Undecideds and racists lurking in the suburbs.

Remembering only too well the bitter disappointments of the last two elections, I decided that I had to do more this year, this time in our lives, than simply help people to get registered to vote. As I can’t vote myself yet, it’s a way of making up for my vote…at least that’s how I see it.
So, ever since the Kerry loss, I’ve been volunteering to do the few things I can do, most of them on-line, but this morning I was quite excited to go on my first door-to-door canvassing jaunt, around the suburbs of Federal Way, WA to support our local candidate running against the incumbent republican representative. I had seen her add on TV only last night, so I was honored to meet her in person first thing this morning at her office, along with her campaign staff. Armed with pamphlets and a clipboard, we soon set off. I was working with David, who was to show me the ropes along the way. We were also there to support our candidates in the governor’s and presidential races, and to find out how the residents were leaning.
The weather was on our side, beautiful and sunny and the trees a brilliant background of red and orange. My mood was optimistic.
It didn’t take long for that to change however, when we started talking to some of these people. We had about 50 addresses to check, and began in a fairly modest neighborhood, where most of the residents were immigrants, like me. We knocked on several doors before anyone answered, but eventually found a nice Russian lady who’s English was very limited. After several minutes of talk on her doorstep, she invited us in, asking us to sit down. I sensed that she was very lonely and more interested in our company than in politics, but David handled it well and soon got to the point. She was undecided, but leaning to Mc Cain. She promised to study the literature we left with her, and to think about voting for Obama. The next person home was an elderly Korean chap who seemed quite exited about all our candidates, but still undecided.
So it went, most of the people we found home were undecided or at best leaning toward the democratic ticket.
The next person was another very nice, Russian lady, again with broken English. Again she was undecided about the governor and the local rep, but when it came to the president she said she was for Mc Cain. When asked very nicely if she wanted to tell us why, she said that she’d heard some very nasty things about Obama. She said she’d been listening to her Russian radio station for 12 hours a day and in short, she felt she couldn’t vote for a man like Obama, who was after all black and not a Christian. I kind of lost it a bit then and started tearing up. I tore off my shades and told her not to listen to these hate-mongers anymore. What had she learned from them, apart from lies?
Had they told her that Barrack’s mother and grandparents were also white; like her? And like me? That they were good country people from Kansas? That they had raised a most unusually gifted child, who grew into the best man for this most difficult job to pull the world together? No of course not, apparently for some, the color of one’s skin is the only important thing to consider in any matter.
She was startled about my outburst to say the least, (as was I, actually) and as I pulled myself together, she promised to think about Barack, (probably to make me feel better). Or perhaps my honest reaction to such overt racism touched her heart. I sure hope so.
David was sweet and very supportive, but I left the next few people to him. After an hour or so we still hadn’t found any Obama voters, merely undecideds, but that was soon to change. At the end of our run, we had at least 30 residents who had either already voted for the straight democratic ticket, or were definitely going to. Another 30 or so were likely to vote for Obama but not the local democrats, and the rest were either undecided or republicans.
To sum up people, please, please don’t get complacent, try and change people’s hearts, when you find racism and ignorance. Take nothing for granted and don’t forget to vote, it’s an honor and a privilege.

I have been phonebanking similar people - undecideds in the suburbs. They are a tough group. If you turned a couple on to Obama, good for you. I find it very hard to reach these people as many I talk with have decided but perhaps don't like how they got there. They will have to work out their own personal realization of how racist they are - am hopeful that they will eventually see what a great administration this will be but I know I may just be planting seeds for them to figure it out after the election.

:)