Ohio

I am in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.  You’ve probably never heard of Cuyahoga; I hadn’t either before arriving here three days ago.  It is the most populous county in the state and home to the city of Cleveland.  The 1.5 million people in the surrounding area—or those that actually vote—may very well decide tomorrow’s election for President. 

I came here with few expectations and a whole lot of enthusiasm.  My first morning, I set out with a new friend—also from the South and also studying in Cambridge—to “canvas” or knock on doors.  We had a map, a list of voter names, and a general idea of what to say when a door opened to our knock.  We knew the folks on our list were already likely supporters of President Obama, so our goal was to get them out of their houses and into the polls.  What followed was a profound learning experience for me.

The streets we walked were filled with abandoned and boarded houses.  The housing crisis was particularly hard on this area, leaving in its wake cracked windows and cars propped up on cinder blocks.  At one point, police patrolling the neighborhood stopped us, questioning our intent and expressing concern for our safety.  One of them turned out to be a racist jerk.  We thanked them and moved on.

My friend and I spoke openly of the trepidation we felt walking up to several houses in particular.  We wanted to be thorough, but not naïve.  In some cases, we simply moved on.  Not far behind, a local man named Mr. Booker, also an Obama volunteer, followed us in his car to make sure we were okay.

Block after block, we spoke to the people behind the rundown doors and windows.  Every single one was as gracious and hospitable as the next.  Their community had fallen on hard times, yes; but they knew the President spoke for them in the past and would continue doing so in the future.  Many had already voted and asked how they could also volunteer.  Others made a plan to get to the polls early.  One conversation at a time, my unease fell away and my faith in basic human goodness rose. 

***

The lowest moment of the day was speaking to a woman probably around my age, who takes care of children at a local daycare.  She really wanted to support the President, but she was scared.  Someone had called her home saying that the rules had changed and her ID would no longer be accepted at her local polling place.  She’d heard similar rumors from friends and colleagues.  As I listened to her speak from a place of fear in her own home, I felt deeply sad and angry.

Here was an American citizen, just like me, who felt like she could not exercise our most basic right of citizenship.  I immediately reassured her that none of the rumors were true, and that she should absolutely go to the polls to vote.  Thankfully, the Obama campaign has lawyers on site and a voter protection hotline (1-877-87-4-6226) in case voters encounter problems on Election Day. 

Field organizers in Ohio are reporting other incidents of foul play—with voter information disappearing overnight or key polling information being switched out with incorrect details.  It is a tragedy of American politics that our national values of honesty and equality translate so poorly, especially in neighborhoods where such values are needed most. 

I came to Ohio to help the President win a swing state, but I didn’t expect to learn so much about myself or the deep divides in our country.  I will leave tomorrow feeling even more confident in the values that President Obama stands for, with a renewed commitment to work on their behalf.  What I realized yesterday--perhaps belatedly--is that this is not just about politics.  It is about the kind of person that I want to be, and the kind of nation that I believe in.