Now we have our marching orders
Election season is a long haul for politically aware people who recognize the difference between good and evil and are hoping and trying for the right outcome. In that sense, the national convention can end up being a sort of mid-campaign reward. It’s an opportunity to celebrate your achievements and remind yourself what you’re fighting for. It’s also a valid opportunity to spend a week watching a compelling and important television broadcast.
But in the words of the West Wing’s fictional President Bartlett, break’s over. We’ve spent the last four evenings soaking in all the goodness that our party has to offer. We’ve recharged our batteries. We’re inspired. We know exactly what we’re fighting for. We also know what we’re fighting against. We know how important it is that we win, and how horrific it’ll be if we lose.
So now’s the time for us all to get off the proverbial couch and dive in. Each of us has different skills and abilities, but we can all contribute something to help Kamala Harris and Tim Walz win this election. Some of you live in the right place and have the proper health to go knock on doors. Do it. Some of you have money to spare to donate to the most competitive House or Senate races, so President Kamala Harris can have a majority. Do it. Some of you have time on your hands and could sit home and phone bank or text bank or send voter registration cards all day. Do it.
If you don’t have a real-world role in this election for the final seventy-something days, find one. With all due respect, staring at your TV and arguing with internet trolls is not going to help get Kamala Harris a single additional vote. You have to put yourself out there in some way. Even if you’re not in a position to extend your political efforts beyond the internet, use that to your advantage. Post links on your social media page for the most competitive Democratic House candidates. Find a role. There are a million of you reading this. If each of you makes an effort, we will win this. We have the upper hand. We just have to play it correctly.
In the words of Michelle Obama, do something. You just heard the Obamas say that this election will be won by things like door knocking and phone banking and other similar efforts. You also just heard Tim Walz say that we can sleep when we’re dead, or more realistically, sleep after the election is called in our favor. For now it’s all gas and no brakes. It’s all effort and no hand wringing. It’s all fight and no slack. If we spend these final seventy days fighting and working hard and leaving it all on the field, we’ll spend the rest of our lives being glad we did. Now let’s go win this!
