Obama Campaign Workers Line Up To Get Paid
Update – 11/6/08
Indianapolis – Lines were long and tempers flared Wednesday not to vote but to get paid for canvassing for Barack Obama. Several hundred people are still waiting to get their pay for last-minute campaigning. Police were called to the Obama campaign office on North Meridian Street downtown to control the crowd.
The line was long and the crowd was angry at times.
IMPD Running Crowd Control
“I want my money today! It’s my money. I want it right now!” yelled one former campaign worker.
A former spokesman for the Obama campaign said 375 people were hired as part of the Vote Corps program and said people signed up to work three-hour shifts at a time. Three hours of canvassing got workers a $30 pre-paid Visa card.
The workers showed up to get their cards Wednesday morning at 10:00 am.
“There was a note on the door saying 1:00 pm and then at 1:20 pm everybody was like why is nobody here. They just got here and they’re trying to get it organized,” said Heather Richards, a former campaign worker.
The large gathering of around 375 people prompted police to call in extra officers and set up temporary barricades. The barricades helped keep the crowd from spilling out onto Meridian Street. Police say the several hundred people in line were for the most part orderly.
“No arrests. Some of the people were upset at first because the line wasn’t moving as fast as they thought it should. But we really haven’t had any problems,” said Major Darryl Pierce, Metro Police.
Eventually people did start getting paid, but some said they were missing hours and told to fill in paperwork making their claim and that eventually they would get a check in the mail.
“Still that’s not right. I’m disappointed. I’m glad for the president, but I’m disappointed in this system,” said Diane Jefferson, temporary campaign worker.
“It should have been $480. It’s $230,” said Imani Sankofa.
“They gave us $10 an hour. So we added it. I added up all the hours so it was supposed to be at least $120. All I get is $90,” said Charles Martin.
“I worked nine hours a day for 4 days and got paid half of what I should have earned,” said Randall Waldon.
Some people weren’t satisfied with filling out a claim form for money they felt was still due to them.
“They say that they gonna call you or they going to mail it to you, but I don’t know. We’ll see what happens,” said Antron Grose.
“Talking about they’ll mail it to us. I ain’t worried about that, man. They’re not going to mail nothin’,” said Martin.
Indianapolis – A delay over paychecks caused several hundred campaign volunteers for Barack Obama to line up outside the Meridian Street office Wednesday.
Obama Campaign Workers Out Some Money
Around 375 people lined up in front of the office in the 800 block of North Meridian in downtown Indianapolis Wednesday. They were hired do to last-minute canvassing before Tuesday’s election, which saw Indiana go “blue” for the first time since 1964.
When the workers showed up in the morning, they were told that the office didn’t have the money to pay them. They were told to come back in the afternoon.
Indianapolis Metro police officers noticed the long line and came out to control the crowd by setting up barricades to make sure people didn’t spill into the street. Some workers were angry, demanding to be paid today.
Someone affiliated from the Obama campaign office said it was unfortunate, and that they were working to get the money to pay the workers. Some workers claimed they were not being paid in full for the hours they worked, and they were asked to fill out a form and make a claim.
One has to wonder if this is just a sign of whats to come from the Obama administration… Promises promises promises – no delivery…
Posted: November 5th, 2008 under Political.
Tags: barack, barack obama, barricades, campaign office, campaign worker, campaigncampaign volunteers, campaigning, caption, card, cards, crowd, crowd control, elections, heather richards, indianapolis, last minute, mail, meridian street, metro, metro police, money, north meridian, north meridian street, Obama, obama campaign not paying workers, obama not getting paid, obama paid visa card, obama pay workers, obama supports paid visa, obama workers not paid, officers, paperwork, paychecks, pre paid visa, pre paid visa card, sankofa, spill, spokesman, tempers, wednesday morning, workers
Comments
Comment from Trinity
Time November 6, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I am so happy Obama won the election. You guys have your Fox Noise and Time4Revolution websites and delusions of being “the good guys”….the rest of us have a real president for the first time in 16 years.
Have fun in here!
Comment from Bill Catz
Time November 6, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I don’t understand why the workers are all upset. Obama is redistributing their wealth — just like he promised. From them to him. It is exactly what they supported, worked for and voted for and now they are angry? I don’t understand.
