the same about John Kerry? nt

[BuyingThyme]

43. I don't remember. But I think he's admitted his mistake.

In any case, I'm almost sure he's not runninng.

[nonconformist]

But he was in 2004, and with the same IWR vote.

Look, I don't like that vote either. I make no bones about it. Clinton is flawed. But I still think she's the best of the two of them for a number of reasons. Just like I thought Kerry was obviously superior to Bush, even though Kerry has his flaws.

There's no such thing as a perfect candidate.

[BuyingThyme]

50. I'm just explaining the difference between the two candidates.

That apparently offends people who don't care at all about million brown people being murdered for absolutely no good reason.

[BuyingThyme]

52. ..

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VT-fojyIXgc

[MADem]

27. Gee, that's quite the "statement." Hyperbolic bullshit like that really inclines

people to support your candidate....NOT.

No questions--because your team has NO ANSWERS.

Just more of that divisive, hyperbolic bullshit.

[BuyingThyme]

34. I don't have a team. Only the truth.

The truth drives people crazy.

[MADem]

42. No, what you have there is a vicious, vaguely anti-semetic reference, that

you'll shift to Iraq to suit your mendacious and entirely shameless purposes.

Poorly played. Sloppy. Did you buy your truth at the "truthiness" booth at the last rally?

[BuyingThyme]

45. Wow, the proper use of the word HOLOCAUST is anti-Semitic?

Do you understand that in the second line of your post you admitted that you're a liar?

[MADem]

55. What you did, and you know it, is INFER. And you did it deliberately, to push a Hot Button.

It is what people do when they run out of gas. Pull out those Lighting Rods!

If you read my post in context, and paid attention to what I said, you'd see that there was no conflict in what I said.

Of course, you have nothing, so you toss the "LIAR!!!!" bomb...

Pathetic. The Rush Limbaugh School of Debate's champion graduate, are you?

[BuyingThyme]

63. I didn't INFER anything. The only thing inferred is that you believe

the word holocaust (small h) should not be applied to brown people. Why do you openly support the mass murder of brown people?

[MADem]

66. Bullshit. Disingenuous bullshit. And way to try to call me a racist, there .

Do you always do that when you run out of arguments?

You ever heard the phrase "Whoever smelt it, dealt it?"

You just tossed a racist stink bomb.

And it's NOTED.

[BuyingThyme]

67. I posted the fact that Hillary openly supported the holocaust that Obama openly opposed.

This point is the centerpiece of the debate taking place in this forum.

Then you made up a little story about how I was anti-Semitic for applying the word holocaust to brown people.

Put the two together and we find, without question, that you believe the word holocaust should be applied to certain people/races, and not to others.

In fact, you were actually offended because the word holocaust was applied to brown people. You were so offended that you made the point that if the word is applied to anybody other than what you call Semites, the applier is denigrating Semites, thus anti-Semitic. That's what you said about me.

In other words, you have knowingly belittled the deaths of millions of brown people for the sole purpose of promoting the supremacy of non-brown people. And you used this bigotry of yours to attack me.

See how easy this is?

[MADem]

68. How many plates is that you have in the air, spinner?

The point is you have no argument, so you fling shit.

And now you're trying to be disingenuous again, with the "Oooooh, the word can have more than one MEEEANING!!!!" Even though we know what you meant

And then you have the glass stones to toss yet another racist bomb to cover the dispicable stink of your FIRST one!

:rofl:

We know what you meant. We know just where you are coming from.


What's EASY is seeing you for what you are.

Someone open a window!!!

:rofl:

[BuyingThyme]

69. No response at all to the facts?

Not surprising. That's where you started.

Listen little person, people like you are easy to spot. The fact that you are offended when the deaths of brown people are described using the same language used to describe the deaths of non-brown people shows exactly what you are.

And now you're having trouble because if you pretend you simply called me an anti-Semite because you truly believed I was somehow referring to the Holocaust, you will have to explain why you made that assumption.

It's difficult being what you are, isn't it?

[MADem]

74. Look, you call me a racist, I've got nothing to say to you.

Why are you calling me a "Little Person" now?

You discriminate against THEM too? Why am I not surprised?

:rofl:

You don't know what I am, and you don't even know what color or ethnicity I am, but boy oh, boy--I got YOU pegged.

[BuyingThyme]

75. Actually, you called me an anti-Semite,

so you apparently have a lot to say when it comes to projecting your hatred against brown people.

And your last little comment only once again proves that you are a bigot. In fact, I have successfully programmed you to openly admit that you are a bigot. Are you able to see that? Read it.

[MADem]

76. ...projecting your hatred against brown people.

:rofl:

You're funny.

Not too smart, but funny.

