Disappointment

If there is one thing that I have never liked about politics, it's the negative attacks that candidates and/or their supporters take on one another. I've never understood the need for this practice, and I never will. Talk about each others stances on the issues, talk about each others voting records or accomplishments, talk about issues that are important to the race, but why talk about family and personal issues.

And now...it's taken a personal turn...and I'm, not angry, I'm disappointed.

Since I was born and raised near Rochester, I have a number of close family and friends that live in town here. These people do what they do best, they support me and my family. This week, that support came out in a form I wish I never had to experience. I found out from them that the attacks from my husbands opponent and/or her supporters has turned toward me and my children.

It's hard to have a relative tell you that people are being told your marriage is a sham. It's hard to hear that the only reason you have children is to make your husband appear to be a better candidate. These are things no one should have to hear, especially from friends and family.

I'm not going to substantiate these accusations with come backs. Now I could get angry. I am a mother after all. Anyone that insults or messes with my children has another thing coming. But that isn't productive. I personally feel bad for the people that feel it's necessary to say these things. For these people, it's apparently easier to dehumanize us and attack us than it is to realize that we're human. It's easier to call names than it is to use facts to go after my husbands stances.

I have one bit of advice. Leave my children out of it. Take the higher road. Read my husbands literature and get angry about the fact that he wants to put your child first when we think about funding education. Go on my husbands website and attack the fact that he wants to use his small business experience to help create more jobs in Minnesota. You can even call him on the phone and argue with him about the idea of our government only spending the money that they bring in. But if you find it easier to make untrue accusations, pause, take a look at your own life, and think about how you would feel.

I Can Feel the Excitement!

Okay. I confess. Before this election year I didn't pay much attention to politics and the candidates running for office until well after Labor Day. But now that I'm smack dab in the front row of a full blown political campaign, I am obviously paying a lot more attention to politics; locally and nationally.

Up until Labor Day this year, the campaign felt like one more item on the agenda. Don't get me wrong, this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it didn't have any different feel to me than making dinner or going to the library for story time. They are enjoyable, but nothing out of the ordinary. My husband may have felt differently, but for me, it wasn't what got me out of bed every morning.

The past week and a half, however, things are starting to "feel" different. As the election creeps closer, the excitement level is starting to rise. Last weekend we had the whole family out door knocking, yes, even the little 8 week old! My husband's campaign had numerous volunteers out with us, including a State Rep from a neighboring district.

But more than just door knocking, the level of excitement is everywhere. It's a little strange to see your husband's name on yard signs all over the place, but the more I spot, the more excited I get.

The frequency of events is increasing. Instead of something once or twice a week, our schedule is filling up 4 or 5 nights a week, and this is crazy for a family with a toddler and a newborn!

I know I may be in the minority as my excitement level increases, but I am really starting to look forward to the actual election. The result could go either way, but what a ride it's going to be!

The "Up" Side

Enough complaining. After looking back through the few posts I've written, I'm realizing that I'm headed in a very negative direction! When the campaign so far has really been a very positive experience, it's about time I shed some light on the pleasant surprises.

As I mentioned in The Letter Behind the Name, for every negative person my husband encounters at the door, there are 100-200 voters that are anything but negative. But the truly pleasant experiences are the unexpected compliments and smiles.

A few weeks ago, we went to the National Night Out event at Pax Christi Church. We were grabbing some cookies and water for our son when my husband was pulled aside by a woman that was volunteering at the event. The encounter went a little something like this:

Woman: Hi Mike, it's great to see you again.

My Husband: It's great to see you too (in a slightly confused voice). I apologize, I recognize your face but can't place your name.

Woman: I'm sure you don't remember me, we met months ago at the Republican Caucuses. I was so impressed by you that I've been telling all my friends about you. You met my husband last week when you were at our door. (She revealed her husband's name and their address)

My Husband: (After remembering the house) I had a great conversation with your husband. It's such a pleasure to meet you, again (with a grin!)

Woman: I really want to thank you for running. We are so excited to support a candidate like you.

My Husband: Thank you so much.

I was left speechless. I'm not even the candidate, but it's very humbling to have someone praise someone you love for something they are very passionate about. I was really proud of my husband at that moment.

And then, a few weeks later, we were at the park with our children when another distinct moment took place. There was another younger woman chasing her toddler around the playground. My husband recognized her as she walked up and immediately greeted her. Having no idea who she was, I once again dropped to the background to observe.

