On Canvassing with Will Rothschild
Just got back a few hours ago from spending my evening canvassing the Mayo community with House District #32 candidate Will Rothschild.
Believe it or not, in all my years of being a political junkie, I have never canvassed for a political candidate before. It was a great experience and I plan on volunteering for Will again and again. So does David and many of our friends.
At the first home we arrived at (it was a mobile home actually), I sat in the car and watched Will go to work. An older gentleman nervously opened the door wondering, I’m sure, who in the heck this young guy was knocking on his door. I couldn’t hear the conversation but as the man relaxed and came out on the porch and began speaking openly with Will…I knew Will was doing something that most politicians don’t do. Get out and talk to voters. Because why bother doing that in 2008? For those political candidates with tons of money they can just buy a bunch of last minute commercials and squash their opponent in one fail swoop but Will doesn’t have the money to do that nor does he want to do that. He believes that getting out there and meeting voters and listening to their concerns is what he should be doing…so he is.
There are many reasons I think Will would be good for Spartanburg, but it really boils down to one for me…he’s a kindred spirit. He loves Spartanburg, he sees the potential of our great community and he believes we deserve better than what we’ve had from the Statehouse in the past.
Will isn’t the same ole’ status quo. Will really sees this seat is about SPARTANBURG not himself. Will isn’t motivated by his own personal gain to win this seat. He isn’t a lawyer that sees this seat as an opportunity to go to Columbia for a term to network for a judgeship or gain clients for a law firm and he certainly doesn’t feel like he is entitled to this seat because of who he knows.
He’s a regular guy who loves his community. He has a family and a full-time job–not one of those cushy ones that allows him to campaign on the clock so he is spending every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening and Saturdays and Sundays away from his family to go out and canvas neighborhoods and meet voters. He genuinely wants to hear what is important to the voters of Spartanburg County. He wants better for our community and wants people to know that.
And I just love that and you should too. We need more people like Will who are willing to run for the good of the whole and when we get people like this we need to stand up and support them any way we can. Will is not in my district and I’m jealous of the folks in HD32 for having such a great candidate.
Y’all should know by now…I truly love this community but unfortunately I can count on one hand the politicians I’ve encountered that I believe have that same love for Spartanburg. Spartanburg deserves better than that. All candidates of all political parties should wear their community pride on their sleeve. Will does and that is what inspired this working mother of 2 to take time out of her busy schedule to go door-to-door and share my support and enthusiasm for Will Rothschild with my fellow citizens.
You can read all about Will and his family on his website. Volunteer. Donate. Watch his videos. Share them with your friends. Especially those that live in HD32. You can learn about the issues that he wants to work to change, the things he is passionate about, his willingness to get out after a full day at work and go door-to-door across HD32 from the City to rural Spartanburg to meet his would-be constituents and most importantly realize his dedication to the Spartanburg community.
I hope each of you will consider learning more and sharing his message with others in our community.
t
SeedingSpartanburg.com
on 16 Jul 2008 at 10:29 am # Mike B
Good for you, T. Will seems like a fine candidate. I wish him well.
Ah, grass roots canvassing, door-to-door campaigning. Ain’t nothing else like it. Got my first (and last) taste way back in 1975-76, when I served as a 17 year old county campaign coordinator in Florida for an obscure former Governor of Georgia, a fellow named Jimmy Carter. I met thousands of people going door-to-door, but we narrowly lost both the state-wide primary and in the county to George Wallace. Nevertheless, the Carter people must have liked me because I soon found myself pounding the pavement for Carter in places like Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin. I would have moved on to subsequent primary states, but my high school threatened to flunk me out if I did not return home. As a senior, I thought it best to heed their call.
Learned and experienced much during those months, most of which is best told over a bottle of wine.
Good luck with your campaign efforts for Will. Most of all, enjoy the ride!
on 16 Jul 2008 at 9:05 pm # shaggin' man
Will stopped by the house earlier this evening. It impressed me that he still came to the door after seeing my car with the McCain and Graham stickers. We need more legislators who are willing to discuss the issues with all constituents and not just members of their own party.
on 20 Jul 2008 at 10:20 am # PEEP
I’ve been wondering, do you ever plan on getting behind the Democratic nominee for President, or are you like some bitter Democrats who said they will not vote, or will vote for McCain simply because their candidate did not get the nomination?
Seems sort of like you are ignoring Obama on your blog, now that Clinton is out of the running. Actually, did you ever even blog about her dropping out of the race?
on 20 Jul 2008 at 9:45 pm # tammy
PEEP,
I’ve always been behind the Democratic candidate especially now…being a liberal, of course Obama is a dream. But, I don’t see the point of blogging about him. Everyone and their brother is blogging about him and I’m not going to say anything different about him than anyone else says.
And no, now that you mention it…I didn’t blog about HRC dropping out…goes to show even a blogger can only take so much national politics.