On the ground in South Carolina
I asked my friends Lisa and Katya to write this dispatch while they are canvassing in South Carolina:
On the Ground in South Carolina
Today, neighbor Nancy, Katya, Russian transplant and I, Lisa, canvassed Rock Hill South Carolina for Obama. Never would we have imagined that one day, on the ground in South Carolina, would illustrate the world of loyalties, values and hopes inside each of us. A world does live inside each drop of water.
The Obama office wasted little time packing us off to canvas a mixed (black – white) neighborhood off Ebenezer Road. Our mission was to knock on pre-selected doors and ask previously declared Obama supporters to volunteer for the final two days and to vote early. The loose black lab that jumped into Nancy’s Prius leaving muddy paw prints on her seats and my talk sheet did not deter us. We quickly covered 20 houses each. Most people were not home, some had just moved in or out. Just a handful of folks where home in the middle of a Wednesday to open their doors to strangers.
Katya’s passionate discussion in Russian with a carpenter from Kiev, Ukraine brought the world scene to this quiet small neighborhood in Rock Hill South Carolina. Victor, a carpenter working for a family who had recently moved in told us we were wasting our time with Democrats. He wanted to help us understand where the real action was. This was all translated to me but his fervor was not lost in the translation. Pay attention to what is really happening he said, its a clash of civilizations, good against evil, Muslims against the Christians! He may have just been flirting with Katia when he admitted that Obama had some good qualities because it was clear that he felt that only Republicans are capable of addressing the challenge of this battle. He felt that Democrats are too eager to get the troops out of Iraq and that America needs to finish the job. He was focused on his belief that Republicans are the only ones capable of ensuring that Ukraine will be able to get away from Russia’s meddling in their affairs. For Victor what mattered was that Ukraine continue its integration into NATO and be allowed to consolidate its relationship with the west.
The intimate conversations got better over lunch at the Outback Steakhouse, just off interstate 77. We knew we were in good hands. Our waitress Crystal had 20 outstanding service pins on her blouse. Three of them represented $1000.00 dollar days! Crystal grew up in a Republican family but she was discovering that her hopes and values did not mesh with her family loyalties. She told us that she really didn’t know anything about international stuff but that universal health care was her top, top priority. She totally got it that if young people just banded together they could pick the president and she was not shy to tell her husband who was not registered to vote that “you suck.”
The sweet tea flowed freely. It became obvious that the black couple in the booth next to us was listening intently to our conversation. When they hadn’t spoken to each other in over 2 minutes we held our Obama literature up in the air as an offering. The man took the brochure from us, and asked grinning, “Obama, who is that?” When Nancy and I visited the ladies room and Katia sat alone in the booth a conversation opened. Cynthia and James, from New York and South Carolina respectively are strong Hillary supporters. It would be more accurate to say, they are Clinton supporters. As James noted, “Brother Bill is going to be by her side.”
We got personal quickly. James said, “Let me ask you this….white ladies. Is your household income above $150,000.00?” We all said yes. He told us then, that when Bill Clinton went into office he made $148,000, now he makes $88,000. The Clintons understand us.
The three of us had been talking about how real leadership tempts fate. How often-great leaders are neutralized or even assassinated when they challenge entrenched belief that no longer fit reality. James was amazed that three white women were sitting in the booth next to him talking about death when that was at the heart of his fears.
South Carolina’s primary is on Saturday.
Obama’s success depends on whites who see his presidency as transformational and Blacks who can rise above the fear that Americans won’t allow a black man to be President. We have promised to call Cynthia and James or vis a versa on November 5th. We will see who is going to say, “I told you so.”
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About Me
Morra Aarons-Mele utilizes social media strategies to help employers, employees and communities connect. She also consults with leading organizations on how women can use the internet for professional and personal development. In her spare time, Morra enjoys blogging about women and politics. Read her full bio >>
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