“100% Committed.” That’s how Ginny from New Jersey described her support for Barack Obama in a rally on the campus of Ohio State University on February 27, 2008. Listen to Ginny explain herself in this podcast, or read the transcript of my conversation with her below:
Jim: Is there a candidate you’ve decided to support at this point?
Ginny from New Jersey: Yes, Barack Obama.
Jim: And are you pretty committed in that support, or not so much?
Ginny: I’m 100% committed.
Jim: 100%? You can’t go any higher than that. So what makes you 100% committed for Barack Obama?
Ginny: Well, I believe he’s a catalyst for change, and his platform focuses on improving our economy, getting us out of Iraq. Also, my mother’s a former schoolteacher and he’s thinking about increasing teacher salaries and really improving our classrooms and resources that these kinds are offered. That’s why I support Barack Obama.
Jim: Is there one particular thing that Barack Obama did or that he said that brought you to him, that made you decide, OK, this is the one I’m going to vote for for President?
Ginny: It’s not really one particular thing. It’s several things. When I was listening to him during the debates, he presents himself really well. He’s articulate and he’s strong about what he believes and he doesn’t let anybody deter him from what he believes. So it hasn’t really been one thing, but it’s been several things.
Jim: How long would you say you’ve been a supporter?
Ginny: Probably since I’ve been watching the debates in the last 3-4 months, I’ve really committed. Basically at first I was between him and Hillary and, you know, I just like what Barack is all about. I feel like he’s a candidate I could trust. I don’t think I could necessarily trust Hillary. That’s why I’m supporting Barack Obama.
Jim: What is it that makes you say you can’t trust Hillary?
Ginny: Well, everybody knows that she was swayed by lobbyists in the pharmaceutical companies, so I didn’t particularly care for that. I just don’t think I could trust her. I think Barack is — when he graduated from Harvard, you know, he actually did things in the community. He didn’t go to work for lobbyists. He gave back to the community and wanted to help people who were underprivileged.
Jim: Is there anything that you could hear today that would make you say, “Oh, forget it. I am not voting for this man.”
Ginny: No. There is nothing he could say.
Jim: Nothing at all? Could he rip off his head and have the devil underneath with little horns on top, and a little swishy tail?
Ginny: Uh, I don’t think that’s going to come from him. I think he’s pretty much honest in what he says.
Jim: Are you registered to vote in Ohio?
Ginny: No, I’m not. That’s something I have to do. I recently relocated here in the last six months, so I have to register here.
Jim: So you won’t be able to vote on March 4, then.
Ginny: No, unfortunately, but I will be here for the general election so I will vote then.
So Ginny’s 100% committed, rhetorically speaking. No actual vote today by Ginny, though. Is that 100% support?