I'll call you funny, because otherwise, I'd have to say you have a delusional disorder.

Now you call me a bigot? And you think you can PROGRAM me?

What's next?

:rofl:

[BuyingThyme]

77. I've also programmed you to believe that nobody will

respect what you type unless you include at least two rofls.

Do you think it's working?

[MADem]

78. Help is available!! See your local mental health professional for a referral.

:eyes:

[BuyingThyme]

79. How bout we discuss why you called me an anti-Semite simply based on the fact

that I used the word holocaust?

Come on now. I'm assuming you're at least close to adult age. Let's have it.

[MADem]

80. How 'bout you go get that HELP you so desperately need? NT

[BuyingThyme]

82. I'm here dealing with facts. You're spending all of your time running from yourself.

Do you really think the one dealing with the facts is the one who might need help?

Now, once again, why is it that you called me an anti-Semite based solely on the fact that I used the word holocaust to describe the mass murder of Iraqis?

[MADem]

84. You're being a troll, is what you're being. Get help. NT

[BuyingThyme]

86. So now you're saying that in using the word HOLOCAUST,

I was trolling for DUers like yourself who would be offended by the word being applied to Iraqis?

Don't you think that's a bit of a stretch?

[MADem]

87. I am saying I think you are UNWELL, and need help. NT

[BuyingThyme]

89. But all I'm doing is pointing out what you've said.

Haven't you figured out this projection thing yet?

[MADem]

91. I've figured out that you are a troll and need medical intervention. NT

[BuyingThyme]

93. On what facts have you made that determination?

Is it because I have a problem with people murdering Iraqis?

[MADem]

94. Get some help. You're being obnoxious and acting like a fool. NT

[BuyingThyme]

95. All I'm doing is asking you to explain the silly things you keep saying.

Why is that so threatening to you. Are you getting too good a look at yourself?

[MADem]

96. You aren't "threatening" me. You are acting like a fucking asshole, though. NT

[BuyingThyme]

97. It's assholish to ask you to explain why

you called me an anti-Semite?

You don't seem to know which side the asshole is on.

[HughMoran]

90. Stupid post of the day award!

You're being a real ass-hole today.

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. LOL! That's what they need...they need to be challenged on the issues! Of course, the first

one you talked to had NO CLUE why he was supporting Obama. That's just sad.

You did GOOD!:thumbsup:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

22. The kid needs retraining in phonebanking protocol. When someone says they support Clinton

He should just say "thanks for your time" and end the call.

[flpoljunkie]

35. Absolutely! The kid needs training!

[John Q. Citizen]

28. In the canvas game, you are refered to as a "brain sucker."

[ellisonz]

70. ...

:spray:

[SoxFan]

29. So, you acted like a horse's hindquarters?

How freaking charming.

You screwed with some young, idealistic kid. We are so proud of you.

[nonconformist]

33. He called me for support for his candidate, I asked him about the issues.

And now I'm screwing with him?

[MADem]

46. Bow down...do not QUESTION the BORG!!!

:rofl:

[nonconformist]

48. Apparently!

How DARE I ask about those pesky little details.

[NMMNG]

40. If that young, idealistic kid knows nothing of his hero's positons

Maybe he shouldn't be phone-banking for him. People who receive calls sometimes expect answers to questions and "ummmmm" doesn't fit the bill. I wouldn't buy something from a sales person who didn't know a damn thing about the product he was selling.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

32. i think when people interrupt your personal time, you have a right to ask them questions

especially questions they dont want you to ask.

[SoxFan]

37. Codswallop

IF the OP didn't want to surrender "personal time", well, that's why God created answering machines. What the OP did was toy with an idealistic kid, who is probably working on his first campaign and is a nervous wreck. That's childish, mean spirited behavior. You should be ashamed of yourself for making excuses.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

39. well the kid should know that their are hard questions in politics., its not a 2 year old child

its and 18 or 19 year old. i think pretending that teens are so very fragile is idiotic at best.

:eyes:

[nonconformist]

44. Oh give me a fucking break.

They called ME. It didn't say "Obama campaign" on my caller ID, it said "out of area". Sometimes, it says that when my husband calls from work, so I answered it. I told them I didn't support their guy, but they wanted to convert me. I talked to them. I wasn't an ass, I asked about the issues.

If they don't want to talk to people, why are they calling? I would think that phone bank workers would WANT to try to change someone's mind, not just talk to drones who believe everything they believe already. I gave them MY time, so we could discuss the issues. I was civil, and both of them were civil. In fact, the supervisor seemed to kind of appreciate that I was informed, even if we disagreed. God forbid, I guess.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

47. one would think from all this fake outrage that you were mean to a 6 year old not .

asking legitimitate questions to a young adult is nothing to be ashamed of.

