Wyomingirl: Campaigning for Congress

Volunteer Criteria

People have been telling me for months, “Annaliese you should keep blogging.”  I always say I’ll try but when it comes right down to it I don’t.  I feel like a have a lot of good reasons for keeping my thoughts a little closer to the vest.  I don’t want to offend anybody unnecessarily and I do communications for the campaign so I worry about the musings on this blog being misrepresented as the thoughts of the campaign or my mom. 

Anyway, there are my lame excuses.  So what has caused me to return to this venue?  Well, partly guilt for my negligence of this site and partly my spelling errors.

Yes, my spelling errors.  Actually, my spelling error.  The campaign office received a call today that a friend of a friend was perusing the various campaigns’ websites and was, I quote, “appalled at Annaliese’s spelling errors” even saying “I know Annaliese went to college and everything but…”

I had to laugh.  I tell people sometimes that every thing I do and every move I make offends somebody.  Today my spelling has offended someone.

Actually, one word has offended someone.  The only word I can find misspelled in my blog is “rememeber”, darn extra e.

The e has now been corrected!

This is just one example of the myriad concerns campaign staff addresses daily.  We always need feedback on a campaign to know where we are weak and where we are strong, so I write this post with the disclaimer that feedback and constructive criticism is imperative to the success of every campaign.

On the flip side,  No Drama is also key to campaign success.  When people say they want to help on the campaign I tell them “That is great!  Thank you so much and welcome to our team!”  I want volunteers to help in whatever way they feel most comfortable (talking to friends, writing letters, door-to-door, displaying a yard sign or bumper sticker, the list goes on and on) but to volunteer on my mom’s campaign I ask for three things:

-                     Be positive about Cynthia and the campaign (this includes dispelling negativity and bringing constructive criticisms to staff so we can fix problems),

-                     Commit to our effort and take an ownership in our campaign and

-                     No Drama (I don’t want this campaign to feel like a hybrid of the West Wing and High School Musical)

Those three things can do wonders to squash the rumor mill, get positive buzz for our campaign and make this gun-hoe effort fun and rewarding for everybody.

My Big Mistake

This is a post that I have needed to make for some time now but for reasons that I think most people can understand (read: nobody likes to admit their own mistakes) I have not.  About a month ago, I well, I made a mistake.  You see when one (read: my Mom) runs for public office there are numerous rules that the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) puts in place to increase transparency, fight fraud and just generally make such that everything that politicians do is on the up and up.  This is, of course, a hugely important task to prevent the shady dealings in which politicians all too frequently engage (read: New York Governor Spitzer this week).

About a month ago I was working on a brochure and some letterhead for the campaign.  Everybody working for the campaign had changes, corrections, ideas, and opinions so the process was very slow going.  On the flip side, everyone was in a rush to get the campaign literature developed and out the door. 

Finally, the first or second week in February, the brochures were printed and ready to roll.  The first event at which we unveiled these top-notch brochures was the Laramie County Lincoln Day dinner.  Within 5 minutes of the brochures hitting the table tops people were coming up to me, my mom, and the other staffers talking about the fact that, gasp, they did not have a disclaimer that said Paid for by Lummis for Congress, a FEC regulation.  I thought I was gonna throw-up.  I thought, “That’s it I blew it.  Mom’s opponents are gonna get ahold of this and tear her apart over it.”  (Yes, I am a little meladramatic in my internal monologue.) 

Over the weekend I learned that the Paid for by, which was on the letterhead (phew), had to have a box around the text and it should be readible size font (meaning so my grandmother can read it without bifocals size font).  Here I am with 10,000 brochures and letterhead, a little (about 50) of both had gone out without the box (and in the case of the brochure at the Lincoln Day dinner without the proper disclaimer at all.) 

I felt aweful about the mistake and that I had gotten my mom into this big mess basically over a box and 6 words that most people would assume anyway.  I asked several political “gurus” (I don’t mean my mom) what to do and they said let it go, it’s not a big deal, it will blow over.  Still, I couldn’t get that sinking feeling out of my stomach so I asked my Mom if we should report the mistake to the FEC and get it over with “mia culpa” style.  She agreed that self-reporting was the best thing to do.  So that’s what we did.   We told on ourselves.  Actually, she told on me on behalf of herself, or something.

Honesty, what a concept.  The day the letter went out to the FEC I felt so much better about the whole stupid-thing (I am now becoming an expert on FEC disclaimers and box placement), she feels so much better and looking back on the whole ordeal I know that transparency and honesty don’t happen as easily as they roll off the tongue.  They are difficult to ensure but they ultimately make things much better.  My mom said she wants her campaign to have a culture of transparency and honesty.  The culture of the campaign and the way in which a campaign is run are indicative of how a candidate’s time in office will go. 

I was proud of her for telling on herself.  I think it took a lot of integrity to bring to the surface something minor that she probably could have just “gotten away with.”  She proved that she meant what she said to me and that she was going to lead by example and practice the doctrine of transparency and honest from the little things to the big ones.  It’s that kind of think that I think will win her votes in the end (at least I hope).  

Final Thought: None of this would have happened if I had only taken the good advice of Mark Cuban and read the manual (FEC regulations) and checked it twice.  Lession learned, sorry Mark I seem to be one of those people that learn by experience and then are open to good advice.   

To My College History Professor: I beg to differ

When I was in college I took an American history class on the Early Republic.  We read a book about how personal politics was for Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and George Washington.  I wrote a response to the book asking “what has changed?”  Politics is still personal and one’s reputation is still everything.  On that particular response I received a minus.  My Professor explained in red pen under the response that todays political arena is not as personal as that of pre-1800s America or at least personal reputation is not as frequently taken after as a political tactic. 

