It's that time again! That's right, campaign season is here once again. Every time you turn on the news you find updates on the primaries and the latest candidate faux pas. Isn't it great?
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Aren't you excited for all of those informative calls from the candidates? How about the delight of unexpected company as people come door to door looking for votes?
No? That's not you? You aren't thrilled to participate in the joys of this electoral season?
For some of you, the time has come to unplug your landline phone and hide in your living room when you hear those knocks on your door.
Well, if you find yourself frozen, crouched in an awkward position beneath your entryway windows holding your breath, you may want to consider the other side of the story.
This is the story of the campaigner;
The story of the one who sacrifices their days, nights, entire life and potentially their soul for almost no pay and no guarantee of a employment at the end of their tenure.
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| Summer 2006: Casey, Jason, Me |
This is the story of the coffee fetcher, who doesn't know whether to be honored or insulted that they are assigned to get coffee for the Governor.
This is the story of the idealist, who believes that their candidate is different than the rest, this is the person who is really going to change things, shake things up.
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They believe this candidate will be, no, is the next Kennedy or Reagan.
This person is truly great and won't compromise.
This person sticks to their guns and doesn't get caught up in the ugly political games.
They believe this with everything in them, and believe that this grunt work, the tireless calls, the interactions with crazy people, the door to door weekend marches in the unbearable midday heat of summer...will be worth it.
They believe it will be worth it because of their cause.
People will be helped; life as we know it will change.
Social ills will be righted.
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| Former Maryland Governor Ehrlich |
And then September comes along. People get desperate. Any lingering semblance of time away from campaign HQ disappears. Everyone eats, sleeps, breathes campaign, the adrenaline is amazing. Corners are cut. Mistakes are made. Cynicism creeps in. The political game is played.
The worst of it?
Knowing that all of your blood, sweat and tears are measured in one night - that first Tuesday in November.
And yes, when I say blood, sweat and tears, I mean blood sweat and tears.
Do you know how many paper cuts you get from stuffing those envelopes?
How much you sweat while standing on a street corner; waving while balancing a sign that's bigger than you are?
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| 2006: Casey, Beth, Me |
How quickly you cry when you haven't slept properly in weeks and you stub your toe due to your increasing lack of coordination?
Yet you have that adrenaline, and it keeps you going.
Everything is wrapped up in that final count!
Your future, your year of crazy, the relationships you've put on hold, everything.
So, in tribute to those who have experienced this unique life
and understand its joys, pains and particular forms of torture:
I give you this video, which captures perfectly the "bang your head against the wall" sort of moments that phone banking provides.
Campaign work is rough. I worked for a political organization for 2 years after college putting in 60+ hour work weeks for pennies. Happy to mostly sit on the sidelines this election cycle and just volunteer a bit for Elizabeth Warren's senatorial campaign.
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