Pinko Door to Door: The truth about phone banks.
Not PinkoJenn.
Ed Note: Fearless PinkoJenn is still in Wisconsin working feverishly for THE ONE Obama. And folks she NEEDS our snarky McCain phone banking scripts to keep her sane!
I’ve talked to racists, anti-communist Russian immigrants, and devout anti-abortionists. I’ve listened to people rattle off complains while I “promise to report their concerns directly to ‘the Obama’ during the my evening phone call with him.” But the phone bank calls that I hate the most are the ones that connect you with an embittered, humorless type of person who thinks being anal and cranky is his way of rebelling against the liberal “cool kids.” This person is probably supporting McCain but thinking about writing in Ron Paul. And the worst part is that he’ll keep you on the phone for a few infuriating seconds. Take, for example, this phone conversation I had with a 29 year old male:
Me: Hi, my name is Jenn, I’m calling for Obama’s Campaign for Change. Have you decided who you’re supporting this election?
Guy: Yes. (silence)
Me: So, you’re supporting Obama?
Guy: I didn’t say that. (more silence)
Me: Um, so…
Guy: You asked me if I knew who I was supporting this election. I said yes.
Me: Okay, so, who are you going to…
Guy: Not your candidate.
Me: (in a voice an octave higher than my usual speaking voice) So, you’re like totally 100% super duper sure you’re not going to support someone totally awesome like Obama?
Guy: *click*
Long story short, phone banking sucks. However, there have been some people floating around the Obama HQ - who are in no way affiliated with Obama’s Campaign for Change or the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County - who have been engaging in some sabotage. Basically, they’ve volunteered for McCain’s phone banks and make calls on his campaign’s behalf. Now, I’m sure a few have said some obscene things, breathed heavily into the phone, etc - but the best of them simply speak the truth of his policies:
“So you’re supporting McCain? That’s great! Does your employer pay part of your healthcare costs every month? That’s great! Under our plan, we’re going to take that amount of money and count it like it’s income, and then tax you on it just like an income tax!”
Wouldn’t it be fun if Pinko readers came up with scripts for these “McCain Phone Bankers?” Too bad I could never encourage or endorse that kind of behavior. Nor could I pass along those scripts to pranksters, since I do not know their real identities and have no way to contact them. For shame.
About The Author - PinkoJenn is on the ground in Wisconsin reporting for Pinko on the Obama campaign and her experience as a volunteer - Visit Jenn's site.
Loading ...
OK, I have to say in all seriousness that any type of push polling or voter manipulation is morally repugnant. Yes, even if we’re the ones doing it. That being said, how’s this for a line?
“Hi, I’m Mary Phagan calling from the Ku Klux Klan. Will you join us in supporting John McCain?”
Phonebanking is hard. Phonebanking voters in rural Pennsylvania with a thick Indian accent is harder. But Mrs. Trivedi did it for Obama. Check it out: http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=5664
Great you’re in Milwaukee, Jenn! Say hi to my friend Esther Morales!
I received a call this morning asking me to phone-bank in Van Nuys CA (I guess we’d be calling Nevada?) Unfortunately, the times they’re open (and the times it’d be reasonable to be calling people), I’m either at work or on the 405. I don’t even talk to my family anymore.
However, it certainly made me really wonder — does phone-banking really work? Is there any evidence for or against? I know for a fact that my stunning personality could only do harm — but do people make decisions based on phone calls? I sincerely want to know.
Dear friend, i find your post, very intresting. I run a website related to porn industries, and such a information are very valuable.
[...] to “Indian Anal” for your thought-provoking and relevant comment about PinkoJenn’s experiences phonebanking in Wisconsin for Obama. Indian Anal writes “Dear friend, i find your post, very intresting. I run a website related [...]