FAQ: What's "Neighbor to Neighbor" and why does it rock so hard?

There's an online community organizing tool at barackobama.com that's new, and kind of brilliant and amazing, and if you have no money and no ability to travel anywhere, you can still make a really big difference by using it.

It's called "Neighbor to Neighbor" and there's more information about it here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/votercontact

Essentially, it's a database of voters that you can access via the Obama website. You create an account, plug in your address and zip code, and it gives you a list of 25 people and their phone numbers/addresses. It also gives you a script to follow, and the means to report back to the campaign. Sometimes you might be calling undecided voters and telling them why it's important to vote this year or why you're voting for Obama, or sometimes you might be calling other Obama supporters to let them know that the campaign needs volunteers.

I know what you're thinking -- you hate telemarketers, and you don't want to be one. It feels a weird to call people you don't know, and it's creepy that you can even get their phone number off the Obama website. You don't want to be one of those annoying assholes.

I know, I know, I know. Really, I know. And I'm not saying that you won't get hung up on or yelled at, but you also might get someone who maybe wants to volunteer, but needs a little instruction and encouragement. Or you might get someone who is leaning towards Obama, but just doesn't know if it matters whether or not they vote. Or you might get someone who doesn't know if they're registered or not, and you could clear that right up by sending them to voteforchange.org to check on their registration status.

And it's public information, what's in that database. Anyone could get it if they wanted it - the voter registration records are public information. The Republicans have been using them nefariously for years (sending letters to people, telling them that they are "ineligible" to vote, when they are nothing of the sort). The Obama campaign is using it for good.

And by the way, isn't it amazing that the Obama campaign trusts its supporters to speak for it, without any kind of structure or supervision? They trust us to do a good job, represent the candidate well, and to be accountable. It says a lot about the nature of the campaign, and the candidate.

It also tells me that they are really smart about using their money wisely -- instead of renting space, buying phones, and having all that overhead in order to make a phone bank, they just let people do it from their own homes, and their own cell phones, and save campaign money for TV advertising.

And if you're worried about annoying someone, well, don't be annoying. Don't call during dinner. Don't be a pushy jerk on the phone. Be polite and respectful (the people you will be calling will be inclined towards Obama anyway -- odds are, they care as much as you do) and treat people the way you would want to be treated.

And, it's obvious, and I hate to say it, but what's worse: feeling awkward on the phone, or McCain/Palin winning the election?

And let me leave you with this: this campaign was built by people taking initiative, and doing things on their own, spreading the word to their neighbors, their friends, and anyone who would listen. If you are like me, you have already talked to everyone you know, and have hit the wall of your own social network bubble. This is a genius way for us to keep spreading the word, picking up more votes, more support, more volunteers.

Be brave. Pick up the phone. Knock on a door.

Better yet, get a group of friends and do it together -- make a little party out of it.

You'll feel better than you do watching the news and wringing your hands, I promise.