REGION: Free coffee draws voters
By SARAH GORDON - Staff Writer | ∞
Traci Gill of Oceanside sips the free cup of coffee she was given at the Starbucks in Carlsbad because she voted Tuesday. (Photo by Bill Wechter - Staff Photographer) ENCINITAS ---- By mid-morning on Election Day, the lines at the Starbucks in coastal Encinitas's Lumberyard strip mall were longer than the lines at neighborhood polls.
About half the customers in line about 10:30 a.m. wore "I voted" stickers and were taking the chain up on its advertised offer of a free 12 oz. cup of joe to voters.
Late Monday, the company announced it would expand the original offer to anyone who requested the free coffee to ensure it was in compliance with state and federal election laws that prohibit rewards for voting.
"Can I have a free sandwich if I voted for Obama?" one Encinitas customer joked. His remark echoed what seemed to the sentiments of most of the shop's clientele.
Encinitas's 38,651 registered voters include 13,895 registered Democrats, 13,206 registered Republicans and 9,563 voters who declined to state a party, according to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.
Glenn Woods, a 43-year-old Carlsbad resident, who moved about three months ago from Fort Worth, Texas, said he headed to the Starbucks after voting for the free coffee and to enjoy his favorite North County city.
He said he decided to decline any substitute teaching assignments and take the day off, because, after all, it already felt like a holiday.
"I hope that I'm celebrating a historic election," he said, referring to the hope that the country would elect Barack Obama its first black president.
Woods said he was also "praying" that Proposition 8 would fail. As someone new to Carlsbad, he said he was shocked by the level of support that it had received there.
"I just assumed this was a blue state but it's like I moved into a scarlet red enclave," he said.
"I moved to California from Texas simply because of the civil rights here," he continued. "I just couldn't imagine that they would have an amendment that would change the Constitution to discriminate."
Friends Jyoti Osten and Connie Langetvin said they dropped their kids off at school and grabbed coffee at the Starbucks. The election dominated their conversation.
"I'm saying I can see both sides of the argument on Prop. 8," Osten said. "Both sides have a legitimate argument when they argue rationally, but both have an emotional argument."
"But then, marriage is about emotions," she added.
Osten wore an "I voted" sticker on her sweater and had another stuck to her purse. She said she requested an absentee ballot but had dropped it off at an Encinitas poll that morning.
"I'm not a paranoid person, but I'm hearing so much about voter fraud and mismanagement of the absentee ballots," she said.
Both women said they were hoping Obama would win the election. Osten said she was nervous about the outcome.
"I feel it could go either way," she said. "He's got such a young base, people might think he's got it wrapped up and just go to class."
Langetvin said she was "nervously optimistic" about Obama's chances.
A few tables down on the covered patio, David Smith, a fellow Obama supporter, seemed to be much more relaxed.
"I think he's definitely going to win, I'm not nervous at all," said the 42-year-old engineer, who was off work recovering from a shoulder surgery.
Smith said he showed up at his Encinitas polling station at 7 a.m. to "beat the crowds" but instead, because of the crowds, he stood in the rain for 25 minutes before voting.
For Smith, ending the war in Iraq is the country's No. 1 priority.
"We need to get the troops out of Iraq, because we're over there and all our boys are getting killed for nothing," he said.
Smith, over his free coffee, said he believed Obama would withdraw troops from Iraq and end the war.
Contact staff writer Sarah Gordon at (760) 740-3517 or sgordon@nctimes.com.
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Skip wrote on Nov 4, 2008 12:02 PM:That clinches it.
I am going to go vote.
I wonder if you can vote more then once.
Does anyone really check?
Rusty wrote on Nov 4, 2008 1:05 PM:Glenn Woods - you need to go back to Texas and crawl back under your rock. Glad to support traditional marriage!!! It's the way it should be, period.
Patrick wrote on Nov 4, 2008 1:28 PM:"Woods said he was also "praying," that Proposition 8 would fail. As someone new to Carlsbad, he said he was shocked by the level of support that it had received there"...this is sad, I should show my Pastor your statement, we will pray for YOU that you get a backbone some day and stand up for what is RIGHT and TRUTHFUL not what is "politically correct".
Karl wrote on Nov 4, 2008 1:36 PM:"Free coffee draws voters". Only in California. Can I turn in my Starbucks voucher for a "Joe Citizen" cup at 7-11"
I voted anyway wrote on Nov 4, 2008 1:55 PM:Free coffee? In some areas of the country they're giving out free cigarettes, free beer, doughnuts, leftover Halloween candy, just to get people to vote.
Just think people, this mentality is making the "intelligent" choice on who will be the next leader of the free world. Problem is, it won't be free anymore.
To Patrick wrote on Nov 4, 2008 2:26 PM:Patrick,
Is your Pastor as full of h8te as you are? With all the support for prop h8te out there, it takes more backbone for Woods to stand up against it in your area, than it does for you to go along like so many sheep in support of this hateful proposition.
