Take the DAY OFF to VOTE?

I think it is ridiculous to encourage people who have jobs in this time of the economic situation to jeopardize keeping their job by taking an unnecessary day off.

I wonder how many will take the day off but not even vote. Should we take Wednesday off for the riots too?

Mostly because it is the ill-informed ones who are most likely to vote for 0bama. Those of us who bother to pay attention know that 0bama would be bad for America. The more that is discovered about 0bama's plans the less people like him.

In my county the schools will be closed on election day. I assume that means that state workers will be given election day as a state holiday. I wonder if the polls reflect states where people are given the day off. As for those taking off a work day for Obama to help get the vote out, I hope he donates some of his election funds so they won't lose a day of pay for their campaign efforts.

This is an excellent discussion. Isn't that the truth? They don't see the importance of going to vote before or after work and putting in a day of work. No, they must support their king who will then reward them with the money that once belonged to the people who worked for it. Anyone who still cannot figure who to vote for have not given it enough thought or do not understand the issues. People taking off work to mess with the minds of the uninformed would not just be doing it for that reason. Most of all they want a day off. People who actually work hard for a living and have been educated informally or formally to do their jobs will be looking at the lazy people who do nothing because they want a handout will begin to say, "Why am I busting it to make the same amount of money as those people over there who do not work and get paid the same as I do because my taxes go to them to make sure they have the same lifestyle I do."

I couldn't imagine taking the day off of work in order to go to vote. I can vote when i get off at five well five thirty when I get home. I need the money to pay my bills so taking the day off would actually hurt me. And I don't understand how he could ask all his supporters to take the day off. I mean many of the people he tried to reach are those from small towns like myself although he insulted us when he talked with Joe the Plumber.

In Canada, it's the law that the workplace has to grant workers 3 consecutive hours off to vote. That way, you'll in no way be in jeapordy to vote. That's how it should be.

I agree. If you weren't planning to vote by now, then don't! The RNC asked me to walk with them this past weekend and today. I don't see the point. I believe that it is our right to vote, but it is also our right not to! Needless to say, I am not walking!

I have heard other candidates ask the same of their supporters, but since I don't work at present, the idea was there anyhow. I had planned to take vacation days when I was working because I am serious about this and I didn't want to hear well you was late, this or that, so I wanted to take the day off then since Thanksgiving was a day I probably couldn't take off, but I lost my job. either way it went, I was going to vote in this election one way or the other. but from the turnout I saw at the polling place on Tuesday, our local high school, turnout was HIGH!! never saw anything like it in the whole eight years I have been voting in Alabama. never. Now on what you said, from what I saw Tuesday, I didn't see no apathetic or ill informed people at the polls. I saw determined, hopeful, people stand on line, some for over an hour, a lot on their way to work, a lot of folk who were older, some on wheelchairs, some who could stand, and they were standing with a purpose!! They didn't get mad, angry, they were patient. In fact, they were serious about this voting and kept the peace that morning. Some spoke about doing this, some talked about the historical parts of it, all in all, it was a hopeful morning and I felt proud to be among them.

I think it is common for voters of both sides to take the day off or time off in order to vote as well as push those undecided or not voting to vote in their favor. I live in an apartment complex and I've gotten them from both sides questioning and trying to sway me to vote one way or another...it isn't just obama for sure. As for his spreading the wealth theory ...republicans really seem to distort his plan. It actually makes a lot of sense.

