I awoke this morning to find on the frontpage of Huffington Post the following headline: "McCain gets 38.9 million viewers... Beats Obama." I was surprised to say the least, because I can't watch more than 5 seconds of the Republican convention without my ears bleeding.
I don't pretend to understand who these people are who watch the RNC. I know that the hard core, the so-called "dead-enders", have been awakened from their sullen state by Palin. But to have McCain beat Obama in the number of viewers amazes me.
Are these independent voters? Are they the Kossacks watching the other side to become motivated and better informed on their lies?
My take on who are these viewers, these people who watched McCain - and excuse me now if I sound like a concern troll, I'm not - independent swing voters who voted for W in 2000 and 2004, and are wanting to have an excuse to vote Republican (McCain), but up to now haven't connected with the campaign.
I don't really know many of these people personally. But I do know two. The first one is a young father of three, living in the exurbs of San Diego. "Jeremiah" fancies himself a libertarian, but is an evangelical Christian more of the Rick Warren variety than the traditional stereotype of the Religious Far Right. He is college educated, and not a low information voter. But what motivates him is a desire for an honest, straight-talking politician of integrity who is against big government. He likes McCain's personal story ("strong" is the word he used repeatedly to describe him), but also likes Obama's personal story. What he doesn't like is negativity ... if you tear down the other guy, you're not helping sell your guy to him. So he's kind of repulsed by the McCain campaign. He can't stand W, even though he voted for him twice. He voted for Ron Paul in the primary, and could easily stay home on election day.
The other person who know who is an independent voter is a young gay guy from Kentucky who now lives in South Korea as an English teacher. "John" is easily influenced by the media, though he is loath to admit it. Whatever the latest 'scandal du jour' is for either candidate, he tends to swing the reactive direction. I think he is heavily influenced from his conservative, working class up-bringing (therefore leans Republican), but because he's gay and has travelled to different cultures is now more impressed by someone like Obama than he would have been in 2004.
So why do I contend that you (we) get what we deserve? My point is that we get the government we deserve as a country, and as individuals and activists we all know a few of these independents who are going to decide the election. I'll be the first to admit that the diaries I gravitate towards are the once with the latest salacious political gossip and poll numbers, but the reality is that we will lose this election if we don't all do our part and GOTV - and focus on those independents in our lives. They are our carpool partners, our neighbors, hairdressers, friends on our sports leagues... listen to what it is that is driving their decision making process. Pause. Then begin the conversation that can influence their choice for Obama.
If all we do is sit back thinking this is going to be done by somebody else... you're wrong. And you're going to get the kind of government you deserve.