I just had an amusing interaction with a petitioner

[RZM]

I'm at a suburban library outside of Columbus, in a Republican-leaning area. Every few days there are volunteers here collecting signatures to repeal the health care law (or maybe opt Ohio out, I'm still not exactly clear on that).

Anyway, I just stepped outside and the woman did not ask me to sign it. I sat on a bench behind her and staring watching whom she asked and whom she didn't. It seemed rather strange. She seemed to focus on seniors and women and would let men mostly pass by. She was asking most teenagers and even asked a young woman who appeared to be mentally impaired.

I couldn't resist asking about her criteria. So I said politely: 'Ma'am, excuse me.' Nothing. I said it again, again nothing. So then I walked right in front of her and she refused to look at me. I said (again politely): 'Ma'am, why didn't you ask me to sign this?' She asked me if I'd already signed it and I said no. I then asked: 'I'm not trying to be rude here . . . I'm just curious what your criteria are for asking people. Whom do you ask and whom do you not?' She said: 'I'm not going to share that with you, especially since you haven't signed it.'

Very strange.

[wtmusic]

1. At least she's not following Huck's advice

and having them sign twice. :crazy:

[HopeHoops]

2. Strange? Sounds like "orchestrated" would be a better description.

[progressoid]

5. Yep - she's been coached. n/t

[SusanaMontana41]

7. Sounds like cult material ... n/t

[ejpoeta]

3. how could you sign it if you weren't even asked!

I would say, but how do you know that I do not want to sign whatever it is you are asking people to sign? Maybe if you ask me I would be very supportive. There must be a reason you were not considered worthy of asking. hmm. did you have some insignia or something indicating you support obama or dems? or something along those lines?

[RZM]

4. Not at all

That's why I asked her about her criteria. I would understand if I were covered in Dead Kennedys tattoos and sporting a Che Guevara t-shirt. But I'm pretty nondescript.

[HughBeaumont]

6. Seniors, women and teenagers are easier to intimidate/manipulate.

Mouthy, hoity-toitsy lib'rul men aren't.

That's how the bubble people think. "For me to know, you to find out, so there . . . Nyaaaahhh!" Jagoffs.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. I must look like some kind of right wing clown

Here in California, they're collecting signatures to put some kind of ballot measure in the next election to destroy unions. I've seen them at the local public library and in front of the post office. Each time, they ask me to sign and I politely refuse. This now has me thinking that I must somehow fit the visual profile of a mouth-breathing psychopath and it has me concerned.

It seems that they never quit. Why is it that the right wing crazies are collecting signatures throughout the country but I almost never see petitions for ballot measures for leftist causes? We need a ballot measure in California to raise the state income tax on the upper crust, the revenue from which will be directly and uniquely applied to lower the tuition of young people attending state universities. I'll bet that would bring thousands of young people to the polls.

[Raine]

11. I haven't seen them, yet. I'll be sure to be

on the alert for them. I don't sign petitions any longer, I was mislead a couple of times. Now I just won't sign any unless I actually know the person who is collecting signatures.

[intaglio]

9. She is not a part of a grassroots petition

A marketing company has been involved.

Who is she asking?
1) Seniors - they are more likely to be conservative and more willing to sign;
2) Young people - less likely to be informed about politics or social matters;
3) Those with cognitive deficits - more likely to sign;
4) Women - If non-working, less likely to be politically involved and more likely to be conservative.

[RZM]

10. That's what I was thinkng

I agree with all but I'm dubious about no. 4. Women do vote Dem at higher rates than men do, but perhaps in this neighborhood there are more non-working women and perhaps they don't vote Dem as much. Maybe you are right on that, I don't know. I'm sure the data are out there somewhere.

On edit: I was kind of offended when she asked the mentally impaired girl. Perhaps she sensed that and that was why she wasn't very nice to me.