What I wrote to someone who's thinking of voting Green in CT's senate race

[femmedem]

Yesterday, canvassing for Lamont, I bumped into a social worker who was considering voting Green. I had a bit of credibility with her because for the municipal elections, where it isn't winner take all, I campaigned for the Greens.

I often follow up my canvassing with personal letters to people I'm not sure I've persuaded. Here is my letter to her:

Dear XXXX:

I’m the woman who chatted your ear off about politics Saturday afternoon. It was a pleasure to talk with someone who in so many ways shares my concerns about where our country is heading.

I agree that the Democratic party has not always demonstrated the strength and integrity it should have. And in general, I respect the Greens for their commitment to peace and economic justice.

And yet, until we have instant run-off voting, I think our best bet for real change is to reform the Democratic Party from within. And I think a Lamont victory would help do that. It would tell the party that we’re not willing to be Republican Lite, and we don’t need to be Republican Lite in order to win elections.

Oh—regarding your concerns about Lamont’s wealth. Of course he’ll never know first-hand what it’s like to be afraid of losing his home, or to be unable to afford medical care. But I do think it was wonderful of him to volunteer in the Bridgeport school, well before he decided to run for office. It says a lot about his concern for people who are less fortunate than he is—and it must have put a human face on poverty for him.

And regarding your difficulty in trusting any major party politicians: it was politicians like Lieberman who made you cynical. It would be a shame if that cynicism kept you from voting for Lamont, who is spending millions of his own money and turning his life upside down because he wants change as badly as you do.

Thanks again for your generosity with your time, and for the day-to-day work you do helping people who are falling between the cracks.

Sincerely,

XXXX


P.S. One of the Green party candidates I campaigned for said to me last week that he was voting Green for governor but voting Democratic for senator. “I couldn’t live with myself if I voted for Ferrucci, and Lieberman won by one vote,” he said.

[bigdarryl]

1. She's a dumb ass plain and simple. voting Green guarantees

a Lieberman victory. didn't she learn from the 2000 presidential election FL. had 18,000 Green votes if they were not in the race Gore would be president and we wouldn't be in Iraq end of discussion

[Greyhound]

10. That's the spirit, insult them and ask for their vote.

and don't forget to whine about a fixed election that would have been stolen even if there were no such thing as a Green Party.

[saramerica]

2. However...

I think your letter was brilliant and much more constructive!

[JeffR]

3. Welcome to DU

Great user name, BTW.

[femmedem]

4. Thanks, Sara

Welcome to DU. Haven't I seen you on the CT blogs? I'm NewLondonDem.:hi:

I do think the combination of face-to-face canvassing followed up with a personal letter is effective. That's really what I'm trying to draw attention to with this post.

[ms liberty]

5. I agree...

The OP handled this very well.

And to you, saramerica: Welcome to DU!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

12. Welcome to DU, Saramerica!

:hi:

[CTyankee]

6. Great arguments for Ned!

I plan to use some of them.

I've been thinking a lot about this scorn I hear from some people about Ned Lamont being rich. What I believe they think is that Ned is just a bored, rich guy looking for something to do and if he loses he just goes back to his cushy life and the rest of us have to struggle on. How do you deal with that? It's so unfair to regard Ned that way, but I can understand their anger. It comes from a deep sense people have that they are getting screwed and the income disparity in our society keeps getting worse.

Back to the calling next week. I hope to make some inroads for Ned.

BTW, are doing GOTV on election day? If I were here I would take the entire day for GOTV. But I will be in Italy, drowning my sorrows in vino nobile and pasta with truffle sauce. I am hoping Europe will save my sanity.

[femmedem]

7. When someone talks about his wealth:

I say that the reality is that unfortunately, no one except an extremely wealthy person would be able to mount a credible challenge to someone as well-funded as Lieberman. I say that he didn't initially want to run for office, he wanted to financially back someone to run against Lieberman. But no one would. So he decided he'd have to do it himself.

Often that turns him from a lazy, wealthy spoiled rich guy in people's minds to a roll-up-the-sleeves, dig- in-and-take-care-of-a-problem kind of guy.

Yeah, I'll be working election day, doing I'm-not-sure-what. I hope you have a great European vacation--celebrating a big Dem win.

[CTyankee]

8. I feel guilty. I don't know what I was thinking when I made these

travel plans...

I love what you recommend saying about Ned's wealth. I'll use it.

Good luck on your GOTV efforts. Everyone I know who works for Ned is putting in 100% for him, working very hard. And I see new people at HQ every week, so there never seems to be a lull in calling. That cheers me and makes me feel that we have a real chance at winning. I just hope the polls start turning around...

[femmedem]

9. Please don't let guilt spoil your vacation.

Besides, I think the work we do before the election matters more than election day itself.

You could always send a post card to the people you think you persuaded, reminding them to vote.

[CTyankee]

11. Yep, I did that in the primary and we're working on getting that done

again in the general!

So we're all set. I am hoping!

[Telly Savalas]

13. Great letter

Thanks for your efforts!