We decided to go to our county’s little fair tonight and walk around. I’m not really fond of big crowds and especially not fond of the bump and push of them. I’ll go further to say that I’m extremely not fond of the bump and push of big crowds that mostly look like they walked off a Jerry Springer stage. In fact, one woman was wearing a t-shirt that said in big bolded letters “White Trash”. And she kind of was…and not even the good kind of white trash like Brittney Spears. For me to say that, it’s really saying something.
In our little walk-about, we decided to visit the vendor tents. The spousal unit bought me a black cowgirl hat with a silver studded leather hat band. It’s very cool and some guy even made hungry eyes at me. Of course he was about 400 pounds and I was carrying a bag of cotton candy to give to MiniMe when she gets home from the football game, but that’s not the point. The point is that now I must be referred to as “The Hat”. Not unlike “The Donald”, but without the significant cash flow.
Anyhow, back to the events that took place in the vendor tents. I was getting quickly (easily) bored with seeing the same thing booth after booth, table after table and I was about to tell the spousal unit that whenever he was ready to leave, we could go. All of the sudden, like a gift from God a bright beacon of heavenly light shown down from above and angelically lit the democrat party’s campaign booth. I turned to the spousal unit and smiled wickedly and asked, “would you like to have some fun?” No, he would the hell not. Fine. *I* wanted to have fun, so I stepped up to the table and was approached by one of the four workers. What follows is the conversation near as I can recall. For lack of knowing their names, the two workers that ended up speaking with me for 15 or 20 minutes will be referred to as ObamaSupporterDood#1 and ObamaSupporterDood#2, because it’s past The Hat’s bedtime, but I want to blog it before I forget it and I’m not so creative past 10pm. I’m pushing really hard to get this all out before my cotton candy sugar rush burns out on me, so bear with me:
ObamaSupporterDood#1: Hi. Can I help you with anything? Need a bumper sticker or pin? Leaflet? Pencil?
Me: Actually, if you have a minute I have a couple questions.
ObamaSupporterDood#1: Great. I’ll do what I can to answer them.
Me: Well, first off, I’m not a republican but I’m not a democrat either. So my vote isn’t automatically owned by any party. I’m libertarian by general definition and I’d like you (if you could) to give me some information that could help me solidify my vote.
ObamaSupporterDood#1: OK, well we think Obama is what this country needs for change in the right direction.
Me: Do you think that he’s the right person because of his work in the senate?
ObamaSupporterDood#1: That’s right. He’s really working for this country to change it for the better.
Me: Better is always good. What is it so far that he’s done as a senator that has helped change things in a positive direction?
ObamaSupporterDood#1: Well, Obama is for the people. He’s not in politics to be a politician so he’s really working to make things better for the common people and that’s what we need.
Me: Great. Like what things?
ObamaSupporterDood#1: Well, like bringing community together. Obama is good at bridging gaps between all people and really giving them a sense of community to work together and that’s what our country needs especially with the war in Iraq and everything.
Me: So he’s bringing the community together in the senate?
ObamaSupporterDood#1: Well, no. Community is just what he’s good at.
Me: Oh. I’m sorry, what was the part again about what he’s done in the senate?
ObamaSupporterDood#1: He’s working in the senate for us. The people. Because he really cares about community.
Me: Oh, thanks. My other question is about that circle symbol on your shirt with the mountain and blue arch… what exactly does that mean?
ObamaSupporterDood#1: Oh, it’s um… It’s an “O” and it’s his symbol that he made.
Me: Does it mean something significant?
ObamaSupporterDood#1: (gesturing to Dood#2) Let me get him over here, I think he knows all this stuff better than me.
ObamaSupporterDood#2: Hi there. Got a question for me?
Me: (reiterated my non-party affiliation) … I was just asking your campaign partner here about that symbol that Obama uses. What does it mean?
ObamaSupporterDood#2: That is Obama’s symbol that he uses all over.
Me: Right. Does it have a meaning behind the picture? I mean, does it stand for something in particular?
ObamaSupporterDood#2: Oh he has all sorts of symbols. He even has a special one that says “Women for Obama”. It’s really kind of neat.
Me: I see. Does this one mean something specific like that?
ObamaSupporterDood#2: You can go to his website and see all of them. He really has several. In fact all you have to do is probably get online and type in “Obama symbol” and you’ll probably see most of them on any websites it takes you to.