I think that the term getting out the vote is not just encouraging others to vote but also doing your own civic duty by voting. I believe that in this case, Obama did the right thing in asking people to make sure that they vote and to even take the day off if needed to do so... I wound up standing for over two hours to vote and the line was huge. I voted last week. The lines are bound to be very long on Tuesday. I know one woman with two young children. She is very eager to vote and should be able to vote yet she does not have child care except during work hours, cannot take the young children to the polls as she knows that the poll workers will not allow them in the booth (as she was once a poll worker herself) and is being told by her employer that she might not be able to take off the time unless she can be one of those lucky enough to be able to vote between the hours of 12 and 2 p.m. when others are also going to try to vote... Can you understand now the request that people take the day off? There are many people like her who will be standing in line to vote and who will be unable to work as it is expected that in all areas this election turn out will be much greater than it has been in recent history... It seems like the time of the apathetic American is over. Giving the employer the courtesy of taking the day off appropriately instead of being missing in action at the polls gives the employer notice that the employee will be unavailable so that he or she will not be wondering where the employee is. Giving the employer fair notice by taking the day off is a responsible and honest thing to do. As far as the other interpretation of getting out the vote goes, he has asked people to serve as poll workers so that people are able to vote, has others volunteering to drive people to the polling place who may not have transportation to them, has people calling people reminding them to vote (as if that is necessary) and also to answer questions that might arise from the latest round of robo scare tactics geared to reduce voter turnout, and has people monitoring the poll places trying to make sure that those who are eligible to vote are not denied their vote. I do not think that one would have to be for the redistribution of wealth to think that taking off the day to vote would be a good idea... Many on the Right and on the left are for people getting out the vote... voting and helping others vote. Here in California, people on the Right and on the Left of the aisle are really trying to get out the vote... We have State races, Federal races, and a host of propositions to vote on. The ballot is huge. It takes a long time to wade through it and even longer to study all the information that is sent... Those who vote here, typically undergo a lot of hardship in the voting process as the lines are generally long. It might be different in other States but I have been hearing that big turn outs are expected all over... They are recommending that people go to the polls early and not count on going in the evening after work. I believe that going during the lunch hour will be an exercise in futility for many people. It may be that many will have to take time off of work to vote whether they like it or not... that is unless they believe that the vote is perhaps not important enough to lose time and money for.

You have a point there. I think he also wants to make sure that people really go and vote like those who have their workplace too far away and would not be able to make it to the voting place before or after work. My husband has the entire day off by law (he works for the state). It's nice but not really necessary. Hey, if the people are willing to sacrifice a vacation day, or half day to vote and make sure others vote, it's their prerogative. I have better things to do;)

i don't think it will help his voting... although i like him

yes every one should do it its one's duty

Personally why would anyone want people to be focusing on other things on Election day besides Voting and the Election unless they have already voted as well. This to me makes no sense, and I wonder what kind of proof they might have on this as well. Personally, I know I have to work tomorrow, and then I will be doing my civic duty and Voting as well. For me, this is one of the most important elections out there, and I feel anyone who chooses to miss this one and not Vote also does not have a say in the matter if things continue to get worse for them, or better as well. This will not be an easy job for either of them for sure.

Well you kind of have to work to take the day off. Obama supporter should be able to do this command from their master with eases, since some of them do not even know what the meaning of work is. To them labor is spitting out another welfare baby. Tomorrow me and my husband will go to work and then go vote, not that hard folks.

I'm going to spend my entire day doing election work tomorrow. As I'm a writer, arranging my day around what I want to do for democracy is easy. First off, I am going to UMass, paying a bill and making a speech on GLBT issues where I'm going to encourage others to vote, then I'm going to go vote myself around 3. Then, it's home to work for about 2 hours. Then off to a party at my local Obama office.

Actually, this suggestion, this REQUEST, from Obama just shows even more strongly how LITTLE he really understands the average person, the "little" people who he proposes to help. If he were really in touch with REALITY, he would KNOW that taking the day off work to work in getting people out to vote is not going to be possible for so many people who NEED every HOUR of their paycheck. Much less that it's not so good for bosses, or the coworkers who have to do their share.

"Why encourage the apathetic and ill-informed to cast a ballot?" Because the Obama supporters believe (possibly rightly, since if you never cared before and someone comes directly to your door and tells you all about this Obama and the good things he will do for you...) that these people will tilt the election in Obama's direction. Sad state we're in all around, I'd say. I hope there are a LOT more rich people than they say there are -- because there will be SO MANY of us in NEED of those handouts when we lose our jobs, after he puts his upside down economic policies in place.

That is just bsolutly ridiculous. Things in the world still need to be done. Does he expect everything to just stop just for him!? Please. I understand it's a VERY important thing to go out and vote but the polls are open from 7am-8pm. Go before or after work, still get your work day in, make money, do you job. It's not that hard. Besides does he really think that people taking the day off work to spread the vote is going to make a difference he's had long enough to campaign. He's had his time.