Comment from B
Time November 6, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I’m curious….they are getting paid by Visa Debit cards–how are they taxing that person’s income? Shaaaaady shady. Get Used to it.
Comment from Gene Miller
Time November 6, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I agree with Bill Catz.. He campaigned on spreading the wealth and they beleived him. Why should he change now. They beleived him even when he said no one would be taxed who made under $250,000…er…$200,000…er….$150,000…er…$120,000. After he said that, do you really think he would stop there. Most of those who voted for him either were too young or were education in the liberal public schools but I am old enough to remember when Russia was the Communist U.S.S.R. I rememeber hearing defectors from their socialist country talking about standing in lines of 100+ people waiting in hopes of getting a loaf of bread or going into a store where there was only a few items on the shelf. Theses workers are getting a dose of what it is like to live under a socialist President. They should get use to the spreading of the wealth and long lines. As for me….I am laughing my butt off. It’s only been two days and they are getting a dose of OBAMANOMIC’S “You earn it…HE GET’S IT”.
Comment from Shades
Time November 6, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Gene – EXACTLY how i related it to a co-worker yesterday, who is an Obama supporter….
I showed him this article, and he literally smacked himself in the head… He got it… just 48 hours too late…
Comment from dave case
Time November 6, 2008 at 3:47 pm
The News, Six months from today! The economy spiral out of control, President Obama exhorts control over Feds, CEO salarys and Oil profits to boost stocks. Iran bombs Iraq stongholds on the borders, Pres. Obama responsed, ” when can we talk?” Jobless numbers double, Pres. Obama create Job Corp sponsored by the Government expansion using “New” wealth reduction and redistribution funds. sad how true this will play out. “be careful what you wish for you may get it” where was Obama on 9/11 where will he be on the NEXT attack that JOE BIDEN predicts. When YOU lose family in 9/11 on OUR soil, well someone has to have the ….to stand tall. THANK GOD FOR GEORGE W> BUSH
Comment from binksmom
Time November 6, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Their (no sorry … the rich people’s) money will be there soon!!! Have to make sure no one is too rich you know!!! Heaven forbid that the crack Hoe doesn’t get a share of the HARD WORKING populations money!! Too much to ask her to get off her ass and work!
Go Obama… Those welfare people are slobbering on the thought of money that doesn’t belong to them…
Comment from ImBlackButNotRacist
Time November 8, 2008 at 12:51 am
All you Bks that voted over color are racist. I voted for experiance and the love for our country, McCain and Palin. I am very happy that we have the first Af Am President, you must leave Am if that dosn’t please you. But as an Af Am I found it better to wiat and vote for Af Am that is ready and loves his country, someone like Colin Powell. Powell would have beat Obama if he had run against him. This also taught us that Af Americans are the real racist and whites stopped being racist years ago and if Obama neaver lived in Chicago with the Af Am racists, he might not of been racist like his wife. I see him as a real shame but I’ll support and help him as President, as long as he is wasn’t truly born in Kenya and gave us another lie as he so often does. America is not racist and hasn’t been for years, but there are racist people here and there, but most racist are black. Shame on you who are so petty and voted for a real fake, Obama.
He also needs the apologize to our children for all the lying and cheating in front of them and I hope our kids don’t ever think its OK to lie and Cheat to move up in Am. Obama is not a man of his word.
Comment from binksmom
Time November 8, 2008 at 11:30 am
I agree ImBlackButNotRacist …. I would think that being voted for because of your skin color is racist! If I said I voted for McCain because he’s white (which is not true) I would be called RACIST (and I’m not) I’m so proud this country has left it’s racist views behind and we are able to vote for an African American 
Nothing makes me prouder but voting for a man JUST because he’s black?? WOW.. that is a huge step backward!
Pingback from Barack Obama On Best Political Blogs » Obama Campaign Workers Line Up To Get Paid
Time November 5, 2008 at 5:24 pm
[...] Obama Campaign Workers Line Up To Get Paid Indianapolis – A delay over paychecks caused several hundred campaign volunteers for Barack Obama to line up outside the Meridian Street office Wednesday. Around 375 people lined up in front of the office in the 800 block of North Meridian in downtown Indianapolis Wednesday. They were hired do to last-minute canvassing before Tuesday’s election, which saw [...] [...]