Working in politics

[Aliens]

Have you ever worked or volunteered for anything regarding politics?

I was a volunteer poll caller before the 2010 midterms.  Most people hung up before I could get through my intro, but there were quite a few interesting and strange people who were kind enough to answer all my questions.  There was one old farmer who didn't understand that we have the technology to call anyone across the country nowadays.  Another guy said that he wanted Dick Armey to run for President simply because of his name; at least he was being honest.

[Anti Democrat Democrat Club]

I worked as a fellow for the Obama campaign this summer. Basically I got tickets to an Obama rally, volunteered at my office, got peer-pressured into interning there, and worked 50 hours a week helping organize, train, and recruit volunteers, do odd jobs around the office, and the usual campaign work.

My favorite calls were from a 75-year-old anti-Semitic Gary Johnson supporter who thought that Obama and Romney were being controlled by Israel (which apparently also caused the recession to weaken us and take over our government), a very angry father who thought I was his daughter's boyfriend, and a libertarian who said I was destroying America by voting for Obama. On the other end was an hour and a half-long call with a conspiracy theorist who said that they were going to switch the vote totals between Barack Obama and Jill Stein.

And, of course, even in NH, you get the crazy racists and the people who absolutely lose their **** after you get through your first sentence.

[Aliens]

Yeah, the libertarians and the tea partiers were a joy to talk to.  A guy in Nevada was obsessing about voter fraud months before the elections even took place.

[Supersonic]

I do canvassing every now and then for the Tories.

[Donerail]

Interned with a State House candidate for a while last election cycle (Dem, ftr), and met Gary Johnson (though never did do any campaign work - if I had infinite time I would have liked to though). Now applying for an internship with the mayoral candidate (nonpartisan, but he was a D in the state legislature).

[Hatman 🍁]

Yes, I've had two internships on parliament hill.

[California8429]

I once had a nice 15 minute conversation with a very old lady who said she usually doesn't take political calls, but wanted someone to talk to. And mistook a former Governor's stance on euthanasia as him saying "all you old people, have to die, so there are jobs for the young people". Also on my first day as an intern in 2010 a women just cussed for 15 seconds non stop about getting phone calls and then hung up (it was only August...). Someone thought I was from the county courts and she thought her son was arrested or dead and had a panic attack. Another guy yelled at me for a few minutes saying I was a socialist (while working for a very tea party slate of candidates) and then at the end said, you're doing a good job keep it up and hung up.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I held signs for McCain in 2008, my first volunteer experience. I waved signs for Ron Paul and handed out campaign lit on the day of the primary in 2012. I was an intern on the Adam Hasner campaign from March to November last year. I also interned on the successful "Glickstein for Mayor" campaign in Delray. I have met Rudy Giuliani, Marco Rubio, Gary Johnson, Ken Cuccinelli, Tim Pawlenty (who I am with in my Facebook profile picture), Allen West (21 different times), and obviously Adam Hasner. I almost got to meet Nancy Pelosi and Donald Trump. Also of course, a pitter-patter of mayors, state senators and representatives, and city commissioners.

The Hasner campaign was the best experience of my life. I loved the staff, and am in touch with most of them still. One of the staffers (the only local one) managed the later Glickstein for Mayor campaign. I entered in petitions from March to May. Every day for two hours after school, I sat on a laptop leftover from Hasner’s first run for State House in 2002 and entered names into Microsoft excel. When I pressed the button to enter the last petition, it was like I pressed the button to drop the ball in Times Square on New Years. Another time, when Obama was coming to campaign for our opponent, the now Congresswoman Lois Frankel, I went to the Obama office and pretended to be a Frankel volunteer to get tickets for our campaign (I was unaware we had a video tracker). I worked the summer interns, who were also. I discovered that I get along well with people in their mid twenties-I was originally socially terrified of them, but quickly formed friendships with them. I look ahead with great excitement and anticipation for 2014.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Never any serious campaign work.  During this last campaign, I visited my county Republican headquarters but never did any actual volunteer work.  I hope to do some next year for the Governor's race (draft Schuette now!) or Senate race, especially since I'll be transferring to a college that has a College Republicans club that I want to join.  Of course, when Mitt Romney came to my hometown during the last campaign, I went and saw him.  I didn't get to meet him, but it was great just to be there.  I also saw him in 2007 at a Lincoln Day breakfast my State Representative invited me to when he was campaigning for the 2008 GOP nomination.  And in 2006, when I was 13, I briefly met Dick DeVos when he was campaigning for governor of Michigan.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

My only "odd" call in phone banking was awful. I called a woman, and listened to her whine about the bombardment of political calls. She then promptly hung up. I forgot to cross her name off the list, and then called her again. She gave me a bombardment of nasty words, threatened to call the cops, and again hang up. I murmured "b*tch" after she hung up, and then realized the candidates wife and half the staff was right behind me. Fortunately, they heard the entire call (the lady was very loud) and did not take offense to my use of the word, nor did she think that I was still on the phone with the lady.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I was an Elections Inspector for Springfield Township, MI, and worked in Precinct Four despite not living in said precinct. Made a tidy sum of cash, the exact amount which escapes me. When I go to University of Detroit in the fall, I'll probably try to volunteer with the Duggan campaign.

[Hash]

I volunteered for a Liberal MPP/cabinet minister when I was in high school, I've canvassed for the federal and provincial Liberals in 2011 and I attended the federal Liberal campaign kickoff in Ottawa in 2011.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I was an Elections Inspector for Springfield Township, MI, and worked in Precinct Four despite not living in said precinct. Made a tidy sum of cash, the exact amount which escapes me. When I go to University of Detroit in the fall, I'll probably try to volunteer with the Duggan campaign.

Who's Duggan?

[tmthforu94]

Yes - too many different candidates to count, but a lot of Republicans in Indiana (and one Democrat!). I also served as the Election Inspector for our precinct the last two elections.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I was an Elections Inspector for Springfield Township, MI, and worked in Precinct Four despite not living in said precinct. Made a tidy sum of cash, the exact amount which escapes me. When I go to University of Detroit in the fall, I'll probably try to volunteer with the Duggan campaign.

Who's Duggan?

Detroit mayoral candidate. Head of the Detroit Medical Center, former Assistant Wayne County Executive, and former Wayne County Prosecutor. Democrat, naturally.

[Dave from Michigan]

I was an Elections Inspector for Springfield Township, MI, and worked in Precinct Four despite not living in said precinct. Made a tidy sum of cash, the exact amount which escapes me. When I go to University of Detroit in the fall, I'll probably try to volunteer with the Duggan campaign.

Who's Duggan?

Detroit mayoral candidate. Head of the Detroit Medical Center, former Assistant Wayne County Executive, and former Wayne County Prosecutor. Democrat, naturally.

and he's white, should be a interesting mayor race.