Daigle: Barbara Gittings Stonewall Democrats’ Endorsement of Townsend
I present as a guest post the op-ed of Joseph Daigle, President of the Barbara Gittings Stonewall Democrats, on the organizations’ endorsement of Bryan Townsend for Congress:
The Diamond State sends just one representative to Congress, and we need to send our best. This year, the voters have a very competitive choice. Every election cycle, the Barbara Gittings Delaware Stonewall Democrats makes endorsements throughout the State, selecting candidates for office that have exhibited courage and actively advanced equality for the extended Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community. In this race, we proudly endorse Bryan Townsend.
We have great respect for Blunt-Rochester’s and Barney’s accomplishments and candidacies. We even endorsed Barney for Treasurer in 2014 in recognition of his dedication to our cause, his intellect, and his principles. However, Townsend comes out ahead. For years, Townsend has consistently stood strongly and proudly with our community, campaigning unabashedly for our equality behind the scenes and on the streets. From his emotional pro-equality testimony on the Senate floor, to counseling struggling youth, Townsend is always there.
Importantly, he has demonstrated true partnership, working hard to respect and thoroughly understand the needs and challenges of our community. This is how he approaches all problems, and all communities, earning him respect up and down the State. Townsend has also proven himself on issues of economic inequality, opportunity, education, industry, and healthcare. These are especially important matters to us as well. For example, the LGBT community endures a higher rate of poverty than the general population due to stigmas, job /wage discrimination, and healthcare access.
Given this difficult choice between excellent candidates, we must also consider who would be the most effective coalition builder and change maker for us and the State. The choice here is clear: Townsend is the bold advocate that we want and need to represent Delaware in Congress. We need to vote for the candidate who has the greatest experience addressing all of Delaware’s challenges and opportunities. We urge any voter concerned with equality for all communities to support Townsend for Congress. Likewise, we urge any voter concerned with Delaware’s future to choose the best, and support Townsend for Congress.
Joseph Daigle
President, Barbara Gittings Delaware Stonewall Democrats
Westwood Manor, Wilmington
I got a call from a very nice LBR volunteer last night.
LBR Vol: Can we count on your vote for Lisa?
ME: I’m pretty sure I’m going to vote for Townsend.
LBR Vol: Well, is there anything else you want to know about Lisa, that might help?
ME: No. I think she is a great candidate and we are lucky to have some great candidates this year, but I think Townsend is more liberal.
LBR Vol: Okay, well thank you.
ME: …and thank you for calling and volunteering. It is so important.
LBR Vol: Oh, yes. thanks again.
Persuasion calls two days out… that’s telling.
That’s some pretty weak persuasion if that’s what you want to call it.
If a person is solidly with another person you end the call.
@hmm
You’re very wrong, you don’t just end the call if they’re for someone else, you must’ve never volunteered for a campaign.
They’ll also call up until primary day, it’s nothing new
Townsend just doesn’t get downstate issues; if he did, I’d vote for him
And downstate issues would be….?
I got a call for LBR this weekend. I was super polite and also thanked the Volunteer… But I will say, they never asked to speak to a voter… We’re a multi-generational house hold with 4-super voting democrats… I know, because not only have I volunteered, but I’ve been a staffer, that those scripts can get cumbersome… But at the very least asking for the voter to be sure you’re speaking to the right person… (Unless they’re using a version of auto-dialer that doesn’t show the name, which is possible, but I wouldn’t think likely…)
@AAuen, and what about downstate issues do LBR and Barney get right that Towsend doesn’t?
Townsend has led a task force about water quality, a yuuuugggge downstate issue. He got driving privilege cards for undocumented Delawareans, another yuuuugggge issue. He’s visited us so many times, and he has a field office here. Turns out his dad is from here too. You’re crazy if you think he doesn’t get downstate issues. What issues do you mean?
I doubt that these are persuasion calls, but Voter ID calls for GOTV.
Once you identify someone as a supporter, your only job is to make sure that they vote on Tuesday. Both Lisa’s volunteer and, of course, Jason330, handled it just right.
I love threads about field.
El som that’s my point. If Jason’s getting a call from a campaign he doesn’t support, it means they’re still looking for supporters to meet their goals, which means they’re not doing straight gotv calls.
Aauen,
Calling is all about efficiency if you’re not going to change someone’s mind and that’s clear, you want to move to the next to get the most out of your volunteer’s time.
Hmmm – except they had no idea if I was a 1 or a 5. It was the first call I’ve answered from anyone.
Ok, So I’m voting for Townsend. Still having difficulty with the Lt. Governor and the 14th district rep. It’s hard to vote against the Speaker of the house when he’s in your district.
No it isn’t.
Mouse, you are a progressive who is haven’t trouble voting for Hillary because she is not progressive enough, and yet you are considering voting for Pete Schwartzkopf???
I hereby revoke your Progressive Credentials forever.
Seriously, Mouse, you should be ashamed of yourself.