Our son has been a staunch Republican since the 3rd grade. That is when George W. Bush first ran for president; and he loved watching the debates and news coverage during that election year. He listened to both parties and in his limited, eight-year-old comprehension decided he liked what the Republicans stood for. He was so involved that he told us that he sure hoped we didn't vote for John McCain in the primary because he called George Bush an anti-Catholic bigot. When asked what an anti-Catholic bigot was, he responded "I don't have a clue...." but he had decided it didn't sound right so he ran with it.
Our friends used to call him Alex P. Keaton.
Last weekend, he got to work at the Illinois Republican Convention. Now even if you're a Democrat, you have to admit that's pretty cool for a teenager to be so up close and personal in our national election process. Well, you don't HAVE to admit it, but it would sure be nice if you did.
Anyway, he spent a couple hours Thursday night and about 12 hours on Friday working for the "top ranking Republicans for our state." He ran errands, picked up their lunch, put together credentials, assembled notebooks of information. He dropped in at home once during an errand and said "No time to talk...I'm running errands for the GOP." How cool is that? He also informed us he spent $200 of the Republicans' money at McDonald's and Staples. I'm not sure I'm supposed to share that information with you so if I suddenly disappear, you'll know that, for sure I was NOT supposed to let you know that.
This past weekend made me think back to his third grade year when his dad took him out of school for the day to go see a Bush/Cheney rally near Chicago.
He and Paul were standing in the security line to be let into the rally when a Secret Service agent walked by. Paul asked if he could take a picture of him with Blake and the agent politely said it wasn't allowed, and moved on. A few minutes later, the same agent returned and slipped something into Blake's hand. It was an official Secret Service lapel pin. That alone was enough to send him to cloud nine.
But then, the agent returned again and asked Paul "Sir, is it just the two of you?" and Paul said "Yes, my son and I." And the agent said "Come with me."
And he led them PAST THE SECURITY CHECK, THROUGH THE GROUP OF OTHER AGENTS, AND RIGHT UP TO THE FRONT ROW OF THE AUDIENCE AREA, where Blake got to listen to Bush and Cheney speak, shake their hands and get their autographs on a campaign poster, all while standing right at the front of the stage on which the candidates were speaking.
Seriously, how cool is that? Again, even if you're a Democrat, don't you think that is cool?
We have many photos of that day - photos of the candidates and their wives and photos of the sharp shooters perched on all the surrounding buildings, which to an eight-year-old boy was absolutely beyond cool. He sill has that campaign poster framed in his room.
On Halloween that year, he dressed as a Secret Service agent and spent the night in a suit and dark sunglasses, with his hand pressed to his ear, pretending to talk into his wrist. When somebody tried to drop candy into his sister's bag, he stepped in front of her like he was her body guard. To one of our friends who offered him a full size Hershey bar he said "No thanks ma'am. I'm on duty," without cracking a smile.
Now he is thinking about pursuing a degree in political science when he heads to college in two years. I, as his mother, am expecting big things from him.
You can look for him in Washington one day.
He'll be the tall thin redhead giving the State of the Union Address.
6 comments:
You are right, politics aside, its pretty cool.
You forgot to mention what his other parent taught Blake to call our 42nd President. Any guesses out there?
Paul W-
Politics is too hot a topic to discuss on here and I do not wish to offend my ones of readers by insulting their political party and letting them know what you taught our three year old to call a former president. I, as the responsible parent, however, tried to teach him that the office of the president deserved respect; and so we shouldn't call the president names.
By the way, will you take me to dinner tonight?
Of course.
Is BOZO, I mean our son going to join us?
No, I DON'T think it's cool that you've apparantly brainwashed your child!!! Ha1 J/K! However, as the ONE of readers that IS a Democrat, yes....I do have to admit it's pretty cool how involved he is in politics. I actually am very impressed & I think more youth should be involved in the election process. Nick enjoys the "process" as well, however, we've apparantly brainwashed him to "our side" too!
That is cool that he is so involved and got that opportunity as an 8 year old. I am in DC almost everyday (for work) though I am not involved in politics.
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