Me: Oh. Thanks. I was asking your co-campaigner about Obama’s time in the senate so far. Do you know much about what he’s voted for or against?
ObamaSupporterDood#2: I’d actually have to get online and go look.
Me: I was hoping maybe you could tell me where to find that. Every place I look really doesn’t have much by way of his voting record except voting “present”.
ObamaSupporterDood#2: Well, you’ll get that. A lot of websites are very slanted.
Me; Oh. I understand that some people are voting Obama because they think he’ll change America. I’ve actually gone to several places to read about both candidates. Most recently I went to Reason.com and read a piece called “the Libertarian case for Obama” and another called “the Libertarian case for McCain. Are you familiar with that magazine or website?
ObamaSupporterDood#2: No, I’m not.
Me: Oh. Can you give me a reason why you’re voting for him? Personally?
ObamaSupporterDood#2: Oh, yes! I’m voting for him because he cares about the people. He really cares about middle class because Obama comes from middle class. He understands us. He doesn’t have seven houses. I don’t have seven houses. Nobody I work with has seven houses. It’s just like in the company I work for. The jobs aren’t there. They’ve been outsourced or cut completely. Obama doesn’t like all the jobs leaving America and us having to pay China so much money for cheap things and it’s not fair that the jobs over there aren’t even taxed.
Me: So he has a plan to fix that?
ObamaSupporterDood#2: Yes.
Me: Obama has a plan to bring those jobs back?
ObamaSupporterDood#2: Well, no but he thinks it’s not fair that they aren’t taxed.
Me: So he’s going to tax them?
ObamaSupporterDood#2: I think that’s the plan.
Me: China? He’s going to tax China?
ObamaSupporterDood#2: Well I don’t know. I don’t know if he can do that. Maybe not.
Me: …
ObamaSupporterDood#2: Another reason is that with the war and everything, people really need to work together and Obama is the person that can bring different people together.
ObamaSupporterDood#1: (jumping back into the conversation) Yes, that’s what I was saying. It would probably be a good idea to read what he has to say on his website.
ObamaSupporterDood#2: Yes, that’s what I’d do if I had questions. We really don’t have all the answers, but if you go there, I’m sure you’ll find what you need.
ObamaSupporterDood#1: Yes, there’s way more information there than we have but the reasons why we’re voting for him are all there.
ObamaSupporterDood#2: Really good information. Check it out.
Me: (feeling the bum's rush) Alrighty then. Thank you for your time, gentlemen.
ObamaSupporterDood#1&2: You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping.
I walked away from the table and headed towards the opponent’s booth to ask a few pointed questions about McCain’s campaign and stances. Specifically the Second Amendment. When we passed the table for the republican party, there wasn’t a soul to be found. I guess they felt pretty confident.
UPDATE:
Per reader request, I give you: The Hat
4 comments:
Pretty sad commentary on the political parties, here, sadder because it's all so true, wherever you go.
Have you considered that the Republican campaigners might have left because it depressed them when they tried to reason with Obama-zombies like the 2 you encountered?
I'm not thrilled by McCain either(understatement alert!!), and that's why Palin was such a rimless swoosh for him---talk about someone who represents the average working American, there she is. And the attack dogs can't let it go, even though it makes them look even more stupid and vacuous. Movement for movement's sake, or something like that.
PS---let's see the hat!
Most excellent! Now tell us, what firearm do you usually carry to accentuate such a fine, fashionable topper?
'Annie' works better than 'The Hat', though, IMHO. I'd stick with that.
BTW, nice vest, too---though if you pull a pack of cards out of the pocket, I'm running! (Maybe we'll call you Bret?)
Firearms:
My go-to carry is a Smith & Wesson snubby revolver. :D
Vest:
Straight from Cabela's with lots of hidden hidey pockets. I sometimes holster my carry in one of the inside ones.
Cards:
No flinging and shooting here. A challenge of Rummy 500 is about all I'm up for. :p
The Hat:
I dunno... I was wearing it downtown today and someone way off to my right was yelling, "Hey Hat!! Hey hey, HAT!!" When I turned around to see who/what/where, they gave a *thumbs up* and said "Like that hat!"...
So I guess I'll answer to both. :D
Heh...wasn't speaking about flinging cards and shooting them, but dealing cards and betting (the reference was to Brett Maverick, the gambler played by James Garner. The vest and hat give you a little of that riverboat gambler look...sharp!)
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