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How did you first get interested in politics?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:07 am
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Working for McCarthy against the Viet Nam war.
Comment by Chicago activist Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:10 am
Paul Simon’s presidential bid
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:11 am
I had to get a job.
Comment by DeepFriedOnAStick Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:15 am
When my second property tax bill was noticeably higher than the first.
Comment by Leroy Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:18 am
My mother hated Nixon so much that it just rubbed off on me during my impressionable years.
Comment by Phocion Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:24 am
cause its more fun than working for a living
Comment by The Horse Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:26 am
I first got interested in politics when I heard a Green Party candidate speak. I had never been a Democrat or Republican, and I wasn’t interested in what either party was selling; but the Green Party’s platform energized me, and I immediately became more of an active citizen. People like to talk percentages; but they fail to realize that they’re usually only talking about active voters, and there’s a HUGE pool of potential voters out there who are looking for something different (These non-voters don’t get factored into the percentages.)
Comment by Squideshi Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:30 am
My parents and my grandparents were political junkies. Political conversation was a part of all family gatherings. I’ve always thought that it was part of the Irish American gene code. With this background, I became aware of political machinations and Presidential elections when I was in the first grade. It grew from there; I was made a “deputy precinct captain” at age 14.
Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:32 am
Jimmy Carter; incredibly high interest rates, inflation that almost doubled my petrochemical costs each year, grinding slow economy, high unemployment, rising taxes and he blamed ME for it… my malaise. Read Milton Friedman and have voted and worked for candidates since.
Comment by North of I-80 Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:34 am
Through my dad.
Comment by Marvelous Wonderful Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:36 am
When I realized that the President of the United States was, in fact, a crook.
Like Hunter S. Thompson’s family, Richard Nixon brought my family together. We disagreed on a lot of things, but we all had to agree that Richard Nixon should have done time and that the Presidency has never recovered from that evil little CREEP.
Comment by Skeeter Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:45 am
People, I have better things to do this morning than delete your incendiary, goofy smart-alecky posts.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:45 am
My father was a young Republican in 1964. So, growing up meant political discussions along with Sesame Street. It was SO embarrassing to have a right winger Chicagoan father during the 1970s-80s. Instead, I went to an extremely liberal university in Germany and embraced modern socialism. I lived it. What a freakin waste! I returned to the US in ‘96 and now fight for freedom from obsolete New Dealers, high taxes, social experimentation and anti-family agendas. You people have no idea how great you have it here - fight to keep it!
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:45 am
I turned 18 just in time to vote in the 2000 election. That election started me down the path of a political junkie.
Comment by Hal Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:48 am
When LBJ fabricated our reasons for getting into Vietnam. At that point, I knew people died when our leaders lied.
Comment by PT 109 Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:03 am
When I applied for a state internship and it went to the niece of a high-ranking Democrat.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:05 am
The more my income increased the more my taxes increased and the more ticked off I became. I noticed that it seemed like everyone, everyone, but me was getting something from the Government. I embraced the ideals of Conservatism, lower taxes, and getting Government out of my day-to-day life. Being a staunch Republican ultimately followed.
Comment by Jechislo Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:06 am
I have voted since 18, but I really began discussing politics priot to the 2000 election. I was supproting Gore cause I thought I was supposed to. More and more, I found myself wondering why the check am I supporting this guy. I was in Evanston, I asked for a GOP ballot to vote for McCain and the guy still gave me a Dem ballot. I also pulled a d to vote for Vallas in 02. Voting Gore was a huge regret and I became active after that.
Comment by Wumpus Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:08 am
I’ve worked under Rep & Dem administrations and found neither one has the market cornered on ethics. Tried to be a “good employee” by staying out of politics but got thrown under the bus anyhow. Also got tired of the Chicago Machine controlling all aspects of Illinois politics.
Comment by Walking Wounded Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:21 am
When I was in 6th grade, a kid I looked up to who was a few yrs older became a Congressional page. Ever since then, I’ve loved politics.
Comment by Newshound Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:31 am
Around the dinner table growing up. We talked world events all the time. Everyone was expected to have a point of view and defend it. So we read. And read.
Comment by Way Northsider Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:32 am
My Irish grandfather was very political and my mother was the president of a union. Politics and religion are and have always been discussed around the dinner table from when I was a small child to now as my children go off to college. Is it the Irish heritage?
Comment by leigh Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:33 am
I grew up on the northend of spfld. My father was in politics and i just kept the process going. I grew up walking districts and delivering the vote. In a town like this, what else is there.!
