A Message to 2018 Candidates

It really is very nice when you decide to go door to door to meet those you'd like voting for you face to face. But I have some things for you to remember. 

We had a candidate show up at our door this afternoon. I won't mention names, because I think he realized his mistake about half way through. But it doesn't negate the fact that he removed himself from being considered by me at all. I moved back in with my folks a few years ago when my father became ill and I acted as caretaker until he had to be put in 24 hour care. I stayed because my mother is handicapped and needs a lot of help around the house. I own a very small portion of the house, but regardless, my name is on the deed. 

As you probably guessed, I am also a registered voter. I am registered libertarian. My mother is registered democrat. 

This candidate showed up at the door and, because I move a lot faster, I was the one who answered the front door. He began to address me by my mother's name, and I told him I was not her, but could help him. He told me who he was and said he really needed to speak with my mom. His reasoning was that she was listed as a regular voter, and gave me a look as if to chastise me for not being as on the ball with these things as my mother. It was like he was talking to a 20 year old who missed the last election. I can't be mistaken for a 20 year old, I promise you. I was around his age.

So, I called my mother and waited. She made her way down the hallway to speak with him, and I went into the room next to the front door where the dog was losing her damn mind trying to bark at him through the window. 

He went into his speech and again stated he had in his notes that she was the sole voter. My mom looked at him cockeyed and said I was a regular voter as well. Truthfully, I've never missed an election in my entire life, from small town rolls up to president of the USA. 

As I was leaving the room to head back toward the back of the house, he again stated there was no other voter listed on his sheet for this house. I looked back and said, "Probably because your list only has voting democrats. I'm a voting libertarian. We don't run a lot of seats in this state, you may not have a libertarian running against you." And just walked away. 

My word of advice is this. If you have access to names of people who vote regularly, don't visit only the ones from your own party. Have you learned nothing? Get the list of all active voters and either visit or call all of them. I know that is a lot of places to visit, but you can't openly discount an active voter because they aren't in your party. History has shown large quantities of people jump party lines all the time. I, myself, am not a straight party voter. Neither is my mom. 

If nothing else, when you get your active party voters, check to see who else is in their home and if they, too, are active voters. The way this guy completely discounted me - and almost chastised me for thinking I was not an active voter - should not have been done. I immediately memorized your name and face, and you can count on me voting for a dog turd before I ever vote for you. 

Also, don't assume a person's political affiliation based on demographics or stereotypes. Not all women are democrats. Not all African-Americans are democrats. Not all Hispanics are democrats. Not all white men are republicans. I didn't show up on your active voter list because I am not a democrat. I am a woman, yes. You assumed I just didn't vote because you assumed all women are democrats. Don't assume anything. 

What this guy did today was erase one voter and made the one he came to talk to question whether or not she wanted to actually vote for him. My mom would probably have voted for him, but since he completely discounted the one person in the house who is extremely active politically because he didn't bother to do better research - and trust me, the politicians around here know me - she's questioning whether or not this guy gives a crap about all of the people, or just the ones he knows will vote for him. 

​Everyone knows you only care about power, and that statement is for both parties. But at least do your best to make people think you might be different. 

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