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News & ArtsMonday, October 26, 2009
Homo Poll: Support Grows to Approve R-71
Posted by Dominic Holden on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 6:41 PM
A poll released today by opinion researcher Greenberg Quinlan Rosner shows that a growing number of voters want to approve Referendum 71 and many who were planning to reject it are now undecided. Of 500 likely voters in the general election, 53 percent said they will vote to approve the measure—thereby voting to uphold the domestic partnership expansion bill for same-sex and senior couples—and 36 percent will vote to reject the measure. That's a 17-point spread.
"We are not out of the woods," says Josh Friedes, campaign manager of the Approve R-71 campaign, Washington Families Standing Together. He says that the poll represents a "snapshot" of the electorate, but many people—especially young urban voters, who maybe undecided in the mayor's race—still haven't voted. "Every year thousands of ballots are not counted because people mail them after the last pick-up at the mail box," he says. "We urge people not to hold on to their ballots."
A poll released in late September by the same firm found that the approve vote had only a seven-point lead (51 percent wanted to approve and 44 percent wanted to reject). And a poll in early October by SurveyUSA found the measure had only a three-point lead.
2
On that note, who's doing Trick or Vote this weekend?
And anyone doing anything out in those not-Seattle places that are awesome but overlooked? Like Walla Walla? Equality Onions for all!
And anyone doing anything out in those not-Seattle places that are awesome but overlooked? Like Walla Walla? Equality Onions for all!
3
This is great news it means that our efforts are working.
But remember this is the first all mail-in ballot it is hard to know who likely voters really are. Keep telling your friends and loved ones to turn in their ballots. Of the 5 people I work most closely with only one has sent in her ballot and I have been reminding them all daily since the 16th!
Where ever you are, talk to the people you are dealing with; colleagues, farmers at the farmer’s market, wait people, any where you are having idle conversations.
Remind them to put the ballot in the mail. Tell them you will ask them again next time you see them. And tell them how important this is to you.
But remember this is the first all mail-in ballot it is hard to know who likely voters really are. Keep telling your friends and loved ones to turn in their ballots. Of the 5 people I work most closely with only one has sent in her ballot and I have been reminding them all daily since the 16th!
Where ever you are, talk to the people you are dealing with; colleagues, farmers at the farmer’s market, wait people, any where you are having idle conversations.
Remind them to put the ballot in the mail. Tell them you will ask them again next time you see them. And tell them how important this is to you.
4
Hey Chef Thunder, or any other Approve 71 folks: I signed up online to volunteer for tabling at the Approve 71 table at the Vancouver Farmer's Market a couple of weeks ago, and I heard NUTHIN' back from them. Well, not absolutely nothing, I did get the "Here's the latest in our campaign" generic email, but no personal reply saying, "Thanks for volunteering, here's what to do...", or a phone call. The volunteer registration didn't even require a phone number. What the hell is going on here? I want to help!
Please, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me that this isn't yet another ineptly run pro-gay political campaign. This shit is getting too fuckin' typical...
Please, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me that this isn't yet another ineptly run pro-gay political campaign. This shit is getting too fuckin' typical...
5
@4: I don't bother with RSVPing, I just show up whenever they're planning on running the event. It cuts out the middle-man and gives you momentum you can use when you're campaigning!
6
I'm volunteering right now. We must not get complacent. There are plenty of people who are confused about this referendum as well as plenty of bigots in this state.
Please vote if you have not already done so.
And please come phone bank!
Please vote if you have not already done so.
And please come phone bank!
8
@4 when I say we I mean it in the most general sense in that I have volunteered whenever I have had time. I can tell you the office is very lightly staffed.
What has worked for me is to just let them know what I am doing through their events site. Printing some stickers and palm cards and taking charge.
I agree with @5 just take charge they have materials for printing on the website. Go for it!
What has worked for me is to just let them know what I am doing through their events site. Printing some stickers and palm cards and taking charge.
I agree with @5 just take charge they have materials for printing on the website. Go for it!
10
@4, just show up. There is always room for help. You will never be turned away because you did not RSVP. I volunteer all the time, and the staff is working really hard. They likely do not have time to reach out and thank every single volunteer personally. But know you are loved and always welcome. But just so you know, you're awesome for volunteering and I want to give you a HUGE THANK YOU!!!!
11
Yeah, just go to work. This campaign has had a short time line and it seems to me some poor staffing when it comes to how to use volunteers.
Amazing in the age of email and networks how little the central campaign has organized. But, let's just keep working in groups and on our own. In the end all that matters is giant voter turnout for out side.
GET OUT THE VOTE - OUR VOTE - OUR VICTORY!!!
Amazing in the age of email and networks how little the central campaign has organized. But, let's just keep working in groups and on our own. In the end all that matters is giant voter turnout for out side.
GET OUT THE VOTE - OUR VOTE - OUR VICTORY!!!
12
It's not over people. You gotta vote. It's sh*t like this that turns out the opposition. http://protectmarriagewa.com/index.php/c…
13
@ 4 (Chris in Vancouver WA) Thanks for trying to volunteer! Can't speak to what happened in that specific instance, but email vancouver@approve71.org to get plugged in down there. Thanks for your support, and your patience.
14
I have mixed feelings about how this campaign for Approve R-71 has been run. I volunteered and tabled for R-71 on Capitol Hill two weekends ago, and I have to say it was rather unorganized and nobody was really in charge.
When I RSVP'd, I received a confirmation email stating I would receive additional information regarding my time slot, etc. Never heard another word.