Comment by SpfldPolitico Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:34 am
At my father’s knee. I still remember the heated discussions at family gatherings about the McCarthy hearings. When the precinct captain came around, I learned to pepper him with questions about upcoming elections. My parents both took me into the voting booth. When JFK ran, and I was in the fourth grade, I got to stay up to watch the debates on TV. By the time I was in the 8th grade and Royko had begun writing for the Daily News, I was taught to read the columns. In short, I can’t think of a time I wasn’t interested in politics - all well before I worked in government.
Comment by Still Anon Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:34 am
I worked on Eugene Moore’s first campaign, when he ran as a Republican.Found out everyone in the campaign office were Republicrats and did’nt stand for anything other than trying to take advantage of the system.
Comment by i know Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:35 am
A girl, now my wife, got me involved. Is there any better reason?
Comment by Jaded Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:41 am
My dad used to be a business partner with Ken Gray (for those of you from southern Illinois and who are old enough to remember the “Pork Barrel Prince”). Ken would go to auctions and buy cars, Dad would do the mechanical work and two other guys would do the body work and Ken would sell them. My dad worked on Ken’s first campaign for Congress and politics has always been a part (although sometimes a small part) of my family.
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:41 am
I had an interest in making a difference and getting good people elected into office. Now that I see you get into office by raising money in an illegal manner and just buying it by making the opponent look bad, I think I’ll find another career.
Comment by Disgusted Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:42 am
Started at age 12 when a friends father ran for mayor of a Chicago suburb. I was a little disenchanted when they told us that we were not helping when we were stealing or spray painting the opponents signs and we had to stop. Anyways, even though he lost (his opponent held office for 30 years) I was hooked. I’ve put up thousands of more signs throughout the Chicago area since then to make up for our youthful indiscritions. The candidates seem to do better when we help in a positive way.
Comment by anon Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:47 am
Volunteering for Dawn Clark Netsch.
Comment by Howie Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:54 am
GenEd’s in college make you take a bunch of classes you don’t need. I chose a basic Political Science class given by Prof. Murphy my first semester at Norhteastern Illinois University, and I was hooked. The clarity of his understanding of the political system amazed me, and his ability to keep his own political leanings out of his lectures (when the English, History, and Math teachers could not) showed me that politics isn’t as dirty as people made it out to be.
Comment by Dave Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:57 am
My parents were both GOP precinct committemen, at various times. I was the youngest elected precinct committeeman in IL. when I was 18.
Comment by Shelbyville Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 11:18 am
Harold Washington.
Comment by Boone Logan Square Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 11:21 am
Vietnam
Comment by Bill Baar Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 11:32 am
My mom grew up in Bridgeport and ran around with kids who grew up to be big wigs in the old Daley administration.
I remember as a kid staying up late watching the Democratic convention with my dad, back when conventions were exciting and the outcome wasn’t pre-determined. It was a great civics lesson. I was lucky to have both parents interested in politics and it rubbed off on me. I married a political junkie and political conversation is the norm in our home with our kids. The bug has gotten a couple of them too. Yeah, it’s an Irish thing.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 11:51 am
History class growing up got me kinda sorta interested in the process.
Then, after moving into our first home, I learned Phil Crane had been in Congress longer than I and my wife had been alive … and that he represented almost none of our values (neither politically nor personally).
My first volunteer effort was going door to door for Lance Pressl. Good guy, could’ve made a heckuva Congressman.
Comment by NW burbs Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 11:59 am
A sociology class in college about third world countries. I took that class and began my interest in 1998 and the political world seemed to explode over the next couple of years.
Comment by doubtful Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 12:07 pm
My first political memory is of my Mom yelling at the TV about Ronald Reagan always doing the opposite of what he said. Then my Dad and Grandmother talking about Paul Simon and the great things he stood for. I got interested because I believed politics could be a form of service to others. It took a while before I realized that most people involved in local politics are just riding the Democratic or Republican gravy train and political issues are a secondary concern, at best.
Comment by Will Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 12:22 pm
Definitely an Irish thing. The whole “famine” migration was about people being politically screwed. We have a long memory.
Comment by Still Anon Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 12:31 pm
What got me interested? When I turned 18 and knowing I had the right to vote when so many others died trying to get that. Having a **** for a boyfriend who denied me the right once because it was more important for him to get to the polls (long story and I got rid of him).
