SuperSpade Quick Notes Summary for 2008-10-30

• Check http://www.peopleinthemiddleforobama.org/ for reasons why “regular” people are voting for @barackobama #
• @maddow is doing an interview [on her own show] talking about her Barack Obama interview. She’s reminding me why I respect her so much. #
• @maddow on @barackobama: “I have no reason to believe that Barack Obama is more liberal than he says he is.” #
• @maddow on @barackobama being moderate to get elected: “I don’t think there is deeper truth to candidates beyond how they act politically.” #
• @maddow on @barackobama & his political ideology: “A candidate is his/her positions.” #
• @maddow on @barackobama not being a Progressive: If you only talk abt your opponent & not abt ideology, you are not a progressive movement. #
• @maddow I can’t wait to see/hear the interview! #

SuperSpade Quick Notes Summary for 2008-10-29

• Why don’t voting machines ever flip votes from Republican to Democrat? #
• VERY Moving Video: Charles meets Barack http://tinyurl.com/5eclnz #
• Many of the Taxi Cab companies in King County (Seattle-area) are teaming up to help get Democrats out to the polls. #gotv #

SuperSpade Quick Notes Summary for 2008-10-28

• Still writing that new post called Would You Tell Me Who You Voted For?… #
• New post at The SuperSpade: Would You Tell Me Who You Voted For? ( http://tinyurl.com/6n7fhp ) #
• New post at The SuperSpade: Dealing with race on the doors ( http://tinyurl.com/64wp6k ) #

Dealing with race on the doors

What’s up fam,

I wrote this letter (see below) to a number of c(3) organizations in Michigan that do civic engagement. Some of us in Michigan were concerned about the potential for race-based violence inflicted on our canvassers. I have received some interesting feedback so I wanted to share it with my SuperSpade family. Enjoy.

Stay up fam,

Brandon Q.

Friends,

I wanted to follow up from our conversation at Friday’s meeting regarding the increasing negative tenor of this year’s presidential campaign and how that may feed into issues of election protection and to be frank, violence. To be sure, the scope of the conversation is not about how any Presidential candidate handles race issues, but about how our work (especially when we are canvassing) is impacted by racist and xenophobic rhetoric. Our staff and volunteers are at the vanguard of connecting with voters in Michigan who have been racially primed (due to the recent debates surrounding affirmative action) in ways that many other states have not.

From my conversations with most of you, there appears to be a common theme in our canvassing philosophy that says when you encounter any contact that is belligerent or otherwise not receptive, the canvasser should promptly remove themselves from the situation. I believe this measure is very responsible as it maximizes the safety of our volunteers and ensures efficient use of our time.

SuperSpade Quick Notes Summary for 2008-10-27

• The easiest way to GOTV is to ask people if they’re going to vote: http://is.gd/4Wag The Truth is Always Simple. #
• Side-by-side comparison of VP candidates’ environmental records, courtesy of Plenty Mag: http://www.plentymag.com/vp_matrix.html #
• NY Times Mag piece by Micahel Pollan about how the next Pres. can & should change America’s food policy & eating habits. http://is.gd/4WNq #

Would You Tell Me Who You Voted For?

My girlfriend and I have been doing a pretty large amount of volunteering for local political efforts here in Seattle, including Barack Obama and the Mass Transit Now Campaign. This has included lit dropping, my own work managing the Social Media and Text Message Strategy for WA Obama campaign, and phone banking for Obama and Mass Transit Now. It’s been a great experience.

While making calls, I’ve noticed an interesting trend: people ardently refusing to share how they voted in a particular race or on a particular issue.

Do most people feel this way?

I don’t understand the harm in sharing the way that you voted with another person after you’ve already voted. The vote is cast, the deal is done, so why not talk about it?

At first I thought that the people were just annoyed by the phone call, but that wasn’t the case, as most of them were quite talkative. Then I thought, maybe they’re ashamed or embarrassed by their vote, not wanting to tell me because they voted against the cause I was pedaling. Could be. Then I thought, maybe it’s generational, with older voters holding their votes more private & sacred, but this was dispelled when an 18 year-old people told me he wouldn’t share.

