I apologize in advance, there is not much of a narrative to this diary. It is mostly a (huge) warehouse for ideas and information.
I was getting excited for my first trip from California to Reno to canvass, when I realized I didn't have succinct and targeted arguments to use. Yes, I could go on for hours, but that's not how this works. I wanted some short pitches for Obama that would differ depending on the voter I was talking to.
So I decided that I would go over the information that I had about Obama and put together some "talking points" to use out on the road. I went through the Blueprint For Change, the Democratic Platform, and most of the speeches in the last few weeks. I extracted all of what I felt was the relevant information for convincing people to vote for Obama at this point in time and grouped it by general category (Part II). Part II includes Obama's proposals as well as his records from the US and IL senate. From that, I tried to condense each category into a few different talking points (Part I).
In the talking points I tried my best to include Obama's voting record and sponsored bills in the US and Illinois senate. Right now, I believe that driving home all the work he has already done will be very important. I also tried to give them a populist feel, and tried to echo the language used in the speeches/town halls where appropriate. Some of these talking points lend themselves to particular types of people, in my opinion at least. I've tried to point that out where I can. These talking points are positive and focus exclusively on Obama. It shouldn't be hard to add in some shots at McCain if you want. If you think that some/any of these are convincing or useful, please use them. It would be amazing to get a wide variety of feedback on them, but perhaps that's just a little bit of wishful thinking.
These talking points are limited by what I could think up and are probably not the best anyone could do. In fact, they may not even be the best that you could do. If you are interested, take a look at the information in part II and see if you can cobble together some good ones that I have missed. Please, use them on your own, and if you'd like to share them in the comments, or where ever, I think that would be a great boon to us all. And if you have some good ones you've been using previously, let me know, as I'll need all the help I can get!
(Before we continue, I'll take this quick opportunity to shamelessly urge you to go to https://www.voteforchange.com/ to make sure that you are registered to vote. There is also information there about early voting and absentee voting. I would exhort you to vote early if possible. If you've already voted, then there's nothing that can go wrong on election day that will cause you to not be able to vote. And there are millions of things that could go wrong! It also gives you an opportunity to help out on election day if you have the time)
Part I
Ethics/Lobbying
*Most people feel that America is not on the right track right now, and that Washington is not looking out for the everyday people of America. Barack Obama will fix that by putting citizens above lobbyists. He accepts no money from PACs or lobbyists and has a record of proposing legislation that restricts lobbyist influence in Washington. An Obama presidency would seek to free Washington from special interest groups.
Health Care
*Obama will provide quality health care, such as that given to members of congress, to all Americans. If you already have health care, he will seek to lower your premiums by increasing competition among insurers and reducing red tape. In the Illinois senate, he proposed legislation, which expanded health care for thousands of children and adults. In the US senate, he sponsored SCHIP, which provided children across America with affordable health care.
(Opt.) Bring up a personal example. I had a friend who was in a car accident without insurance and ended up having to sell his house to pay the medical bills etc..
[Talking to women]
*In the Illinois senate, Obama proposed and passed legislation that forced insurance companies to pay for mammograms and cervical cancer screenings. Think of how many lives he has saved.
(Opt.) Bring up a personal example. I could say: my grandmother had breast cancer. I am very glad my family lives in Illinois because I know my mother and sister will be able to have mammograms without worrying about what it will do to our financial situation!
Taxes
*A married couple making $75,000 per year with a house and two kids, one in college, will get – a $1,000 immediate tax break, a $1,000 Making Work Pay tax credit, a $500 mortgage tax credit, and a $4,000 fully refundable college tax credit. Sound good to you?
*Barack Obama's tax plan would result in a tax cut for 95% of working Americans. He has a history of cutting taxes, and provided $105 million of relief while in the Illinois senate.
[Talking to seniors]
*Barack Obama understands the hardships of going through these tough economic times on a fixed income. That's why he has not only proposed many tax cuts, but also will eliminate the income tax for seniors making less than $50,000. No need to even file! He will also increase the funding for the Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps with the skyrocketing costs of heating (or cooling – depending on location).