I beg to differ.    

Over the weekend my mom received some anonomous mail alerting her to the fact that people were sending out attacks not only about her but also about her husband (my dad).  It is a gneral rule of political engagement that family members are strictly off limits, not in this race and not in politics today.  Character attacks are still every bit as brutal and frequent in the modern political arena as they were in the Early Republic.  This arena is not for the faint of heart or conviction. 

Politics is personal and it requires a candidate to assess herself, her beliefs and her family’s belief in her run because each of those things will be tested early and often.  Only a candidate who can candidly and honestly face her critics, her family, her friends and herself has what it takes to win.    

Cheap shot?

I am in the doghouse, I haven’t blogged since Monday, maybe Tuesday.  I am starting to get in to the routine so just cut me some slack, ok cyberspace?  Anyway, Cynthia (I am trying to learn not to call her mom while in campaign mode)  Christie, and I are headed to Sheridan at 4 am ( I wish I was joking).  For a Sheridan County Republican Women’s brunch.  I am sure it will be a lovely event once we arrive.  I am most concerned about the wind on the way up (Chicago has nothin’ on Wyoming in terms of wind in the dead of winter).  I’m sure I will have more on Sheridan tomorrow but for now let me focus on the present.

Today, I was apprised of the fact that the State Democratic Party had taken its first shot at my mom (the first of many I am sure).  I had told myself time and time again that negative press is part of the process and you have to handle it constructively, but come on its my mom.  My gut instinct will always be to protect her just the way she would protect me.  When I learned of the press release I read it, assessed the large amount of political gargin and propeganda it contained and then sat down to think about what it was driving at and how best to respond.

 Before I could come up with an angry retort my mom came in.  She described to me the strategy behind the press release and then said, “He (the Democratic Party spokesman) was just doing his job.”  She was not personally offended or slighted.  I thought, its kind of sick that writing and publishing negative press releases is part of anyone’s job, but I suppose that is a better way to look at it.  Then she said something even more amazing.  “I just got off the phone with him.”  I was shocked, “Wait a minute, by him you mean the guy who wrote the press release?” ”Yeah, I like him.  He’s an old friend” she responded.  That was that.  

I think now I understand that, at least in theory, the political parties do work to keep each other in check and that people who have worked in politics can and do respect the “other side” for their work maintain balance in the system.     

The Power of Suggestion

Today was, well, frantic like every other day. 

My mom received a campaign contribution from a political colleague who wrote that he sent her funds because he respected the way she thought through issues and then voted (and not the other way around).  He sent his contribution with some advise about issues ranging from immigration to the expansion of global trade and the opening of US markets.  I thought, “what a smart man.”  He did not just say, “your great here is my money.”  Instead he asked her to consider his position on several issues.  This is such an effective way to support candidates.  He didn’t just give, he also opened a dialogue with his would-be representative.  I think to best be served contributors should give policy suggestions to candidates.  How else is a candidate to know what issues are most important to supporters (and although no one can please everyone all the time) or what positions citizens (would-be constituents) feel will take America in the best direction? 

This whole post could have been articulated more concisely by simply saying: If you want your voice to be heard you have to use it.  

Whirlwind

It is amazing to me how much some people know about policy issues and their legislative process.  (I guess I can be a little cynical about how much attention lay citizens pay to the process.)  Mom and I were with a friend of hers at a coffee shop in Riverton and we sat down and talked to a group of older gentlemen.  One of them started running the numbers on several sales and purchases the state had recently made that he felt didn’t make any financial sense.  He actually knew all the numbers and had followed the stories religiously in the local papers. 

 My mom had been involved in both issues he used as examples and she was able to fill in the ”missing pieces” from what the news had published.  He seemed satisfied with both her answers and he was very open and engaged in learning more about how decisions were reached while my mom was on the board of state lands and investments (with the four other statewide elected officials). 

I sound like an old person when I say this but people in their 20s don’t do that and it is to our detriment.  I’ve never followed things that closely to make sure the numbers and logic made sense.  I am so greatful to Frank in the coffee shop.  He taught me a valueable lesson about civics and the real responsibilities of citizens.

PS I will try to send the pics from the trip along tonight.  They are awesome. 

And so it begins...

Wow, I can’t believe the campaign is upon us.  I moved back from NYC one month ago to work on the campaign and I have spent the last month starting to get it all organized (emphasis on starting).     

Yesterday, (February 2nd already) my mom and I left Cheyenne to attend the first Lincoln Day Dinner of the year in Washakie County (Worland).  My mom said a little prayer asking for safety and guidance through the campaign and our travels and we were off…  

We traveled 6.5 hours to Worland, stopping at the world famous Yellowstone Drug for a malt, of course.  We met so many awesome people and talked, about everything from the proposed economic stimulus package to Rotary exchanges to vaccinating cows (only in Wyo, I love it).  

Day 2 has consisted of a visit to Thermopolis, the worlds largest mineral hot springs, to visit with some folks and on to Riverton.  (As I write this I am drinking a Coors Light and watching Super Bowl 42 from the Riverton Holiday Inn.)  

I find that mom and I do a lot of mind melding and strategizing in the car, I suppose it passes the time.  The conversation tends to flow from politics to my mom’s instantaneous outbursts of, “Isn’t that beautiful, take a phone picture of that” or “Hi, cows.” I personally am very appreciative of her keen eye and the “Hi, deer” or “Hi, antelope,” outbursts which is how she tells me to not just enjoy but also watch out for the wildlife.

Lots of pictures to follow.  I probably won’t be able to post this much text very frequently but I figured to start out it is appropriate.  

Cheers and Happy Super Bowl from Riverton!