I guess I’ll just put this in the “things other people do that I’d never do” pile.

One Love. One II.

SuperSpade Quick Notes Summary for 2008-10-24

• At a DTV transition info mtg in Seattle w/ FCC Comm. Adlestein, Rep. Jim McDermott, @susangleason,@jonathanlawson. Info @ http://www.dtv.gov #
• Plenty Magazine rates the Pres. & VP candidates side-by-side on Environmental Issues: http://tinyurl.com/5rmx8f #
• Know How To Vote parnership with NAACP is official. Check NAACP.org to get Early voting info: http://www.naacp.org #
• Still writing that new post called Know How to Vote NAACP = Empowered Voters… #
• New post at The SuperSpade: Know How to Vote NAACP = Empowered Voters ( http://tinyurl.com/5e8no3 ) #
• List of Presidential A-List Donors http://www.newsmeat.com/2008a-list.php h/t to @eddiegriffin #
• A graphical comparison of Newspaper Endorsements in 2008 & 2004 http://is.gd/4K5H Does this give evidence of a media bias? #

Know How to Vote + NAACP = Empowered Voters

A little while ago I told you about Know How To Vote, a simple way to get early & absentee voting information for your state from your cell phone or computer built by my web development company, Opportunity Technology.

In partnership with the NAACP Civic Engagement efforts, Know How To Vote will be a key part of their Get Out The Vote (GOTV) effort. I am very excited to be a part of this effort in an official capacity, and to specifically help the NAACP’s new President & CEO Ben Jealous integrate new media, new technology, and new strategies to achieving realizing the vision of the organization:

To ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.

I look forward to working with the NAACP and all other groups that share this vision in the future.

One Love. One II.

SuperSpade Quick Notes Summary for 2008-10-23

• Still writing that new post called 12 Ways You Can Safeguard the Vote, Courtesy of YES! Magazine… #
• New post at The SuperSpade: 12 Ways You Can Safeguard the Vote, Courtesy of YES! Magazine ( http://tinyurl.com/5ovb42 ) #
• Great Obama photoset at http://is.gd/47Lx @BAGNewsNotes, I’d love to hear your thoughts/feedback. #

12 Ways You Can Safeguard the Vote, Courtesy of YES! Magazine

YES! Magazine released today their 12 Ways You Can Safeguard the Vote tool. It contains links to lots of great resources, and tips for what you can do before, on, and after Election Day to make sure that your vote is properly counted.

Here is their checklist:

1. Check Your Registration. Make sure there are no errors, mistakes, or discrepancies which would prevent you from being able to vote.
2. Vote Now. Vote early, in person or by mail, if you can in your state. Check if you can using Know How To Vote.
3. Learn how to vote. Read your voter pamphlet to understand how your paper ballot works, and if voting using an electronic machine, get a clear demonstration first.
4. Identify State & Local election officials. Get their names and numbers because these are the people to call if there are problems.
5. Vote as early as possible on Election Day to avoid long lines & hassle.
6. If you have ID, bring it with you. If you have a cell phone, bring that too.
7. Avoid straight-party voting. Vote for each race individually, to make sure your votes each count exactly as you want them to.
8. Verify your vote, especially when voting on an electronic voting machine. There have already been cases in states like West Virginia where people used the touch screen to select Barack Obama but had the machine count their vote for John McCain. Just like at the store, get a receipt.
9. Observe, Document, Report. If you or anyone else that you see has issues voting, take good notes & inform the authorities using resources such as 866-OUR-VOTE.

They save the most important pieces of advice for last. These are the steps we can take to make all future elections exercises in democracy, not insanity.

• Call your candidate. Encourage them to challenge results you don’t trust. Sign up to help.
• Call your election officials. Hold them accountable to their responsibility to ensure clean elections 
• Work towards fair and transparent elections. Learn about election & voting issues, and take action before the next election.

One Love. One II.

P.S. I recently joined the Communications Advisory Board of YES! Magazine.