My doorbell just rang and there was a guy

[RiffRandell]

who was running for state rep. He says, "after looking at your bumperstickers (Kerry, anti-Bush) I hope I'm not wasting your time." I said, "Republican?" He says "Yeah." I said "You are." And shut the door.

[WilliamPitt]

1. Spared him the hassle

and you the stomach acid. Winners all around.

[trof]

2. Good answer.

And welcome to DU.
I have a feeling you're gonna fit right in.
:hi:

[bhunt70]

3. yikes rude.

[NJCher]

5. what a horrible person

He was rude to a republican.


Cher

[bhunt70]

12. just not my style I guess

unless someone is rude to me first.

[Eloriel]

7. Read my sig line.

[bhunt70]

20. I disagree with it

I think it's not only possible, but many times it's more productive. I think there are times when it is necessary to fight fire with fire, and there are times when being more diplomatic in your approach is more successful. Just the way I was brought up I guess. Not really important though, just a difference of opinion.

[Tight_rope]

26. Rude! But at least she was honest! n/t

[prole_for_peace]

4. what was he thinking after seeing your stickers and such?

should have just kept on skulking.

[rumguy]

6. now that is funny!

[soothsayer]

8. I'll give the guy credit for trying despite yer bumperstickers (n/t)

[KCDem]

18. give the guy credit for being able to READ the bumperstickers!

:hi:

Welcome to DU, Georgiajess!

[slor]

9. Well done grasshopper...

I love it!

[peekaloo]

10. lol.....sounds like you reached an understanding.

:bounce:

[Columbia]

11. You could've given him a chance

Shutting the door in his face just makes you look like you are unwilling to listen, intolerant to other perspectives and are just prejudging him based on party affliation. Not every Republican out there is the enemy, just as not every Democrat out there is a friend (Zell Miller). You could have had a good conversation with the guy and maybe even influence some of his policies. Heck, maybe you would've been able to get him to switch parties. He had the courage to knock on your door despite your stickers, I think you should've treated him with a little more respect.

[OpSomBlood]

Co-sign.

God forbid you should vote based on issues instead of parties.

I have always voted Democratic, but it is always an informed vote. I am always willing to listen to both sides.

[RiffRandell]

17. I didn't slam the door on him.

And I wasn't mean at all. I had nothing further to say after I told him he was wasting my time, so I shut the door.

[Columbia]

23. I didn't say you did

But would it have been a waste of time if you had a good talk with the guy and perhaps both gained a better understanding and mutual respect for each other? The only way anything gets done in this country is through working together and acrimony destroys any chance of that.

[Warpy]

27. I tend to be a bit on the blunt side, too

It comes from so many years in taciturn New England. However, I feel it's a worse sin to waste my time and somebody else's on a lost cause. The guy is running GOP because that's who is backing him. He may or may not be a decent guy, but you can bet his backers aren't.

Alas, in politics, you really are known by the company you keep. I had no trouble voting for the occasional New Englander from the party of Lincoln. I can never bring myself to vote for anyone from the party of Reagan and the Bush family.

You did the guy a favor. He could go on to somebody who hasn't thought about things, somebody who might be fooled by the GOP. You saved your own time for something more productive.

[RiffRandell]

28. Thanks!

I am also very blunt-and a former New Englander!

[Grown2Hate]

19. Just shows you can't please EVERYONE, huh?

I mean, honestly, I don't know which approach I'd taken, but some people here are going to LOVE the move, and other's think it's rude. And still others might have shown (at least mild) disgust had you NOT just closed the door in his face. Just another good example of how you can NEVER make EVERYONE happy all the time... even if you're on the same side.

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. Should have been quite obvious

Guess he had to try. :shrug: And welcome to DU.

[ThomWV]

14. I'd Have Talked To The Guy

You know he wasn't going to change your views, but you may have had an effect on him. Every one of them you can save from themselves is a point for you.

[SnohoDem]

21. Plus you eat up HIS time

so maybe he won't have time to convince someone who might be on the fence.

[LiberalFighter]

29. There you go... a win win situation with that ploy

If he sees that you are willing to listen and discuss the issues he should also. That takes up your time but if it takes up his time then it may be worth it.

If he finds that Democrats are more reasonable and more decent people than Republicans it might influence him for the good. And makes it more difficult to slam Democrats although they will slam if they lack moral character.

One of the problems that we have especially those that are new in politics is that we don't understand that results take time. We can't expect that our actions will have an immediate impact. Many don't believe that they can provide anything that will make a difference.

Even the fastest results don't happen overnite. They are built one step at a time. The groundwork is laid out in different ways. Communicating with fellow activists via phone trees, email lists, flyers or other ways. Phone numbers for the trees and email addresses for lists have to be compiled first before it is possible to communicate. Identifying those that support our party or issues is necessary before utilizing GOTV efforts.

Changing the views of neighbors and local residents take time. But it doesn't happen unless we fully utilize the tools available. Writing letters to your local newspapers about the issues provides a tool to educate the readers.

Making a difference requires action. That is the key. Action! Action to write letters. Action to talke to people. Action to attend meetings. It is not going to happen without us.

[havocmom]

15. Welcome to the DU, georgiajess26!

Thinking we will enjoy seeing you around here, getting down to brass tacks, not beating around the bush, and working towards beating bush* :hi: and :toast:

[indigobusiness]

16. You should've told him he was wasting YOUR time

then shut the door.

[bhunt70]

22. by the way, welcome to DU!

[kaitykaity]

24. I do the same thing to Jehovah Witnesses and

other proselytizers who knock on my door.

You did what was right for you. Great job. And
welcome to DU.

:hi:

[Tight_rope]

25. LMBAO!!!!!... I bet that's the first Republican that didn't lie!!

"I AM WHAT I AM"! "A LIAR IS WHAT I AM"!

This quote should be the Republicans mode!

[Bluebear]

30. I had a similar experience

Welcome to DU!

The lady said she was running for something or other and I asked her what party she represented. Interestingly, she said verbatim "Republican but I'm a different kind of Republican." I say interesting because she felt she had to qualify it without knowing anything about me. Anyhow I politely wished her good luck but told her I couldn't consider a name with an "R" next to it at this time.

[Jade Fox]

31. Yes, interesting that she felt she had to qualify being a Republican...

I would have ask her why she wasn't a Democrat!

If a Republican ever comes to my door I'm going to grab them by the
earlobe and sit them down for a couple of hours of questions and no
small amount of lecturing, like this.

Why did you beccome a Republican? How much of it had to do with the
amount of money they are giving you?

What do you think of Bushco, Reagan, Nixon etc.?

What is your stance on this (fill in the blank) issue?

Will you resist extremist Republican groups like the Club For Growth?

And finally: No I will not vote for you. Thanks for your time.