I've been relating this story to my friends and some folks getting out the vote for Obama in Asheville, NC and decided to relate it to ya'll. While it was funny in some ways, it certainly has a moral at the end.
On this past Monday I was leaving my apartment to get to the class I teach when a lady wearing a Hillary for President shirt stopped me. It was strange to me since I've not even heard of any Hillary folks going door to door. I still think she was not working for the campaign, just a concerned supporter.
Thus the conversation ensues:
Clinton Canvaser: Hi, I'm {her name}. Have you given any thought of who you are voting for in the upcoming primary?
Me: Yes, I have.
Clinton Canvaser: Are you registered as a Democrat or Independent?
Me: I'm a Democrat.
Clinton Canvaser: Awesome! I'm supporting Hillary Clinton. Have you given any thought of voting for her for President?
Me: I did give it thought at one point, but (at this moment I point up to my 2nd floor apartment window where I have an Obama '08 sign) I'm supporting Barack Obama for President.
Clinton Canvaser (frowns a bit): Have you given any thought to the similarity of their views and that her experience outweighs Obama's experience in Washington?
Me (smiling): Yes, but I feel Obama is the right person for the job.
Clinton Canvaser (frowns more and stammers): But Hillary has more experience.
Me (raising my voice and pointing to emphasize my statement): Listen, I have trouble supporting any candidate who uses the world "obliterate" in regards to foreign policy. The line that everyone rolls out about disliking Ahmadinejad is that he wants to "wipe Israel off the map". Clinton just said basically the same thing. You think that makes her look reasonable in the eyes of the folks in the Middle East?
Clinton Canvaser (returning some anger since I was losing my cool): If Obama wins I'm not going to vote for him for President.
Me: Despite my support for Obama, I would vote for Hillary if she won the nomination. I disagree with some of her statements, but didn't you just say that their policy issues are similar? Don't you want an end to the war in Iraq, affordable health care for all, and sensible people on the Supreme Court?
Clinton Canvaser (taken aback to my question): Well, yes.
Me: Then how about this, you vote for Hillary in the primary and I'll vote for Obama, but we desperately need a Democrat as President since McCain is an unacceptable alternative.
Clinton Canvaser: I agree, McCain scares me.
Me: Then we agree to disagree on the primary, but will vote for whomever wins the nomination?
Clinton Canvaser: Sure
Me: Well I have to get to class, and I have to warn you, everyone else in these apartments are Obama supporters. Cheerio.
(at this point I hugged her, which I think caught her off guard, and went off on my merry way)
The moral is, despite our differences, despite our views on different candidates, in my opinion a McCain presidency would be a death knell for America.
I believe Obama is going to win the nomination and one of the big reasons I support him is the 50 state strategy. It is the only way to take America in the direction it needs to go in.