I have always been interested in politics, even as a teenager. My mom would put the Democratic Convention on the radio and we heard all the great oratory coming from the podium. I remember the great speech that Mario Cuomo delivered at the convention! When LBJ ran for president I put his political stick- on my book bag even though it would be years before I could vote! Mom and I were political outsiders in mostly Conservative Republican Hayward Wisconsin where I grew up. Because I had low self esteem at the time, I thought actually working for a presidential campaign was beyond my grasp! I DID vote in every presidential election beginning in 1965 when I turned 21. But I never worked on a campaign.
This changed in 2004. After I moved to Minneapolis in 1979, my life turned 180 degrees. I got my GED in 1980 and my first college degree in 1987, an AS in Business Administration at Minneapolis Community College and My BA in Communication from The University of St. Thomas in 1998. In 2004 I used the skills I achieved to help get this country back on the right track, I signed up to work for the Kerry/Edwards Presidential Campaign.
We already suffered through the first administration of George Bush so I thought to myself,"The USA is suffering under the rule of a despot,so it's time to put the pedal to the medal and not wish for change but help make it happen." I walked to the North Minneapolis Kerry/Edwards Campaign office and signed up. My first campaign job was to sit at a desk and sharpen gazillion yellow pencils. I joked to everyone there that I was " The Official Pencil Sharpener!"
I did various duties for the campaign including phone banking and clerical duties. The most exciting thing was when I attended the Pre-election Day Ralley for John Edwards at Hamlin University in St. Paul MN. Garrison Keillor was the Master of Ceremonies and actor Josh Hartnett was one of the speakers. Because I was a campaign worker I was close to the stage and got to shake hands with John Edwards. Phil Donohue and Marlo Thomas were on the stage but didn't speak.
We had to suffer another four years of Bush but a new voice was heard in the wilderness! In 2008 I was sitting in The X-Cell Center along with 17,000 people. It was after all the primaries ended. Barack Obama was The Presumptive Candidate for The Democratic Party to be President of The United States. He was at the X-Cell for two purposes. 1. to make a speech to heal the rough and tumble campaign's hurt feelings and to create unity especially for supporters of Hillary Clinton. 2. To spoil the fun for the Republicans because The X-Cell Center was going to be the sight of their National Convention in late summer! Barack is a great orator and the applause was thunderous! I signed up to become part of Team Obama right on the spot! I even saw " The Famous Barack and Michelle Fist Bump!"
This campaign had more life to it, The main Campaign Office was located near Central Avenue in Minneapolis! This time around I was on line and part of MySpace. I was doing some research on my own to help the campaign. I was doing the usual, being on the phone bank and doing a little clerical work but this time I was doing more sensitive work like putting hard copies of voter registration on line for the campaign. I was also part of strategy sessions. I worked about 9 hours a week for the campaign.
I was reassigned to The North Minneapolis Campaign Headquarters.(sadly, the building housing the headquarters was heavily damaged by the North Minneapolis Tornado last May). The most exciting happening there was when the big bus with the large sign, Frankin for Senate, lumbered up the driveway and out popped Al Frankin and Keith Ellison our Congressman! I had a picture taken with Frankin and the next day his son and daughter came to the headquarters and gave us tee-shirts!
Election Day, I was eating breakfast at the Global Market in Midtown. I had already voted and a bunch of men came in wearing Frankin Tee- shirts. I was wearing mine too under my jacket when I voted. My jacket was off when they came in when they came up to me. They thought I was part of his campaign. I told them I was part of Team Obama so they invited me to go and talk to Al. He remembered me from the Campaign Headquarters and we hugged. Like two cousins that were glad to see each other. His kids were there too. I took pictures of them.
I went to the Inauguration Viewing Party at The Downtown Minneapolis Library. I celebrated by going to The Mall Of America for lunch!
I have recently signed up on line to be part of Team Obama again. It is just too frightening to contemplate a Republican President! To join the campaign go to-http://mybarckobama.com! To read more of my campaign exploits read The Non-Trad Manifesto the link-http://www.blondmama.blogspot.com.