But what truly got my heart, and pulled me in was working on Lane Evans’ campaign back more than 12 years ago and then when my son could walk, he started going with me. I have a new generation going now. We will continue the tradition together. Fighting for what’s right.
Comment by Tessa Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 12:39 pm
Nixon’s resignation. I remember asking Dad why there were no cartoons on this morning…
From then on I watched the news. I remember begging Mom to let me stay up late and let me watch the ‘76 election returns. From then on, I was hooked. Doubly so when I first heard the Gipper speak. First campaign I worked on was ‘86, and every election year since then.
Comment by HoosierDaddy Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 1:06 pm
When I was old enough to know that the Machine wasn’t anything technological, but something standing in the way of effective representation.
Comment by Niles Township Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 1:09 pm
My faith and my parents led me to become a liberal Democrat.
Comment by RFK fan Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 1:23 pm
I was a pre-med sitting in my dorm room in 1965 and reading the Daily Illini about LBJ sending the military in to overthrow Juan Bosch in the Dominican Republic, who I considered one of the new era of progressives a la JFK and the Alliance for Progress. I was outraged…and there was a “teach-in” that day about Viet Nam. So I went to the meeting. And I really haven’t stopped since.
Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 1:46 pm
These are all very interesting..another good question would be what politician inspired you to get got involved in politics?
Comment by Good Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 2:00 pm
When I was 14 or so, I vacationed in Washington DC. I absolutely loved the city and all the excitement of it. I knew then that I wanted to get involved in politics, but didn’t know how.
In 2003, I got involved in the Teenage Republicans at my local high school and volunteered like crazy. I likely walked every parade possible in my area, I did door to door, I recruited new voters, I organized info tables at the school… it was exciting. I also registered to vote!
On October 29th, I turned 18 and voted on November 2 for George W. Bush! Not only did I vote, I also worked as a Poll Watcher! Since then, it’s been a great trip thus far. I’ve served as Statewide Youth Director for a Gubernatorial Campaign, Presided over the Society of Conservaitve Students, and am currently working for College Republican National Committee…
It’s been an exciting journey thus far!
Comment by Jeffrey Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 2:09 pm
Paul Simon vs. Chuck Percy
Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 2:25 pm
Ted Leverenz
Comment by B Hicks Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 2:40 pm
During an internship at Congressman Jackson’s office in 2002. Keep HOPE alive!
Comment by Disenchanted One Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 3:00 pm
As a child of my stepfather who was a Democratic County Official. I remember having to go to fair after fair, shaking hands and ALOT of smiling! Then walking neighborhoods knocking on doors and asking for the vote. Working in the courthouse, being a Young Democrat. When I moved to Chicago, I worked hard to become a precinct captain. A woman precinct captain…amazing. Loved my precinct.
But, politics got pissy. Payback nearly killed me. And surprizingly, here I am again. Love the game, not nearly as smart or eloquent as you folks. But enjoy being a part of system again.
Good question, Rich.
Comment by So Il Gal Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 3:09 pm
Fitzpatrick for alderman, 1967
Comment by Bill Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 3:16 pm
One of Pat Hickey’s colleagues at Bishop Mac taught an elections class and we had to volunteer on a campaign of our choosing. I chose to work for state rep candidate Chuck Pangel against Ed McBroom, the locally powerful chairman of the Kankakee County GOP.
I spent weeks going door-to-door, stuffing envelopes, answering phones, etc. It was a very close race and when the results were finally in, Pangel won in about the biggest upset in a house race that decade.
Being in the room that night drinking champagne with Chuck, Jerry Joyce, Ray Christiansen and the campaign staff was about the coolest thing in the world for a sixteen year old. I was hooked.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 3:56 pm
Barack Obama.
Comment by Someone Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 4:14 pm
I had an internship with the local Chamber of Commerce while in college- which put me in contact with both Democrat and Republican legislators. One treated me great- and is still friends with me 20 plus years later. The other was rude and condescending- and promptly got beat two years later. I have been a Republican ever since.
Comment by Roy Slade Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 4:18 pm
I started in politics due to Allen Fiore.
Comment by Ronald Krol Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 4:19 pm
I decided to take some college courses as a returning adult student and realized that the liberals were generally crazy. Upon the realization that there was so much political stuff going on even in courses that were unrelated to some of the topics brought up, I thought to myself, “Gosh, but we had better keep the Marxists out of power.”