Finances
*While most of Washington overlooked the problems of sub-prime mortgages and home foreclosures, Barack Obama introduced the STOP FRAUD Act in the US senate to increase penalties for fraudulent lending. In the Illinois senate, he sponsored legislation to combat predatory lending.
*Right now, Washington looks out for the businesses men. Barack Obama plans to change that. Under Obama, when a company declares bankruptcy, the businessmen will lose all of their stock options if the employees lose their pensions. Obama will enact penalties on companies using fraudulent lending, and he will use that money to help those Americans facing home foreclosure.
Jobs
*Every day working Americans are having a tough time. Barack Obama understands this, and will help out as President. He will ensure that every worker has at least 7 days of paid sick leave – most Americans have no paid leave right now. You shouldn't have to worry about paying the bills just because you got sick! He will also expand the medical and family leave act so that small businesses with 25 or more employees can offer more paid leave.
*Hundreds of thousands of Americans are losing jobs every month. Barack Obama will help by investing $1 billion in transitional jobs and career pathway programs to help working families get back on their feet. His energy plan will provide 5 million new green jobs here in America, and his proposal to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure will create another 2 million jobs. In the US senate, he introduced the Patriot Employer Act, which would provide tax cuts for companies that keep jobs here in America.
[low income area]
*Times are tough in America and Barack Obama wants to help. As president, he would increase the minimum wage and peg it to inflation, so that families don't watch in horror as the price of groceries increase while their pay does not. He will also expand the earned income tax credit to help out families on hard times.
[union area]
*Barack Obama has been a strong supporter of unions. As president, he will ensure freedom to unionize and protect striking workers. He will always look out for the working people of America.
(Opt. Michigan). Unlike many Washington politicians, Barack Obama wants to help out the devastated US auto makers. As president, he will provide loan guarantees to help US atuo-makers retool.
[Farm/rural area]
*Barack Obama has been a strong supporter of rural communities. In the US senate he proposed a $2 billion increase to UDSA rural programs for conservation and development. In the Illinois senate he supported funding for the Rural Community Empowerment Act, which helps to maintain and build the assets of rural communities.
*Barack Obama has stood up for small farmers against corporations in the past and will do so as the president. He will strengthen anti-monopoly laws such as the packer ban, and will also provide a tax credit for farmers seeking to own their first farm.
Science
[Scientists. They might be pro-Obama already, but this should help spur them to vote]
*Barack Obama knows that if we are to continue leading the world, we must be at the forefront of science and technology. That's why as president he will double the federal funding for basic research and will work to provide broadband internet connections in every part of America.
*Having a debilitating, life-threatening disease is a terrible fate. As president, Barack Obama will help all those in need by once again allowing research for lifesaving cures with stem cells and by doubling the federal funding for all science research.
Education
*In America, every person deserves the chance at a quality education. Barack Obama is determined to give everyone a chance to go to college. In the US senate, he proposed a bill to increase the maximum Pell Grant award. As president, he will provide a $4,000 tax credit each year for those attending college.
*The most significant factor in a child's learning is their teacher. Barack Obama knows that for America to have a world class education system, we must have world class teachers. That's why he will increase pay for teachers. To recruit more teachers, he will create the Teacher Service Scholarship, which will pay for the college education of future teachers. He will also create a teacher residency program that will train 30,000 new teachers per year.
*America's students are falling behind relative to other nations. Barack Obama knows that for America to out compete other nations, we must first out educate them. As president, he will quadruple the funding for early childhood education, upgrade classroom technology, recruit more and better teachers, double the funding for after school programs, and reinstate music and art classes. Obama has a record of supporting education. In the Illinois senate he help create the state's Early Learning Council for Childhood Education and doubled the funding for public charter schools. In the US senate he introduced legislation to increase the funding for after school programs.
Social Security
*Barack Obama knows how important social security is to all Americans. As a US senator, he voted against bills aimed at privatizing social security and decreasing benefits. As president, he will ensure the solvency of social security and protect the pensions of American workers.