My Husband: Hey, how are you?

Woman: Good, and you? (looking a little confused)

My Husband: I'm sorry, are you *****'s wife, *****. I'm Mike Rolih.

Woman: Oh my goodness, I knew you looked familiar. It was great to meet you at the door last week. My husband has been talking about you for months now.

My Husband: Good things I hope!

Woman: (in a more serious tone) I think what you're doing is great. It takes a lot of time and dedication to do what you're doing, and I know with 2 little ones at home it can't be easy, but we are so grateful that you're running.

My Husband: My 2 little ones at home are a big reason why I'm running.

Woman: Thank you

The conversation continued into small business and toddler talk, but once again I was caught without a word to say. My husband has been working way harder than I have through this campaign. But, I can say from my end, that all the late nights and time at home with 2 children by myself is well worth it when I hear people make comments like that.

I guess when we attend events and visit with voters and delegates, I somewhat expect to hear comments, good and bad, about my husband running for office. It's when we're doing everyday family things that these little comments catch me by surprise. These people don't have to acknowledge my husband at these times, they don't even have to say anything nice to him. But they go above and beyond to let him know how they feel, and in turn, make me feel like this is all worth while.

So this post goes to all the voters and supporters. Thank YOU! Your comments and support is the reason my husband hasn't and won't give up. I guess when you're at home with the person you married, you forget that when they decide to run for public office, that guy (or gal for some of you) becomes something to more than just you and your family.

Endorsements

I'll admit, I almost never pay any attention to endorsements. To be completely frank, besides the endorsement from either the Republican or Democratic Party, I didn't realize there were so many organizations that divy out endorsements!

Yes, when I go through a candidates website, I'll glance at the page that they inevitably list their endorsements on, but the organizations that are listed there really don't push me one way or another when I make my final decision.

But to political candidates and the organizations that endorse, these decisions are much more important than I think anyone realized. Over the past few months, my husband has been receiving surveys from Political Action Commitiees (PACs) and endorsing organizations left and right. My husband filled them out as they came in, but certainly didn't have an "I have to get this endorsement" mentality. He knows where he stands on the issues, and since he's not a "politician," he didn't feel the need to give the answers that each organization wanted to hear just to get their endorsement.

I am know discovering that it's a good thing I didn't spend too much time paying attention to endorsements. While filling out surveys, my husband on a regular basis finds himself on the phone with someone from each PAC or organization. He has been told by more than one endorsing body that they only endorse incumbents. He has also been told that unless he or his opponent are a "shoe in" for the seat, they won't endorse.

With this being said, I've discovered that it's more important to follow the endorsements from election to election. When you see an endorsing body always endorse the incumbent, you know how they endorse. If you notice that an organization has previously endorsed a candidate and either pulls their endorsement all together or switches their endorsement to another candidate, this information will tell you more about how they feel than the actual endorsement. If an incumbent loses an endorsement, I guess this means they haven't lived up to the expectations of that organization.

So, once again, it's a game of politics. No one wants to appear to support a losing candidate. No one wants to look bad the day after the election. I suppose this means in the area of endorsements, I don't have to change how I have previously viewed them. I'll continue to glance at the information, but I won't change my opinion based on an endorsement.

The Letter Behind the Name

Okay, it's only my third post and I'm already going to complain! So much for appearing to be the ever graceful Jackie Kennedy-style wife of a political candidate.

As you know from my first post, I consider myself an independent. Because of this, I generally don't pay too much attention to the letter behind the candidates name ('D' for Democrat and 'R' for Republican). I pay attention to where each candidate stands on the issues, and which issues are important to me at the time of the election. I'm beginning to realize that not everyone votes the same way. There are a large number of people that vote simply because of the letter behind the candidates name.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that this is a bad thing. For voters that align with their respective party on almost every issue, this is why we have political parties. For voters like myself, we have to do a bit more work because we don't align with one particular party.

The action that frustrates me is voters that get irate at a candidate because of the letter behind the name. Over the past months, my husband and some of his volunteers have been berated at the door simply because my husband is a GOP endorsed candidate. My question to these voters is what exactly is it about the GOP that gets you this angry? After answering this question, how do you know if my husband agrees or disagrees with this issue if you immediately demean him instead of asking him about his stance?

I have no doubt that there are probably a handful of Republicans that do the same thing to my husband's opponent, but because my husband is a Republican, I'm speaking about anti-Republicans in this post.

