The Today Show was highlighting the importance of Loudoun County to Virginia, and Virginia to the national election.
I know both of the families interviewed. Liz and Ed Burns live on my street. I've campaigned with Ann Jansen. In fact, I was working a back to school night with Ann on Wednesday and talked to Ed on Thursday while walking our dog. It is a sad fact that a short national TV story cannot do justice to the full stories these families tell.
The Today Show could not tell the story of the sheer betrayal Ed and Liz felt when Sen. Clinton lost the nomination. Liz sacrificed an amazing amount of energy and money, from a very tight family budget, working to get Hillary Clinton nominated. She took her kids out of school to go meet the Senator. Liz is and unbelievably patriotic and hardworking American. Her husband, Ed, actually helped me fix my AC this summer. Ed always has five minutes and a kind word for a neighbor, no matter the situation. It truly saddens me that Ed and Liz have chosen to vote for Sen. McCain. They are the kinds of neighbors one is truly lucky to have.
And Ann Jansen is an inspiration. She has been a tireless campaigner for Senator Obama. Standing in front of Smarts Mill Middle School this week, you could hear her telling the parents entering for Back to School Night, "Vote for Obama, your only choice for real Education policy." Ann is inspired this year, she came out for Obama and has become engaged in the process because of our candidate.
There's another thing the Today Show story can't tell you. It cannot tell you that at that Back To School Night this past week, there were no fewer than five volunteers for our side, handing out materials and talking to voters, promoting Senator Obama, Governor Warner and Judy Feder. And there was no Republican opposition to be seen. Five Democratic volunteers talking to the ultimate Loudoun swing vote: parents of school aged children. And no opposition in sight.
The media wants to show balance. But it is interesting that the only McCain people they found to interview were Democrats who cannot support someone other than Sen. Clinton. It is interesting there were no Republicans in sight at the seminal voter outreach event of the political season.
The Today Show interviewed my neighbors this week, as if 30 seconds on a national morning show were some kind of prism through which to see and understand our national election. In some ways, it may be the best that can be done. But the Liz and Ed and Ann that I know are much more than thirty seconds on TV. And that's why knocking on doors counts. That's why neighbor-to-neighbor counts. That's why I will be out there tomorrow. Because I still have hope that maybe, just maybe, talking to Ed while walking my dog each day might change his mind. No matter what the Today show says.
2 comments:
This exactly describes my life. I am out there in the trenches every day parenting my school aged child, making decisions about where to buy things, walking my dogs, volunteering at our local elementary school, doing things I hope help our community. I am invested. And so are my neighbors. Some of us may have different views and I accept that. We all come from different places. I went out today with LCDC (where I have been 'working' for the last couple of weeks and will continue to until the election) because I want to help protect what we have and promote more growth. Its an interesting time to be a voter in Loudoun County.
I am proud that the voters of Loudoun are taking this election, and their vote, so seriously. Every voter I've talked to this year is genuinely concerned about the direction our nation is going, and seems to understand that yes, their vote does count.
Thanks for all your work!
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