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| Andrew Trent and Kari Banta during a visit to New York in 2003. (Photo courtesy of Kari Banta) |
Anti-Bush Voters Pledge to Turn Disappointment Into Action
BY DRU SEFTON
Posted on 11/08/2004 8:16:22 AM PST by Incorrigible
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Anti-Bush Voters Pledge to Turn Disappointment Into ActionBY DRU SEFTON |
Kari Banta said she and her husband, Andrew Trent, felt a "deep depression" as Democrat John Kerry conceded the presidential election.
Trent's 70-year-old mother, Mickey Trent, was despondent. She suggested the three relocate to Costa Rica immediately -- she had even researched the move.
Instead, they decided to "stay and fight," as Banta said.
A groundswell of that progressive passion is just starting to be felt by activist organizations. Spokesmen for several groups said they think the conservative-leaning election ultimately may energize their causes.
The American Civil Liberties Union has already recorded its largest-ever jump in online donations: more than $65,000 on Wednesday alone, about $20,000 over average donations in an entire week.
"We were expecting some kind of surge, but nothing like that," said ACLU spokeswoman Emily Whitfield.
Banta, 29, and Trent, 33, of Austin, Texas, were two of those donors.
"My biggest concern was the eroding of our civil liberties, our rights," Banta said. "So we went to ACLU online and filled out the membership form. We bumped up our donation to $75.
"I can't wait to get the card and put it in my wallet," she added.
Nick Triantos also joined the ACLU on Wednesday, "as soon as I saw that Ohio was going toward Bush," the 35-year-old said in an e-mail from Woodside, Calif.
A Gallup Poll of 621 adults on Wednesday found 38 percent either "upset" or "very upset" by the president's re-election. Asked to describe their feelings, 18 percent of those polled said "pessimistic" and 24 percent said "afraid."
"The worst thing these voters could do is say, `Well, I'm just going to give up,"' said Lorraine Gutierrez, a professor of social work at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor who studies empowerment. "Politics doesn't happen just once every four years."
Leaders of left-leaning groups, accustomed to years of political ups and downs, welcome an influx of impassioned voters searching for a way to be heard.
"Over the next few weeks I suspect we'll see an outpouring of support," said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington, D.C. "For us, the religious right is not running America today any more than yesterday. All is not lost."
Bob Coller, 56, did some soul-searching as he watched Bush claim another term. He thought back to his years in college, 1966-70, participating in "typical student protest issues, civil rights and the Vietnam War," he said.
He concluded that now, these times may demand a return to that "more vocal" age.
"I'd be real surprised to see people settle back into apathy," he said.
Coller channeled his young idealism into a career: He's executive director of C.O.P.E., the Center for Occupational and Personalized Education, an alternative education nonprofit in Ann Arbor, Mich. He is hoping that some of those upset with the election will be similarly inspired to activism.
Triantos, a tech worker in Silicon Valley, is eyeing his options.
He is worried about freedom of speech and privacy, and is "strongly opposed" to the Patriot Act, which he believes furthers racial profiling and discrimination. He's upset about Bush's "apparent desire to blur the line between church and state in everything from his attempt at banning gay marriage, to the government funding of Christian organizations, to the prevention of funding of organizations that teach about abortions."
In addition to the ACLU, he said, "if I hear of any other groups whose cause I believe in, I might consider donating money or joining more actively."
"Active" is the new key word for Banta and Trent.
"We can't just be passively signing petitions anymore, we need to get more involved," Banta said.
"This morning we came up with a list of talking points," she added. "We're going to do research, and we're not going to take it anymore when we're presented with a conservative viewpoint. We're really going to try to persuade people."
Banta said she feels better already. "It's sort of built up into a righteous anger," she said.
Nov. 5, 2004
(Dru Sefton can be contacted at dru.sefton@newhouse.com.)
Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.
Blah, blah, blah, The emotionally unstable crowd is at it again.
I hope they keep up their display of poor decorum it only shows what a bunch of uncivilized animals they truly are.
Look out, everybody! Greenpeace is going to lob nasty words at us!! Aaaaahhhhh......!!!!!
Well if they do, I hope that the national guard has the wherewithall to shoot the lead troublemakers instead of the bystanders this time.
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