[nonconformist]

53. And they wonder why they're getting the reputation of being a cult.

Look at this thread. How DARE I question someone who called me for support? Surely, I must have made the entire thing up.

[SoxFan]

58. And they wonder why they're considered belligerent hacks

[ellisonz]

71. Phonebanking and canvassing in general aren't primarily about changing anyones mind.

It's done to strenghten support and identify undecideds. Nobody wants to convert you to anything. You got an inexpierenced phonebanker and you fucked with him, proud much?

[MADem]

56. And the OP shouldn't have hurt the poor little dunce's FEEEEEELINGS by

challenging him with a little reality, ANYWAY.

That would be...MEEEEAN!

:eyes:

Far better to let the kid stew in fantasy, just so his MELLOW isn't HARSHED.

PLEASE!

That person wasn't TOYING, that person was challenging an ADULT VOTER who has the same "clout" at the polls as you or I do.

If the poor little "baby" can't handle it, he shouldn't be voting OR campaigning for a candidate because he wants to be "cool" with his peers or is laboring under mistaken ideals about the individual.

I really don't want IDIOTS who don't know the issues choosing our next President. I know that they do, and that most voters ARE fucking morons, but to chastise someone for trying to reduce the number of Dunce-Voters is...an endorsement of Stupidity.

And that's stupid. Knowledge IS power, even if you don't think so.

[SoxFan]

61. "poor little dunce"

Stay classy, Chappaqua.

This is the sort of asshattery that is going to bite you in the ass come next fall if HRC is the nominee.

[MADem]

62. He's a VOTER. And a STUPID one. Too bad if you don't like that characterization.

I guess you think it's "OK" for idiots who don't know the issues at ALL to be prosletyzing to other idiots to join their little club.

What planet are you from?

You think you're in the "classy" crowd here? There's nothing "classy" about STUPIDITY.

And there's nothing "asshattish" about setting a standard that people who WORK FOR a candidate ought to know a LITTLE something about them, other than "They're COOOOOOL!"

Posts like yours are troubling, because you are aggressively ENDORSING IGNORANCE.

They are also the reason that the "Cult" label is starting to stick.

Pay no attention to the issues, vote for Obama so you don't hurt some teen voter's feelings...AND because he's COOOL!!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

83. ...

:thumbsup:

[no name no slogan]

49. Riiiight. And I've got a land deal called Whitewater for you

I've read better fiction in Penthouse Forum

[nonconformist]

51. Uh, ok.

100% true, why would I lie? I've been here for years. There's nothing in the OP that is radical, that would make it look false. I said they were civil and engaged me in conversation.

[no name no slogan]

54. NO campaign caller is going to spend 17 minutes on the phone

with a solid "5" for their opponent. It's not worth their time and effort when there are uncommitteds or leaners they could be working on.

And if they did, they are REALLLY doing it wrong.

[nonconformist]

57. I was surprised too, but they did.

I probably only talked for about 5 minutes to the first guy, most of it was with the older woman. It was an actual conversation.

Maybe they thought they could change my mind, I don't know.

[no name no slogan]

60. Wow. They really have some amateurs working for them

If I was running that office and had somebody spending that much time on the phone with anybody, I would move them to making photocopies and stuffing envelopes. One of the things I've always had pounded into me when doing those calls is to get a sense of their level quickly, get the message out, and move on to the next call.

That could seriously hurt his campaign in the long run. If they're doing that with a lot of people, they're never going to get their work done.

[Barack_America]

65. Why not? I spent 30 mins. in the home of a Clinton supporter...

...While canvassing for Obama.

It wasn't a waste of time because:
1. I enjoy talking politics with people
2. By the time I left, the Clinton supporter had pledged to fully support Obama if he became the nominee.

All in all, time well spent.

[otohara]

59. When I Challenged Clinton Call, He Hung Up On Me

we were talking about policy differencesl. Towards the end, he said, well then you need to go work for the Kucinich campaign. I said, thank for the suggestion, but I think I'll go work for Obama, and he hung up

[Araxen]

64. I got hung up on by a Hillary phonebanker

I challenged the lady that called me on being force to pay for health insurance when I'm living to pay to pay check as it is and it got very quiet and then a dial tone. Didn't even say bye or anything. So rude..

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

81. Good For You!

:toast:

[krabigirl]

85. Oh please...he needs to deal with it. I've dealt with people like that during phone-banking.

I enjoyed it, actually.

[DawgHouse]

92. I love it when people listen to each other and discuss issues in a civil manner.

Whether you can sway someone or not, it is nice when people converse about the issues in a civil manner.