#DemDoors Diary – Canvassing in Barnstable
*Editor's Note - Natalie Boyle is a paid intern for the Mass Dems.
Last weekend, Massachusetts Democrats hit the streets of Barnstable to knock on doors and connect with our neighbors. Natalie Boyle was one of those grassroots volunteers and filed this report:
I know that canvassing can change the outcome in elections. I know that the best way to contact voters is through direct interactions, but it took me a few times canvassing to gain the confidence and enthusiasm to get beyond the goal of gathering data.
The first time you go canvassing, you knock tentatively. It’s a favor for a friend, an obligation at your job, or a meek desire to make an impact in the vast political world around you. By the second or third time, you are ready, willing, and enthusiastic to connect, discuss, and engage any voter willing to give you a minute. It’s not about getting through your walk list, but about reaching as many people on the list as possible. It’s about gaining an understanding on where people are standing, and learning how to better inform them on the issues that truly have an impact on their lives.
This past Saturday in Barnstable was my third time ever going door-to-door, and my confidence in the value of true grassroots campaigning is at an all time high.
As our trio made our way down the small sand-dusted streets of the quiet Cape town, we were met at most doors by open-minded voters who had many concerns about the upcoming election. These voters were worried about a variety of problems that face the Commonwealth and the Country and they were looking for the right leadership to help solve these problems.
The resounding message from all voters that we talked to concerned the American Dream and the American Spirit. There seems to be a consistent feeling that somewhere along the line we stopped turning to each other when the going got tough and started turning on each other. Whether it was the 78 year old mother of five who reminisced about the days when neighbors helped neighbors, and communities pulled together, or the 45 year old landscaper insisting that the government is no longer serving the people, most voters agree that there needs to be a change in mentality for the American people, and in the way that the government functions.
If we’re going to move our country forward, we can’t just worry about changing politicians – we need to change the way politics is done. With the sun beating down on me on Saturday, I stood on the front porches of total strangers to talk about the importance of this year’s election and I realized just how powerful those face-to-face conversations can be.
Are you interested in joining our grassroots campaign? Find out more at www.massdems.org
M. Sweeney
10:49 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
This girl works for the Party. All she is doing is relaying talking points giving by her bosses at the Party. Shame on her and the party for trying to trick readers into thinking she is a random person who wrote this "in her own words." Get this deceptive drivel off Patch.
Jennifer Simckowitz
10:57 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
It says she is a volunteer and therefore working for the party. Not sure I understand your gripe.
Massachusetts Democratic Party
11:07 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
There's nothing deceptive in this post, M. Sweeney. We all have our own political points of view, but I don't think it's fair to try to deny folks their right to express themselves just because you disagree with them.
KF
M. Sweeney
11:13 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
She is not a "grassroots volunteer." She is a paid intern. Big difference.
Jennifer Simckowitz
11:22 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
This official document says she is a volunteer. Do you have other information you can point me to? http://www.massdems.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/C2C-To-upload1.pdf
M. Sweeney
11:20 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
It is deceptive to call someone a grassroots volunteer when she is a paid intern. Absolutely.
Jennifer Simckowitz
11:26 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Do you have information to confirm she is a paid volunteer?
Jennifer Simckowitz
11:27 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Intern, I meant :)
M. Sweeney
11:31 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Massachusetts Democratic Party, is it not true that Ms. Boyle is a paid intern?
M. Sweeney
11:40 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Jennifer, look on the Massachusetts Democratic Party's Facebook page. There is an album of photos from the state convention, and one clearly refers to Ms. Boyle as an intern and shows here as the winner of a paid internship from the party.
Jennifer Simckowitz
11:42 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Can you send me the link to the party if you already know the photo?
M. Sweeney
11:58 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=394210750616880&set=a.394204410617514.79016.126506780720613&type=3&theater
Jennifer Simckowitz
12:01 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Thanks! It doesn't say paid though. Regardless, I'll update this to say intern.
M. Sweeney
12:17 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
http://www.massdems.org/2012/04/03/moakley-internship-and-kennedy-scholar-awards/
If you look at that post from the party website, it clearly states that the "Moakley Summer Internship" is paid.
M. Sweeney
12:19 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Nothing to say now, "KF", huh? A coward just like all politicians who runs and "no comments" when he/she gets caught.
M. Sweeney
12:39 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Jennifer, am I crazy? Is it not clear that she is a PAID intern- and thus is being paid to say what they want her to? Clearly she is going to say whatever there talking points are because it it is her PAID JOB. To call her a "grassroots volunteer" is a gross misrepresentation of her role. "KF", instead of trying to spin this on me and tell me I am "attacking a young woman" which is ridiculous, why don't you just admit you lied and misrepresented the post? Why can't you just face up to what you did? Right now, you are only making yourself look petty and childish by accusing me of things it would be obvious to anyone with eyes I am not doing.
M. Sweeney
12:47 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
No more interaction, because you know that I am right, but you refuse to admit it. Cowardly.
M. Sweeney
1:18 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
"KF" deleted his earlier comment accusing me of attacking a young woman because he knew he was wrong. What a coward. You and your party should be ashamed of such deceptive behavior.
Mike Holmquist
1:27 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
M Sweeney, you ask for the deceptive drivel to be removed from patch, meanwhile your excessive comments clearly are trolling for an argument, or for someone to give you the public reassurance that you were right. You're attention to detail is respectable however even after the editors have changed the article you demand to be validated with what? You attempt to represent, and even ask for a higher quality discussion on the patch yet you digress to a level no better than "i told you so."
Mrs. Information
3:37 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Excellent piece. Beautifully written and engaging.
The conversation surrounding it thus far is invalid-
The nature of the article is clearly partisan which is perfectly acceptable given that the title indicates the piece is a canvassing DIARY and the Mass Dems logo is visible at the article's start. Ties to the party are made blatantly clear in the first paragraph. There is nothing deceptive about this piece, no conflict of interest apply here, nothing about this claims objective fact reporting. Intern, volunteer- I mean really it's semantics. Paid or not, her partisanship is clear and the reality is that she seems to be very skilled, she should be getting paid! Pay her more! I know I am looking forward to seeing more of her work.
What is really shameful is going after this insightful young woman who is doing such good work. Perhaps the main dissenter's real issue is a personal one. There are clearly no ethical boundaries being crossed here.