Yes, the people that do this are most certainly are in the minority. For every angry voter that my husband runs into, he meets 100, even 200 open and inquiring voters. So why am I complaining? I am the type of person that takes criticism personally. I understand that politicians and anyone in the public light needs to have a bit of a thick skin, but I don't. I guess this is something I'm going to have to develop.

It amazes me that my husband is able to take the actions of these people and apply it to make himself better instead of being hurt by this. I suppose some of this has to do with his time in professional athletics, and I suppose some of it simply has to do with his personality. He's sees these run-ins as a positive rather than a negative. Free speech or something:)

I, obviously, have a different view of my husband than just the letter behind his name. This campaign is giving me a different perspective on politicians and political candidates. They are real people. While I have never shouted at a candidate because of their political affiliation, I suppose I do judge them some based on where they stand on certain issues.

So while I'm complaining about a small minority of voters, I should also thank these people. Without them, I wouldn't completely understand what someone is up against when they decide they want to represent and fight for the people.

Civics Lesson...Again

It's amazing what lessons you retain and what lessons you forget. Civics was obviously a subject for me that I simply didn't retain. Don't get me wrong, I got straight A's in Civics and American History, but if you would have asked me back in December how you become a representative of the people, I would not have been able to give you a correct answer.

Now that I've relearned this important lesson while watching my husband, I could get excited about politics. (Note that I say "could").

Through the years since high school, I had forgotten how much "we the people" truly do shape our elections and our elected officials. Take the caucuses for instance. Any registered voter living within each district can attend these events. They can choose to attend the Republican or the Democratic caucus. They then are able to help decide the party platform, vote for delegates or become a delegate to help elect party representatives, and discuss politics with other voters.

And then take the conventions. These are also separated by party. Up until the convention, candidates will attempt to contact the delegates that were elected at the caucuses. They will discuss their positions on the issues and explain why they are the candidate to endorse. At the convention, the delegates are given the opportunity to vote for the candidate that they want to bare their party name on the ballot in the primary and/ or the general election.

Over the past months, I've watched my husband spend hours on the phone, hours on the street door knocking, and hours at home strategizing. To me, nothing is more inspiring than listening to him talk to a delegate or hear an amazing story about some one he met at the door step. I believe that the route he's taking to getting elected is the route that was intended when caucuses, conventions, and elections were first started in our country.

Not every candidate goes about this process the "right way." It's up to the voters to determine which candidates are in it for the right reasons and which ones only have their own welfare in mind. I'm beginning to realize while watching my husband's race and other races in the area that finding the "genuine" candidate is harder than I had thought.

Not every voter gets a front row seat to a campaign like I do. I know that my husband is in it for the right reasons, how do I determine which other candidates are as well?

Who am I...

If you've found this blog, chances are you already know who my husband is. And, chances are you don't know much about me. I don't want to bore you with my life story, but to get a better understanding of where my opinions are coming from, I'll give you all some background.

I better put a disclaimer on this as well. While I fully support my husband's race, my opinions do not always reflect his. That is exactly why I am writing this blog. To give you a different perspective on a political race.

I grew up in Southeast Minnesota.  My father owns his own business selling crop insurance and spends all of his time with some of the hardest working individuals I know, farmers. Until a few years ago, my mother worked for a custom home builder and has recently retired to help out my dad's business.

I left the state of Minnesota after college to gain some perspective and to try something new and different for a few years. After living in four different states and marrying my husband, we collectively agreed to move to Minnesota. Something about experiencing life in other states that truly makes you appreciate this state!

Okay. Enough gushing. Now to my political background (or lack there of...)

My friends and family that know me well are probably dropping their jaws at the above statement. I have never been a person that not only gets involved with politics, but publicly discusses politics! So the idea that I have a political background is a bit of a shock.

I have always considered myself an "informed" voter. By this I mean that I never went to the polls blind. If I hadn't heard about a candidate before election day, I made sure to research that candidate before I made my decision in the voter's booth. I did this by spending some time on each candidate's website, searching their name in the local paper(s), and glancing through any other mentions that popped up when I googled their name. After going through this process for both or all candidates, I would make my decision. As you can guess, this means that I am not a registered Republican or Democrat. Yes, I am in the gray area of voters that considers themselves undecided, or in political speak, independent.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the extent of my political background. So...take my opinions for what you will, but they just that, opinions.