I've been asked to give the main speech this Thursday at an Obama for America house party in New Ipswich, NH -- the most heavily GOP area in the State. I expect an audience to include both Democratic faithful, undecideds, and Tea Party fanatics (is that redundant?) I thought putting together this speech would be easy. Yet, when I settled down to order my thoughts for the speech, I find myself at sea. Ive too much to say, especially considering my need to deal with the diversity of listeners, to fit into the 10 minutes more or less I think I can talk without losing my audience. I do have some ideas but they've yet to jell. Tell me what you'd say if you had this chance or at least what you think I shouldn't leave out. What would you say?
I jumped at the chance to give this speech as it takes almost nothing to set me off into a rant about the clear choice this year between parties and the fallacies of GOP economic and social theories. I'm running for County Commissioner myself in this area and haven't been restricted in what I can speak about but my choice is to speak about Obama not my own campaign.
I'm convinced that I need to win my own campaign to help the people of my county. There are presently three Republicans on the County Commission and of those one is a moderate with no real opposition. The other two are right wingers. As far as I know, I am the only Democrat running for Commissioner who is putting up a real campaign fight. The party has told me I can't win as my opponent has won reelection a number of times. I intend to prove them wrong although their attitude doesn't help me raise the money I need to campaign in the wide spread 24 towns that comprise my district. This year. Interestingly, many of Obama's campaign issues are my own as my likely opponent (she has a primary with an even more extreme right wing candidate) is voting the national GOP program -- senselessly ending effective and inexpensive safety net programs like Meals on Wheels and turning away Federal funding. If the Commissioners continue what they are doing, local property taxes will get pushed up beyond many more peoples ability to pay while taking away those portions of the safety net that help so many people survive, destroying much that makes New Hampshire a great place to live.
I've been going to a lot of Democratic events. Politics is an up close and personal experience here in New Hampshire. I've been to hear great speakers like Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Joe Biden. I've heard many of our local candidates give introductory speeches on the national issues that ranged from terrific to really, really boring. I want to aim for the terrific side. I love public speaking and can usually get an audience laughing, excited, and following my serious points with attention. Of course, at least among the Democrats in the audience, they are people willing and eager to be pleased. If this was a purely Democratic audience my job would be far easier but I do welcome the chance to educate those who get most of their information from the mass media. I know that the people who read and write on Kos are the brightest, most articulate people in the world. Help me out here. Please.