Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
Each of us has one vote, but each of us can mobilize hundreds, even thousands of votes. That's the secret to helping the right people win elections: you simply need to get more people to vote for them. Remember that many people are not paying nearly as much attention to the elections as you are, and even less attention to the candidates and their positions. Many who trust you will accept your guidance about the importance of voting for a particular candidate. Don't be afraid to use that influence!
As Election Day draws near, focus on the "low-hanging fruit." Remember, the numbers are what counts. You have a limited amount of time to try to garner as many votes as possible. It's like going into an orange grove to gather as many oranges as you can in a limited amount of time. It doesn't make sense to expend time and energy climbing to the top of the trees to get the oranges there when you can get many more that are within arm's reach with much less time and energy. Reach for the low-hanging fruit!
So it is with elections. Rather than spend hours trying to convince one person to vote the right way, spend that time and energy reminding dozens of people – who are already in agreement with you on the issues – to get out and cast their vote. Don't go looking for the personal victory of catching the "hard to get" voter. Go catch the easier ones and bring the candidate to victory!
If you can take the day off on Election Day, do so. Spend the day contacting people by phone and email, reminding them to vote. Maybe a friend needs a ride to the polls or someone to watch the children while they go to vote. If you call a friend in the morning to remind him to vote, call him again later to verify that he did so!
And if your state has early voting, and the polls are open now, get people to the polls before Election Day!
Voting for the right candidate should be the culmination of a whole list of things you do to help get him or her into office. These things include donating to the campaign, volunteering for the campaign, handing out literature for the candidate, making phone calls and visits on the candidate's behalf, sending emails, using yard signs and bumper stickers, and praying for the candidate.
If you have a website, or a You Tube channel, or are active on MySpace or Facebook, use all those avenues as well to speak up for the candidate of your choice!
Elections, after all, are not contests between two candidates. They are contests between two teams. And it is the team that has more active members doing all these things that, in the end, will bring in the most votes.
Having done all this, rejoice in a clear conscience, and trust the Lord to bring about the victory for a Culture of Life!
This column can be found online at www.priestsforlife.org/columns/columns2008/08-11-03-before-election-day.htm
Fr. Frank's columns can be heard via podcast. See www.priestsforlife.org/podcast for more details.
Fr.. Frank's columns can be listened to in MP3 format at www.priestsforlife.org/columns/columns2008/index.htm
