I am sure that it has not escaped anyone's attention to how passionate I am about Politics. I love government and I have loved politics my whole life. My mom introduced me to my passion. I remember listening to Rush Limbaugh when he first started his show. I remember wanting to be a "Rush Babe" because I just thought he was so cool. Because my mother was so involved in politics, I was exposed to so many things. She ran a campaign for a man running for the House of Representatives for the State of Virginia, which I got to go along for that ride. She helped run the campaign for George Allen when he was a congressman. I was able to meet and work for his campaign as well, Congressman Allen later became Governor of Virginia and then a Senator. He lost his re-election campaign 6 years ago, but is now in a very tight senate race and looks like he is going to win.
With my mother so heavily involved in Virginia politics.....my passions were fueled and fired up. I have met an array of neat people, Sen. John Warner, Oliver North, Congressman Virgil Goode, I have had dinner at his home, First Lady Barbara Bush, Senator George Allen, Sentator Orrin Hatch, Pat Buchanan, his sister Bay Buchanan, and there are others whose names are escaping at the moment. I have been to the Virginal Republican Conventions where on several occasions I served as a page. I got to know Henry Hagar, who later married Jenna Bush, very well as we paged together at the conventions. I had gotten bit by the political bug. At one of these conventions, I was Oliver North's personal page that year when he ran for the Senate seat and that was a thrill. I believe I was 16.
With all of that, I think the greatest thing I was able to witness at a young age was the power that women had and have in the political movement. My introduction to the VFRW, Virginia Federation of Republican Women and the NFRW, the National Federation of Republican Women. Ladies, never underestimate the power you have. Before candidates would even consider running for any office, they would visit these groups and test out the waters. It was here they would either make it or bust. Women are very good at many things but picking out winners and working hard to get them elected was their best attributes. I was able to see these strong, smart, and hardworking women at their best and I knew that I wanted to be like them. All of this was the example that my mother had set for me.
In my senior year of high school, I brought the Young Republican club back from extinction. We raised money for local and state candidates and even hosted a dinner for Rep. Allen Dudley. I will never forget my Civics teacher that year, Mr. Jerry Saleeby. He was a blue dog democrat through and through. We debated almost everyday. It was awesome. Later he would write in my year book that he didn't have another student who had ever made him go home and study up in current events the way that I had. He knew that he needed to be ready because I would be ready. I really liked his class......and yes, I did get an A.
So why share all of this? I wanted you to know why I love politics and why it flows through my blood. It is my passion and will make no apologies for it.
2 comments:
I love your passion for politics! You are no arm chair jockey. That is awesome you've been so deep in the party processes. You forgot to mention you had dinner with Congressman Jim Hansen. ;-)
Having read this I can understand why you feel the way you do. Being in the buzz of something that is moving like a freight train is quite a powerful experience especially for someone young. Your comment about women in politics is interesting. I wonder what your take is on why Sarah Palin bombed so big. Personally , I feel her image was her demise , as well as her lack of preparation and the knowledge to play hard ball. She talked too much, and about things she was not prepared to discuss. To me, she seemed preoccupied with her career and not her family. I believe had McCain won she could have used that position to pave the way for new doors to be opened in healthcare and education. But she did not understand that. In my opinion, she blew it, and is too arrogant and not smart enough to realize what she needed to do with that opportunity. Playing a man's game takes an understanding of how men think and act . Sarah Palin was more concerned with her presence and did not understand or try to understand that playing field. She turned off not only men, but women as well. Huge missed opportunity.
Post a Comment