Personal History in Politics

[theboss]

Some things in the last week have caught me off guard and I was wondering how many political newcomers were on this site. I'm not judging anyone because everyone has to have a starting point. But I was surprised at how many people didn't seem to have much memory of the '92 race or know who Andrew Young is. (I was also called politcally naive which angered me a little).

I would like to know when everyone got involved in politics or what their first big issue was. This also may be helpful to let newcomers to this world know who the experienced folks are if they want some sort of guidance.

(This may actually be a lounge subject, but this is politically based).

So, I guess my question is, when did you lose your political virginity?

I'll start. It was 1978. I was six years old. My parents had led a fight in our hometown to stop a plan to turn part of the city park into a really ugly library. (Not that they are against libraries. They are teachers. It's just that they wanted to put a building in the middle of the only green space in town when there were any number of sites in the business district that could be used). Mom got some notoriety and decided to run for council. The city government was pissed and pulled out an old law that said only property owners could run. Being a 25-year-old, married woman who rented, she had no property in her name. (My dad did). So, they go to the state supreme court, get an emergency injunction, and get her name on the ballot. She becomes the first woman ever elected to office in our town. I've been campaiging ever since. My biggest contribution was working some events on Clinton's bus tour in '92.

[TXvote]

1. Born To It

The first political picture of me in in 1966 in a stroller at the mall in DC with my pregnant mom passing out blankets and coffee at a Civil Rights rally.

My first political heartbreak was hearing the results of our elementary school mock election and never knowing who the other person was that voter for McGovern. It was just the two of us. I have never felt so right and so alone at the same time.

In rebuttal to the comments you received: Niave is not so bad. Apathetic would be much worse. Who the heck can remember the entire history of politics all the time anyway?

You might enjoy my contribution to enticing VoterVirgins.... www.votervirgin.com You can send any non-voters you know a teaser e-mail under Get Involved/ Spread the Love. Guaranteed to make you smile.

Peace,
Teresa

[Lefty48197]

2. My political awakening:

I was delivering newspapers as a teenager. The previous day's mayoral election had been decided by one vote. I handed a paper to one of my customers, and she looked at the headline and said, "If I'da gone out and voted, it woulda been a tie". I learned at that early age that voting could be very important.
(edited for spellying)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. I was interested in politics before I could vote

Liked Kennedy, even though my mother voted for Nixon. Felt that Viet Nam was wrong, and protested. Voted as soon as I was able, in this case, at age 20 (the amendment allowing 18 year olds to vote had just passed)for McGovern. Knew Watergate would lead to Nixon. Have voted for many independent Presidential candidates. Worked in Paul Simon's Presidential Campaign. Felt so strongly about voting Clinton in '92 that I insisted on going to the polling booth before I went to the hospital (I had been in an auto accident that resulted in breaking a few small bones in my foot. Going to the polling place was 40 miles out of the way from going to the hospital, which was another 50 miles away). I tell this last story to people and they sort of roll their eyes, but that's how important voting is to me.

[Dr.Phool]

4. 1971

Just out of the military, and hating the war I joined Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). They were taken over by a fringe communist group called Progressive Labor Party, so I quit. I joined the Yippies which was a lot more fun and spent the summer of 1972 getting tear gassed at the Repuke, and Dem conventions in Miami.

At Nixswines 2nd inauguration our Madison, Wisconsin chapter brought down 15,000 dead laboratory rats which we threw at Nixon as his motorcade passed:toast:

We also made a giant papier mache rat that fit over my volkswagen that we tried to get in the inaugural parade under the name "Rats for Nixon.

Later that year I organized a "Smoke-in" on Public Square in downtown Cleveland to legalize marijuana.:wtf:

After taking 30 years off to earn a living I'm back in politics in Florida and a member of the county Democratic Executive CommitteeO8)
and working on campaigns.

Ahh... the good old days.:kick:

[theboss]

5. You win the door prize

Did you ever threaten to drop LSD into the reservoir like Abbie Hoffman? (Daley actually put police on round-the-clock guard duty).

[Dr.Phool]

9. No

Back then nobody wasted good LSD on reservoirs.:party:

[Ficus]

6. My first real political memory was 1988

I was 8 years old, and living in Iowa, we were holding our Presidential caucuses. My family lived in the middle of nowhere on a cattle farm, and at the time my father was Cerro Gordo County Chairman for the Democratic Party.

I remember seeing all the people who had come from all over the countryside (not to sound to hokey) to caucus, in the middle of nowhere, in January. I realized that this all MUST be very important.

I remember I LOVED Paul Simon (I was really into his bowties, may he rest in peace) and I also remember my parents caucusing for Jessie Jackson.

But seeing at age 8, the caucus system, which IMO is REAL Jeffersonian Democracy - really turned me on to the good side of politics.

From that I got involved in the Dukakis race later that year, and I never stopped.

I've campaigned for Tom Harkin all my fricking life that I can remember - and every Democrat in between, up to my own mother getting elected to the Iowa State Senate last year.

on edit: I currently am not working in politics, but am active. I work for the Food Bank of Iowa - working for a cause that I believe in.

[grannylib]

7. My parents were active in the civil rights movement, and I went to

sit-ins, love-ins, and all that good '60s stuff. I was at the march on Washington with them for the "I have a dream" speech but I was only 3 then and don't remember it well. The first time I was of voting age for a presidential election was 1980; I voted for Anderson (Raygun horrified me) and I had a child by then and was interested in her future so got more involved.
Very pleased and gratified to see my extremely liberal 16-year-old daughter taking an active interest in politics; she's very bright and well-informed.

[proud patriot]

8. I became involved when the USSC got involved in elections

:grr: the stolen election activated me

10. around the time the Buddhist monks were lighting themselves

on fire.
First poem I remember writing when I was a kid was about that.
My parents took me to the MayDay anti-Vietnam rally in 67.

Really though, it was probably from birth. My grandfather was a preacher and a conscientious objector in World War One, my uncles and my father were c.o in World War Two.

[BootinUp]

11. 1972 in 4th Grade

My parents raised me into a good little democrat:) The Nixon/McGovern race was a frequent discussion in the evenings. They detested Nixon. I don't remember what time it was in California when the landslide was declared, I seem to remember going to bed and it was grim.

I went to my little catholic school the next day, to my horror all my schoolmates were shouting with glee about Nixon's victory. I was definitely in the minority.

....the effect

I am a competitive person who hates to lose. When I got my first chance to vote in '80 I wanted to be on the winning side, Carter was unable to generate any positive feelings in me, so I voted for the repub. :shrug:

I was disgusted sometime in '81 after reading many stories of the cuts Reagan made and how it was creating a larger homeless population etc. :argh: I have never voted against the party since, although I have not voted on occasion.

I try my best to stay up on the issues, I enjoy talking about politics, etc. but have never been activist, and never contributed directly to a campaign until this year.

:toast:

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. 1992 Clinton

campaign was my first to be really involved. Made phone calls and handed out pamphlets for his campaign and Carol Mosely Braun when she ran for the Senate. I've voted in every election, primaries and GE. I have never voted for a republican and am proud of it! I have gotten my son involved in politics too (he's 10). I read the post above about the 2 kids who voted for McGovern? was it?..in a school election and it made me think about my son when he was in 3rd grade. They had a Gore/Bush election at his school and he was the ONLY child to vote for Gore. :7 I was so proud of him! He goes with me to the polls every time I vote and he gets a lecture on the way in and a lecture on the way out, about the importance of voting. He will never, ever not vote...guaranteed! :)