Well, I had wanted to canvass for Andy Kim a few weeks ago but basically bytched out at the last minute.
I was a canvassing virgin.
But I just got back from my first time.
I was bussin' canvassing nuts all over doors today.
But anyway, wasn't as intimidating as I thought.
Initially after training me they were gonna send me out to the wolves alone but somebody suggested first-timers team up. I actually got paired up with a dude who had experience canvassing and it was a very interesting match up. But we couldn't have been more unalike. Dude was a 21 year old short fat white kid, a former Republican who had flirted with being a Libertarian as well. Actually volunteered, phone banked, and helped elect the dude we were campaigning AGAINST in the first place. I'm a 6'3 black man with dreads, born in Camden, NJ, in my 30s that hits the gym on a regular. Shyt looked like an interracial Abbott and Costello.
So from the rip I thought it was gonna be pure
, especially since I was the only black face there in this house that must have had about 50 or more people in and out organizing the event, volunteering, or canvassing. So I had a questionable vibe off the bat. On our first walk out he was asking me about specific NJ politicians and when I mentioned something to the effect of our governor isn't as progressive as I'd l like, homie hit me with a stern "I'm NOT a progressive
".
I thought the day was just gonna keep going downhill from there.
But he said he felt betrayed by Tom MacArthur's active measures to repeal healthcare. Basically said he lied to his face. His mom is also sick and he's on his parents insurance. Which was kinda crazy cuz both his parents were staunch Democrats, but he said he got on some rebellious shyt at the thought of small government, yadda yadda, which led him to support MacArthur when he was in his earlier Republican phase as a first time voter.
But anyway, we prolly knocked on about 20-30 doors. Very affluent neighborhood. Most didn't answer. The ones that did said they already voted but wouldn't say for who, or that they were already Andy Kim supporters so we urged them to spread the message and just K.I.M. (see what I just did there?)
But yeah, interesting day. Had some interesting convo with my partner, but it was still awkward as fukk trying to talk to him since we had jack shyt in common. Had a nice political discussion afterwards in the hostess's home. One other girl, black and mixed with something else was there and we all talked about Jews and Blacks being on the hitlist (hostess was Jewish), shytting on Mcconnell and Trump, Obama years, etc.
Interesting time. Don't know if I had any real life effect but I also volunteered to help people drive to the polls if need be, so hopefully that comes to fruition.
One thing I saw though. There's no excuse for not getting off your ass to help volunteer if you can. There was literally a bus of people that came from D.C. up here to help canvass. My partner drove about 50 minutes vs. my 20 min drive. A alot of people came over from Philadelphia. So if cats are willing to take a 3hr bus ride to knock on doors for a race in NJ, you have no excuse to not get engaged in some way.