Get Out The Why? was a Why Tuesday? initiative which ran from October 2006 to January 2007. To become a Why Tuesday? correspondent today, click here!
Friday, November 3rd, 2006
Because they are crazy, Jacob and Barnett took a camera on television with them for their Fox appearance. So, if you saw it on tv- or while you wait to see the clip here (we’re working on it)- here’s the segment from a very different perspective.
Your tie looks great, Jacob.
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Friday, November 3rd, 2006
Jacob and Barnett were having all the fun, so I decided to grab my friend Jen and see if we couldn’t get some clips ourselves. We got into a DCCC fundraiser in Midtown Manhattan, and had the chance to talk to two Congressmen and a Senator- none of whom knew the answer!- but each of whom had something interesting to say on the topic.
We lost audio (and would’ve lost video too, if Jen hadn’t guerrilla-like remembered she could record image on her Treo), but check the clip to hear what Congressman Nadler said- it might be the wittiest response we’ve gotten so far.
Special thanks also to Sasha Gordon for her invaluable editing assistance.
Friday, November 3rd, 2006
Way to take it to the streets, people! C.J. Phillips caught up with Governor Bob Rily on November 3. Says C.J., “I’m not the best with the video camera but you get the idea. Steve Doocy was in Birmingham for a book signing and Mr. Riley stopped by to talk with him for a moment. It all took place in Birmingham just outside of the Crest building where famed radio personalities Rick and Bubba are located.”
In this quick clip, the Governor displays a fairly keen grasp of tautology; to be fair, it’s a deft answer in its circular way. Tuesday is indeed when the election is. I guess what we need to consider next is whether it’s when the election should be.
Thursday, November 2nd, 2006
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HOOAH! From Alex Pettit, Claudia Pettit, and Bob Barrett of Ypsilanti, Michigan, we’ve got our first non-Road-Team clip– and it’s a great one. Alex caught up with Senator Debbie Stabenow and got an excellent interview out of it. From Alex: “This clip was taken on 11/1/06 at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti, MI. The Senator made a stop to meet some voters in the run up to the election on 11/7. It seemed to be a great opportunity to ask THE question.” In 2000, Senator Stabenow became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Michigan; she had served two terms as a Member of the House before that. She didn’t know the reason we vote on Tuesdays- she in fact used a very similar phrase as her colleague from across the aisle, Arlen Specter- but did have several suggestions for how she feels participation might be improved. N.B.: Senator Stabenow kicks it kinda partisan at the end of the clip. The Senator is of course entitled to her views, but we wouldn’t want them to be misconstrued as our own. We’re here in a completely neutral context, and welcome any and all constructive debate from members of both/all parties on this topic that’s way more important than Donkeys and Elephants. |
Wednesday, November 1st, 2006
**BREAKING NEWS** Jacob and Barnett are going to be huge, huge stars. They’ll be appearing on Fox & Friends tomorrow morning, Thursday November 2nd, at 820am EST. So, if you’re watching, they’ll be the rakishly handsome gentlemen discussing election reform. Fox will report. We will decide. Everyone wins.
We can only hope that, when the book contracts come, J and B will remember how they get their start.
Wednesday, November 1st, 2006
Jacob and Barnett randomly ran into Senator Barbara Boxer in a Beverly Hills, CA delicatessen while the Senator was filming an appearance on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Senator Boxer has been in Congress for a total of 23 years; she has a long record of outspoken advocacy and was nice enough to talk to the WT crew on this issue. Turns out the Senator not only (basically) knows the answer to the question, she’s co-sponsoring a bill that she says is designed to make it easier for more people to vote. Check the clip.
Tuesday, October 31st, 2006
Well, some mainstream media is already taking notice of Get Out the Why! Check out the article from the LA Times below. The author heard about the initiative and contacted us for the story- we’re totally delighted and can only hope that this will lead to an avalanche of submissions, comments, and discussion- which is the point of this enterprise in the first place…
We’re gonna get a swanky graphic link/logo, but until then you can check out the story here.
Monday, October 30th, 2006
The GOTW Road Team caught up with 2004 Presidential Candidate John Kerry in California at a campaign event; the Senator didn’t know why we vote on Tuesdays (check the video for what he thought), but did have some strong opinions about Election Day Registration and other access issues.
P.S. from the Team: I know we’ve been talking to Democrats for the last couple entries, but we’re out to ask anyone we can find. Stay tuned as we look for answers to “Why Tuesday” from Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, and Vegetarians - and that’s just for starters.
Sunday, October 29th, 2006
The GOTW Road Team caught up with its first Governor, Tom Vilsack, in downtown Des Moines. Governor Vilsack has a pretty good handle on the answer to the question, and discussed his personal focus in election reform: mail-in-voting, a la Oregon (and much of Washington).
Update: On Thursday, November 9th, Tom Vilsack became the first officially-filed Presidential Candidate in the ‘08 race.
To all you folks checking this out, we at the Road Team wanna emphasize that we’re looking for company. We’re hitting the roads to ask the question, but to really get a national canvas we’re looking for videos taken by tons of folks from all over (plus there’s that prize money). So if you’re watching and enjoying, as we know many of you are, find out who’s coming to your area, grab a camera or videophone, and go get askin’. Don’t let us have all the fun.
Saturday, October 28th, 2006
GOTW Road Team, moving down the road. We caught up with Senator Herb Kohl in the Pfister Hotel coffee shop in downtown Milwaukee. An 18-year veteran of the Senate, Senator Kohl introduced the Weekend Voting Act in 2005, so this interview was a little different than the others. The Senator didn’t only know “Why Tuesday,” he had a lot of arguments for why Tuesday might not be the best way to serve all Americans. For the full scoop, peep the clip.
Why Tuesday? is an effort to make America’s democracy stronger through increased voter participation. We work to make election reform an issue that our politicians cannot afford to avoid.