Fortunately, I’m reading that Gen-X (my generation) trends Rightward, albeit with some more libertarian social views. Thank God.
Comment by Angie Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 4:26 pm
From my Dad…a behind the scenes guy who worked with friends on the local races in our community & county.
Comment by annon. in central illinois Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 4:39 pm
As a businessman, I felt I had to walk in the magic middle of everything so you didn’t offend any of your customers. It was “simply a good business practice”. You never were a Republican nor a Democrat, a Protestant nor a Catholic, etc.
Then one day, my 17 year old daughter said something to me that hit me like a freight train. She said, “Dad, don’t you have a passion for something besides your business? Haven’t you ever wanted to stand for anything or believe in someone? To let others know how you feel about something?”
She will never know how profoundly she changed the way I was living my life or how I viewed the world? It was, for some unknown reason, a defining moment in my life. I became passionate about what I viewed to be injustices taking place around me to my fellow members of my state and local community. I had experienced and saw corruption take place around me when in business. Yet, I initially tolerated it as simply being the way business and politics and government was conducted in Illinois. I never took part in anything unethical but I also chose to let it happen around me by not wanting to get involved. In 1999, I saw corruption in our business community taking place. I reported it to one of our state of Illinois regulatory agencies. They chose not to do anything about it. Two years later, my prophesy and numerous warnings to this state regulatory agency of fraud and corruption taking place in one of the larger business firms in northern Illinois finally reached the point where the perpetrators of the business fraud that I saw taking place were uncovered by an out-of-state bank that did a surprise audit on the corrupt firm. Thousands of people in Illinois were negatively effected financially, estimates of the losses suffered by people and lending institutions were in excess of $100 million. The FBI became involved in this mini-Enron that took place in Illinois.
The state regulatory agency quickly tried to hide their incompetence by throwing a couple of the bad guys in federal prison. The head of the state agency that allowed this fraud to occur under his watch was quickly and quietly transferred to another state department where Governor Ryan created a newly formed job at over $80,000 per year for him. Other personnel from the state agency that allowed this major fraud to occur under their noses quietly took “early retirements” or were transferred to other state agencies. Yet, none were made accountable for their actions or “lack of actions”. It was the normal state governmental reaction of “cover your own ass and don’t admit to incompetence or government corruption”.
That finally stoked my fire and my passion quota leaped off of the charts. It was unbelievable. That was back about 6 years ago. The passion within me was released and directed at bad government and political corruption. I decided to volunteer to be a precinct committeeman and try to perhaps make a small wound in the beast known as bad government in my state of Illinois.
Comment by Beowulf Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 4:50 pm
It may be an innate irish thing. I grew up talking about current events and politics with my family. My grandfather had been democratic chairman for our county. My dad is a millitary veteran who volunteered to go to vietnam. He always realized the importance of national security and that freedom isn’t free. He also realized that by its veering toward liberalism, the democratic party had left him, so he left the democratic party. My earliest political memory was being outraged by Carter’s weakness with regard to the Iranian hostage crisis. I was 9 at the time. I remember begging my parents to let me stay up to hear the 1980 election returns. I was 10 by that time. What 10 year old does that?
Comment by Irish Anon Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 4:52 pm
I was on a field trip to the Illinois State Capital with my daughter and there was a Edgar for Governor rally, I couldn’t believe the excitement in the air. I had always leaned republican, so I looked up some issues and have followed ever since.
Comment by Bottom Line Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 4:57 pm
My father was a GOP precinct committeeman for 18 years. My father was a disabled veteran and had very limited mobility. I started walking precincts for him when I was 5 years old. I have been involved in politics since.
Comment by Rex Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 5:16 pm
Eric Wallace. I met him five months ago.
Comment by anon Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 5:31 pm
Working in and around our own Chicago local governments. As they say, the best theater in chicago is FREE. They don’t need any special effects to show you unbelievable things. You may not believe your eyes, but it is all true! That goes without saying for the entire state. There are intertwined story lines, family dramas, secrets running under the currents, mysteries to solve and “to be continued”…at the end of each episode. I always end up wishing I knew more, so it is addictive.
Comment by NoGiftsPlease Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 8:10 pm
my whole family–democrats. I argued politics with my high school teachers and joined college democrats. What politician has inspired me the most? Ann Richards. a co-worker gave me a book about her to read, and I became a big fan. I was sorry to hear about her death and can just hope that there will be more women like her in politics
Comment by anonymous Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:17 pm
I have no idea but when I was in kindergarden, I said, “When I grow up I’m going to be President like Richard Nixon.”