Brad wrote on Nov 4, 2008 2:39 PM:Seems quite odd to me that more people are putting their time, effort and money into something like Prop 8 when they should be putting it into getting rid of judges who have no concern for what the people have already voted for!!
Patrick wrote on Nov 4, 2008 3:06 PM:To: To Patrick, it's not hate it's right, it’s standing for morality, it’s protecting my family and hopefully future generations from the moral decay that this country is suffering. I would put ANY no on 8 people up against my Pastor; you would be walking away with your tail between your legs. I will be voting soon, YES on 8
Also To Patrick.... wrote on Nov 4, 2008 3:16 PM:How are you protecting your family by voting yes on 8? Don't you get it, once they start discriminating...where does it stop? Gee will you support a ridiculous Prop when they try to take away your daughters right to vote? I'm sure you're one of those Pro lifers too! YUCK!!
No on 8, Yes on 2 and Go Obama!!
Beg to differ wrote on Nov 4, 2008 3:20 PM:I'm tired of hearing all the "h8te" rhetoric from the left if anyone disagrees with them. Read some of the condescending, arrogant, belittling posts from some of the left bloggers on these posts. I'm embarrassed for them. Who are these people? One of them actually counted the words of a conservative poster to prove some point. God forbid there's a typo, they jump on you about how stupid you are.
I'd say "h8te" is a two way street here. Just seems the left is very angry. Why? Lighten up lefties, get over yourselves. You'll win. Just have a little class doing it.
Scooter wrote on Nov 4, 2008 3:35 PM:"How are you protecting your family by voting yes on 8? Don't you get it, once they start discriminating...where does it stop? Gee will you support a ridiculous Prop when they try to take away your daughters right to vote? I'm sure you're one of those Pro lifers too! YUCK!!
No on 8, Yes on 2 and Go Obama!!"
Yeah, 'cuz there's no discrimination already, is there? And when * is over, the will be no more hatred, racism, bad breath, indigestion, etc. either, right?
8 ain't about hate. It's about the sanctity of marriage, which is between a man and a woman, not a man and a horse, a woman and a tree, or a man and a man or woman and woman. Right is right, and 8 is not even close to right.
Yes on 8 (I already voted).
Big Jim wrote on Nov 4, 2008 4:10 PM:Yes on 8. Very simple...there's no hate or discrimination involved in it at all. "Marriage" is a union between a man and a woman - PERIOD. Same sex couples are already afforded the same rights as "married" couples, so there is no discrimination there, it's called a domestic partnership. And I agree with Brad.
Voting No on 8... wrote on Nov 4, 2008 5:23 PM:How many men have come forward that are "happily" married to a woman and admit they have a mistress?!! How many men don't come out of the closet but are "happily" married to a woman?!! How many church going people don't practice what they preach Monday through Friday?!! How many Catholic priests took advantage of children?!! How many child molesters, wife abusers and porn addicts hide behind their wives?!!(Moral decay of society;) My children have an Uncle that is gay and he is the best role model they had growing-up. I have been married to men and they failed to do anything for the family except try to destroy it!!!
metatron wrote on Nov 5, 2008 12:28 AM:Have none of you heard of a slippery slope effect? Once gays have marriage, then a group of people who are in love with their pet goats, cereal boxes, or polygamists, etc. will want the right to marry.
who are we to deny the fact that Mr. John Doe doesn't REALLY love his goat?
and to voting no on 8... prop 8 passing will have no effect on how your childrens gay uncle is a good role model. thats a silly thing to mention besides the fact that no one cares.
i voted yes on 8. because a man and a woman is beautiful and natural.
JimRT wrote on Nov 5, 2008 5:48 AM:Very clever, disguise the column as being about "free coffee to entice people to vote" and then turn it into another discussion about prop 8. Now as far as prop 8 goes and someone making a statement about judges not caring about what people already voted for. Well, I hate to disillusion you but this is the United States of America and last I heard it is all about the people making and changing the laws. Anything can be voted in or out by the people you, me any color any gender any orientation as long as you are a citizen you really can make a difference.
To Voting no on 8 wrote on Nov 5, 2008 5:58 AM:Re: 11/4 5:23 post
When you talk about the Catholic priests that took advantage of children, you do know that they are not the only ones who have done such a horrible act. Don't disriminate. You also need to throw in the Policemen Firemen, Teachers,Doctors, Lawyers, All the other denomiations that this has happened in. Because a few are evil, doesn't make the group evil. I am sorry you have had bad luck with men. My husband is great, he snores, but for the most part he is great, I am lucky. I am glad your children have a great role model in thier Uncle. Hopefully he can teach them tolerance, I don't believe they are receiving it from you. If you want tolerance and respect, you have to give tolerance and respect. I am not telling you to be tolorant of child molesters, they all need to burn in hell and I am Catholic, I would also go to my guy friends wedding, should he decide to get married.
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