The first time I went door knocking was for Gene McCarthy in late March, 1968. I rode a yellow school bus filled with other college kids from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis to Wausau, Wisconsin. Oh, we were green and enthusiastic. It was fun to walk up to strangers' doors and drop off leaflets.
The best part of the trip happened on the way home. In the dark of night on I94 we heard on a little transistor radio that Lyndon Johnson had announced he would not run for president again. We were elated, but did not realize it would lead to Dick Nixon. Lordie, Dick Nixon.
Flash forward forty years. I've been a volunteer for our local state representative, Al Doty. Walked in three parades and after being briefed on Wednesday about the dos and don'ts of door knocking, I'll be out there again, especially if I can get rid of a plantar's wort on the ball of my left foot. (Hate those things.)
But, being much older, wiser (paranoid?), the prospect of walking up to a stranger's door in a largely independent and pretty conservative area has me nervous about what I'll find on the other sides of those doors. Ever been in the same position?
I did a test run two years ago with my next door neighbor. We walked through a fancy area not far from us peddling our Democratic candidate. It was creepy. Having been a restaurant owner in our town and having participated in a many a political discussion and argument, I have the perception that most people are right of center and are suspicious of Democrats.
I was told at our training session that we should state, if we have the opportunity, why we support our candidate. Truth be told, I'd like to say, "Hello, my name is Ron. I'm a volunteer campaigning for Al Doty because I think his opponent is a douche bag."
They told us not to say that so I have to come up with something else. "Hey, vote for Al. He's pro-life and been a lifelong member of the NRA!" Which is true. Can you believe it? I'm campaigning for a guy who I disagree with, but I absolutely loathe the alternative, the erstwhile douche bag. Douche bag fit the profile of a Tea Partier before the Tea Party existed. See where I'm coming from?
I'm counting on my experiences of walking parades paying off at the doorsteps. It was a scary proposition to stand up and be counted in front of the public for my candidate. First parade, you carry a sign and look cheerful marching. Second parade, you hand out candidate stickers to kids. Third parade, it's leaflets to voters-- right in their face. I got used to it and found I could do it happily saying, "Hi, how are you?" and hand them a leaflet. Most were respectful, some rejected me. I got used to it.
That's what I'm hoping about knocking on doors. That I quickly get used to it and can have some friendly, engaging conversations no matter what turns they take.
Then, last night I was reading some U.S. history and I came across the struggle for civil rights in the 60s. Sit-ins, freedom rides, marches accompanied by clubs, dogs and bullets. Heck, what do I have to worry about bumping into come crazy conservatives in my area, in this era?