And today — although I am not the President of the United States — I am bitter and paranoid.
Comment by So-Called "Austin Mayor" Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:26 pm
When Ted Kennedy called 9-11 a trajedy and Abu Ghraib an atrocity I knew things in the U.S. were upside down. I joined a local state senate campaign and was quickly appointed as precinct committeeman. I’m now elected to that position.
Comment by Ihadit Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 9:52 pm
I agree, it is definitely typical for Irish families to be quite political! My maternal grandparents were lifelong Democrats. My grandfather was a WWII vet who hated war more than anything and never felt it was justified. He was one of the few that survived the USS Indianapolis sinking. He was also an ironworker and very involved in the union.
Both of my parents were hardcore Vietnam war protesters, both members of the SDS, my father in some other more militant groups as well. My father grew up in rural Indiana (KKK country in the civil rights era) with two fundamentalist “Christian” minister grandfathers. He witnessed their hypocrisy with every other word out of their mouths being racial epithets. He took a 180 degree turn from their politics and their religion.
Politics has always been a part of my life. I would say that the first politicians that truly inspired me were the Clintons. I was 14 when Clinton was elected. I was in complete awe over Hillary. She was such a strong personality, so smart, such a leader in her own right. She was much different than any first ladies that I had been familiar with at that point. I remember feeling so upset when people attacked her. I took it personally because I looked up to her.
Comment by Bridget Dooley Friday, Sep 22, 06 @ 10:58 pm
Nobody in my family has ever been involved or particularly interested in politics, although I have a Grandmother who has been a pretty staunch Democrat but I have memories of hearing stories on the tv news or headlines in the paper about campaigns, going all the way back to the 1983 Chicago Mayoral race.
Then, in 1988, when I was 10, I really became interested in following the Presidential campaign, and rooting for the candidacy of George Bush. One of my first memories though was watching the Democrat National Convention and rooting for Dukakis to beat Jesse Jackson, because I had the impression that Jackson did not like Jewish people.
I think I decided back then that I would be a Republican though because of Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties.
So, I basically have been hooked on politics since the age of 10. When I was in Jr. High in 1990, I amazed and probably frightened my classmates and teachers alike by knowing such inane things as the names of the nominees for Comptroller and State Treasurer.
I remember attending my first ever political rally before the 1994 elections in Arlington Heights and it was just thrilling. The entire statewide ticket came on a bus, minus George Ryan and Judy Baar Topinka. I have the whole thing on video and I got to shake hands with Phil Crane.
Comment by Establishment Republican Saturday, Sep 23, 06 @ 12:05 am
State Rep. Robert Winchester got me involved. Lots has changed since 1982, but then again, no they really haven’t.
Comment by Daxx Saturday, Sep 23, 06 @ 12:45 am
I was born on Election Day! My godmother’s dad was Alderman Vito Marzullo.
Comment by Near West Side Saturday, Sep 23, 06 @ 2:13 am
I became interested in politics and government after I received my first ever paycheck.
Comment by Taxed Saturday, Sep 23, 06 @ 2:54 am
I got an internship with the City of Chicago during council wars and began working precincts. I eventually joined the local ward org. and got hooked. Also, my Irish upbringing also had something to do with getting involved with politics.
Comment by the ole precinct captain Saturday, Sep 23, 06 @ 6:45 am
grandfather was a GOP state rep from proviso twp. i recall sitting in his chair on the house floor at age 7, then driving back north in his big black caddy with sec. of state charlie carpentier & president eisenhower’s brother (earl?)
first walked precincts in ‘62 (elmer hoffman for SOS) with my dad, who was on the dupage county board & later ran against pate.
i flipped from R to D in ‘68. vietnam, bobby, rock & roll.
have since volunteered for, staffed or consulted on about 50 campaigns, mostly lefties, populists, iconoclasts & underdogs. faves: luis davila, holewinski, all 3 of harold’s mayorals, orr, joe moore (whose best years are still ahead), harkin, anita cummings, moseley braun, sandra otaka (1st asian american elected to the cook county circuit court), most of quinn’s races, lance pressl (i agree with the poster who said pressl would’ve been a great congressman) & a seattle gig running field for deb senn’s senate race.
it’s still a blast!
Comment by cool hand claudio Sunday, Sep 24, 06 @ 11:15 am