And, most important, could the person answer? Was this like the campaign, where you got some sort of personal transformation testimonial?

Did you have a chance to push single payer?

Or were you too creeped out and jet lagged?

Thanks for the vignette.

was the Berkeley of the East. 'Tis only a small quibble, though. I can sympethize with the shock and despair you must have felt.

I might head across the river to Cambridge this weekend to see if similar stuff is going on over there. I wouldn't be surprised. It was a toxic area to be around a year ago.

You write:

The workers would not give me any information.

And I'd like to know more exactly what you asked, and what they said; I have this post on OFA in the back of my mind. "Creepy" is pretty strong.

That's a good question. Are they just volunteers? Given the ambiguity of Obama on health care, I'd like to know what kind of person volunteers for this job, if its not a paid job. If he had legislation, it would be a different thing. But canvassing for a non plan?

to engage. And also pissed and cranky. Yeah, my question should have been "What, exactly IS Obama's health plan and why isn't single payer on the table?"

What I did ask was "Huh? Who are you working for?"

And got the scripted answer in return: "We're working in support of Barack Obama's health care plan..."

I really didn't have the heart to dump my anger and irritation on these 20 somethings, especially in a time of 10 percent unemployment.

I've had a good nights sleep or two since then, so if I see them again this weekend, I'll be ready for a more pointed interrogation.

Yes, it would be great to know if they are working streets in Cambridge, San Fran, etc.

the boundaries between public office and personal—dare I say cult like—power in ways that make me very uncomfortable.

• 1. Obama is now President of the United States. Why does he need to maintain a private “Barack Obama” army? This is like something out of Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Okay, hyperbole, but you get my drift.
• 2. If the idea is to build a grassroots campaign for Obama’s health care plan, then there should first be, like, hello, a PLAN. To go out in force to build support without such a plan means that you’re building support based on allegiance and personality, not ideas.
• 3. Isn’t there enough power of communications in the Office of the President to mount an information campaign to educate the public about the President’s health care plan? Has the work of informing the public about governmental programs now been “Privatized”?

is a tool used by canvassers for all sorts of political causes. Here in Portland, supposedly the capital of political canvassers, everywhere I go, (the library, the grocery store, the farmers market), some 20 something asks me if I have a moment for the environment, for a woman's right to choose, for the DNC, any number of "liberal" causes. I used to feel bad about saying "No, I don't have a moment for the environment, " but now I just smile and say "No."

These encounters are also used to raise money for these causes. A gazillion years ago I worked with an Alinsky group in Chicago (I have such a sordid past) and one of the major ways to raise money was canvassing in the neighborhoods. The encounter was an opportunity to get the $$$$ and to educate on the issue at the same time.

"Do You Have a Moment for Barack Obama?"

Does he ever have a moment, for me? That is, besides the rigged town halls, online chats, and all of the other mediums he has 'discussions' with us.