Diary of a mad campaign volunteer
Staff Writer
2008-01-08
.www.******************** .
The year is 2007. The location is Any Southern Town, USA. You thought that you knew but, you just don't know. You don't know what goes on in the campaign offices of presidential hopefuls. One would think that if you show up with your face full of joy and, your spirits high and, your heart full of hope. Others would welcome you into any campaign office to lend a hand. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
This story is written to make you think , laugh and maybe cry. If you volunteer to help a presidential hopeful and, you are surrounded by other well educated people, you might conclude that you are in this endeavor to work as a team. Some are there volunteering to change history. Some are volunteering to be a part of a movement. Some think your political ideology is a clear definition of your character and that is why you have chosen to help out your presidential hopeful.
You wake up. You go to your assigned selected campaign office location in ,Any Southern Town, USA and, you find out that everyone is not on the same page. You find that some are there for a 'leg up' into a White House post. You find out some do not give a crap about your ideological point of view. You find out some want to receive the bounty from the victory of the person who will control the Holy Grail. You find out from some it is all about the position you hold in the campaign office and, your spirit will be squashed if they feel threatened in any way.
With that said, you now find yourself in a hostile and unwelcoming environment. Because you are educated, well traveled, and a worldly person, you are perceived as someone with ulterior motives and, your sincerity is questioned. You are not given important up to date information regarding your campaign volunteer duties and emails are blocked and shut down. You ask to go out into the 'field' to sign up non- registered voters but, you are told "that is not what we are focusing on here".
You get more and more discouraged everyday. Your spirit and energy are slowly being drained and, you are torn between supporting a candidate that you know can change our lives forever and giving up without making the difference.
Why are you here? That is the question any volunteer should ask themselves, especially those in managerial roles in the campaign offices. When you hear rumors that people think you are a plant or a spy for another presidential candidate. It can hurt because you know why you are there. You feel isolated. You don't know who you can trust. Do you trust the person who smiles at you, but won't explain procedure or let you accompany them in the field? Do you trust the person that tells you what the others are saying about you? What do you do?
You pack your bags and leave. You take some time to regroup and decide if you want to be affiliated with the campaign at all. You also tell others close to you to tell their friends and, they tell their friends and so on and so on. You see where this is going.
The most frustrating part of this entire process is that you can't contact the candidate directly to let him or her know what is going on in their campaign offices. It's information that I'm sure they'd like to know. I know that I would if I were running for President.
P.S. Don't forget to vote.
Staff Writer
2008-01-08
.www.******************** .
The year is 2007. The location is Any Southern Town, USA. You thought that you knew but, you just don't know. You don't know what goes on in the campaign offices of presidential hopefuls. One would think that if you show up with your face full of joy and, your spirits high and, your heart full of hope. Others would welcome you into any campaign office to lend a hand. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
This story is written to make you think , laugh and maybe cry. If you volunteer to help a presidential hopeful and, you are surrounded by other well educated people, you might conclude that you are in this endeavor to work as a team. Some are there volunteering to change history. Some are volunteering to be a part of a movement. Some think your political ideology is a clear definition of your character and that is why you have chosen to help out your presidential hopeful.
You wake up. You go to your assigned selected campaign office location in ,Any Southern Town, USA and, you find out that everyone is not on the same page. You find that some are there for a 'leg up' into a White House post. You find out some do not give a crap about your ideological point of view. You find out some want to receive the bounty from the victory of the person who will control the Holy Grail. You find out from some it is all about the position you hold in the campaign office and, your spirit will be squashed if they feel threatened in any way.
With that said, you now find yourself in a hostile and unwelcoming environment. Because you are educated, well traveled, and a worldly person, you are perceived as someone with ulterior motives and, your sincerity is questioned. You are not given important up to date information regarding your campaign volunteer duties and emails are blocked and shut down. You ask to go out into the 'field' to sign up non- registered voters but, you are told "that is not what we are focusing on here".
You get more and more discouraged everyday. Your spirit and energy are slowly being drained and, you are torn between supporting a candidate that you know can change our lives forever and giving up without making the difference.
Why are you here? That is the question any volunteer should ask themselves, especially those in managerial roles in the campaign offices. When you hear rumors that people think you are a plant or a spy for another presidential candidate. It can hurt because you know why you are there. You feel isolated. You don't know who you can trust. Do you trust the person who smiles at you, but won't explain procedure or let you accompany them in the field? Do you trust the person that tells you what the others are saying about you? What do you do?
You pack your bags and leave. You take some time to regroup and decide if you want to be affiliated with the campaign at all. You also tell others close to you to tell their friends and, they tell their friends and so on and so on. You see where this is going.
The most frustrating part of this entire process is that you can't contact the candidate directly to let him or her know what is going on in their campaign offices. It's information that I'm sure they'd like to know. I know that I would if I were running for President.
P.S. Don't forget to vote.