Showed up 10 minutes early, no table set up. No brochures out. Very disorganized. And we did have people show up "out of the blue" to help. I applaud their enthusiasm for wanting to help, but at one point we had like 8-9 people working one table. I honestly felt that some of those people could have been used for time slots that were lacking in volunteers. Additionally, some of the volunteers weren't exactly certain on what to say, should there be questions asked beyond their scope of knowledge. Also, I happened to be the only male (and gay) working that day. Don't get me wrong, I love that there are women interested in this, but was disappointed in the lack of men working for our equality and rights.
I'm not disappointed that I volunteered for this important issue, and plan on doing so, this coming weekend, but I am disappointed in the lack of direction and leadership I would have hoped to see on such an important issue as our rights and equality.
Often I feel our community becomes too complacent when we need their enthusiasm the most.
When I RSVP'd, I received a confirmation email stating I would receive additional information regarding my time slot, etc. Never heard another word.
Showed up 10 minutes early, no table set up. No brochures out. Very disorganized. And we did have people show up "out of the blue" to help. I applaud their enthusiasm for wanting to help, but at one point we had like 8-9 people working one table. I honestly felt that some of those people could have been used for time slots that were lacking in volunteers. Additionally, some of the volunteers weren't exactly certain on what to say, should there be questions asked beyond their scope of knowledge. Also, I happened to be the only male (and gay) working that day. Don't get me wrong, I love that there are women interested in this, but was disappointed in the lack of men working for our equality and rights.
I'm not disappointed that I volunteered for this important issue, and plan on doing so, this coming weekend, but I am disappointed in the lack of direction and leadership I would have hoped to see on such an important issue as our rights and equality.
Often I feel our community becomes too complacent when we need their enthusiasm the most.
15
Sounds like my story is not unique.
Look, any political campaign that counts on people just...showing up...is doomed to failure. A catchy slogan, or even dumptrucks full o' money can't overcome poor organization.
So here's my offer: get your shit together, and I'll volunteer.
Look, any political campaign that counts on people just...showing up...is doomed to failure. A catchy slogan, or even dumptrucks full o' money can't overcome poor organization.
So here's my offer: get your shit together, and I'll volunteer.
17
@16 - You need to reread my post, for clearly you misunderstand.
The complacency comes from the lack of leadership and organization of the event. Having 8-9 people working a table at the same time was a poor use of resources. Especially when there was nobody in charge to provide direction for ANYBODY, including those just "showing up" on a whim.
The complacency comes from the lack of leadership and organization of the event. Having 8-9 people working a table at the same time was a poor use of resources. Especially when there was nobody in charge to provide direction for ANYBODY, including those just "showing up" on a whim.
19
I'm irritated that the Approve R-71 folks haven't set up a single phone banking session in the suburbs. Yet that's probably where the measure will be won or lost (that, plus high urban turnout.)
It's not workable for me to drive into Seattle to help out on the campaign. I just hope the callers in Seattle aren't just calling people in Seattle.
It's not workable for me to drive into Seattle to help out on the campaign. I just hope the callers in Seattle aren't just calling people in Seattle.
20
For everyone making petty comments criticizing the Approve 71 campaign: you should try running a statewide campaign, that requires the campaign to be everywhere across the state at once, on a budget of between $500,000 and $1 million. It's extremely complicated, and there's absolutely no way you can do everything right, or please all your volunteers.
So, unless you've been a campaign professional -- such as a field director, campaign manager, etc. -- don't lob petty, unjustified criticism.
So, unless you've been a campaign professional -- such as a field director, campaign manager, etc. -- don't lob petty, unjustified criticism.
22
@ 19 - That's another problem. There are tons and tons and tons of folks in the Tri Cities, in Spokane, in Wenatchee and Walla Walla, who, simply out of a sense of fairness (a wonderful quality about folks in the PNW, I've found), would vote to approve, if only a little outreach were done.
24
@14 sounds exactly like the No on 8 campaign in CA last year. People were walking around San Francisco, specifically the Castro, asking people to vote No on 8. The funds were completely wasted. Should've put them on a bus out to the central valley. Same with all of the people on Capitol Hill: send them to eastern WA.
25
@23 - I'm pretty sure I've got more than you already.
If you wanna give critical advice to a campaign, work your ass off on one first.
If you wanna give critical advice to a campaign, work your ass off on one first.
26
Media-and guest,
The hour long referendum 71 television program is now on you tube.
Below you will find 8 links to watch that include the entire program. Each segment is about 10 minutes long.
Media-be advised, you are free to " quote" any part or parts of the program however if you are going to use it in a story, news story, talk radio television broadcast- you must first contact me prior to any use. We welcome your thoughts however- but due to strict copyright laws, and due to the production center's guidelines, you must first contact us prior to any usage.
I am sorry that it has taken this long to put this video on youtube-, but here it is.
Still hot, newsworthy, and shocking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTy_5rKNU… part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-_huOFUO… part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHcDu5iUO… part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjZUV0dUT… part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx4qV30Jz… part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uvsm0eCA… part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KncbRsUgm… part 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwfPH9SyV… part 8
The hour long referendum 71 television program is now on you tube.
Below you will find 8 links to watch that include the entire program. Each segment is about 10 minutes long.
Media-be advised, you are free to " quote" any part or parts of the program however if you are going to use it in a story, news story, talk radio television broadcast- you must first contact me prior to any use. We welcome your thoughts however- but due to strict copyright laws, and due to the production center's guidelines, you must first contact us prior to any usage.
I am sorry that it has taken this long to put this video on youtube-, but here it is.
Still hot, newsworthy, and shocking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTy_5rKNU… part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-_huOFUO… part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHcDu5iUO… part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjZUV0dUT… part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx4qV30Jz… part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uvsm0eCA… part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KncbRsUgm… part 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwfPH9SyV… part 8
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