Energy
*Energy independence is important to America. We can longer borrow money from China to pay dictators in the Middle East. As president, Barack Obama will introduce a comprehensive energy plan that will end the need to import oil from OPEC.
*Barack Obama's energy plan includes a $150 billion investment in biofuels, plug-in hybrids, and renewable energy sources. This not only will assure our energy independence, but will also greatly diminish our contribution to global warming. Since Obama will ensure that the technologies are developed in America and exported around the globe, this plan will create 5 million new jobs and stimulate the American economy.
[environmentalists -eg someone who might vote Nader]
*One of the biggest crises of our time is anthropogenic global warming. Obama knows that we must end our addiction to oil to avert this disaster, and that's why he will enact a $150 billion green energy plan as president. To further decrease carbon emissions, he will create a carbon cap-and-trade system, and will help US atuo-makers retool to produce 100mpg cars. As a US senator, he has always fought for higher fuel efficiency standards.
[Iowa or anywhere with biodiesel]
*Barack Obama knows that the path to energy independence must come from various sources. That's why his $150 billion dollar energy plan invests in biofuels as well as solar and wind power. But it's not just talk. While in the US senate, Obama passed legislation to give a tax credit to gas stations with ethanol pumps and sponsored an amendment providing $40 million for production of a biofuel/hybrid combo car.
Fiscal
[Definitely, definitely bring this up with republicans!]
*Barack Obama knows that our government's spending has gotten way out of hand. While Bush was increasing the national debt, Obama was fighting against it. In 2006, Obama voted against attempts to increase the federal debt limit. In 2005, 2006, and 2007, Obama voted to reinstate the PAYGO federal budget rules to curb out of control spending.
*As president, Barack Obama will reinstate the PAYGO federal budget rules. These dictate that money cannot be spent on new projects unless it comes from new revenue or from a cut to another project.
Women
*It is time for equal pay for equal work. Did you know that on average women earn $.77 on the dollar, and that minority women earn only $.57? This is unacceptable, and as president Barack Obama will change this by enforcing the equal pay act. As a US senator, Barack Obama cosponsored equal pay legislation, and in the Illinois senate he passed the Equal Pay Act, which ensured equal pay for 333,000 more women in Illinois.
*Barack Obama is against the criminalization of abortion. He has always worked to uphold the Roe v. Wade ruling, and has earned a 100% rating from all pro-choice groups.
*Barack Obama has always been an advocate for women as a public official. Not only did he fight for equal pay, but in the Illinois senate he passed a law that ensure abused women could seek treatment without the risk of losing their jobs. As president, he would appoint a special advisor to oversee issues related to violence against women.
Nuclear Weapons
*Barack Obama knows that one of the gravest threats to America and the world is that of a terrorist gaining control of a nuclear weapon. Obama has worked hard to make sure this will never happen. As a US senator, he passed a law to help detect and stop the smuggling of nuclear weapons. He also introduced a bill to reduce global nuclear arsenals and stop the spread of nuclear weapons. As president, he would work to secure all loose nuclear weapons within 4 years.
Military
*Barack Obama cares very deeply for our soldiers. That's why the first committee he joined was the Veteran Affairs Committee. As a US senator, he passed legislation to improve care for wounded soldiers, provided help and housing for homeless veterans, and ensured proper screening and treatment for PTSD. He also passed legislation to give family members health care and a year of job protection while they care for wounded loved ones.
*Barack Obama knows that the two wars in the Middle East have taken a toll on our military. As president, he will increase the size of the military by recruiting 65,000 new soldiers for the army and 27,000 new marines. He will also keep our trust with these soldiers by fully funding the VA and forcing the VA to treat all injuries to soldiers. Including those suffered during training and non-combat activities – which are currently untreated by the VA!
"Don't mock the constitution!" -- Barack Obama, to republicans.
Thanks again to all the hard working people going out and spreading the good word about Obama.
[This diary ended up being a lot longer than I intended, so I have cut out Part II for now. If people are still interested, I can add it back as an update. I think that with it also included, the diary was just too long for anyone to bother to read.]