FeedsAn Evening with Jeff Merkley
Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an event featuring U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley. Along with several prominent Portland bloggers, Dan, Michael, and I had the chance to join Jeff in an intimate setting and spend some time getting to know him and why he's running for Senate. At the same time, we explored how the netroots can be a useful tool in organizing and establishing a permanent progressive machine.
At the event, the three of us laughingly mused on what each of us would take away from the evening. I don't know about them, but, for me, the most valuable experience came from the one-on-one time I got to spend with Jeff.
I usually arrive early to these sorts of events. Last night, however, I arrived earlier than I expected because I took the bus. When I got to the event, I exchanged greetings and stories with Carla from the Merkley campaign (formerly of LoadedOrygun) and Sean Cruz (Senator Avel Gordly's chief of staff and an accomplished blogger in his own right). Soon thereafter, Jeff arrived.
At this point the event had not yet truly started. But I was there. And so was he. I shook his hand, and we got to talking. I told him my background, politics and public relations, and how I was appreciative of his efforts because campaigns aren't easy. He agreed with that, and told me about how he and his wife and come to their decision, not wanting to be sitting on a porch in their elder years wondering what could have been. At least they're trying, and fighting, for Oregon and its citizens.
But what's next stuck with me. He asked if I ever would consider running for office. I responded sure, it's something I've thought about, but down the line. He stopped me there, telling me a piece of advice that I've rolled over in my head since he said it: you're never too young to run for office.
I was stunned, but it's so true. Sure, one needs to establish him or herself, but placing artificial barriers on attempts at higher office is something done internally, within a potential candidate. Sure, one cannot run for U.S. Senate until 35 30, but other options are out there. Indeed, considering a 50-state strategy in every County in the nation, it's so important that we recruit young, strong progressives who will carry the torch when it's time to pass it on. To Jeff, it seems age isn't as relevant as your passion, dedication, and the issues you bring to bear on a campaign. And, shoot, ain't that the truth.
Moving on, what he said next also struck me. He told me that there are many people who use political involvement as a vehicle to run for office, but you need to be involved in the outside community too. At first I said "of course" to myself: having community connections and doing good work is pivotal for any potential candidate. But it's not about potential candidates, and that's what Jeff was trying to impart. It's about community.
Let's say that again: it's about community.
Higher office is just one vehicle to serve one's community. There are non-profits, community fellowships, cooperatives, and many other groups out there working hard day-in and day-out for the betterment of cities, States, and America. Coming from a man who did good work for Habitat for Humanity, it just makes sense. Sure, I didn't need Jeff to tell me that community work is pivotal; that's my own inkling anyway. Community is the most important thing to me in public service. But to hear it from a man who is running to be Oregon's next United States Senator, it's impressive and re-assuring, considering how many people in D.C. seem to have forgotten where they came from.
Throughout the rest of the evening Jeff continued to reveal why he's running. From healthcare to the environment, I know that he's a dedicated progressive on the issues that matter to America and its people. The intimacy of the gathering allowed Jeff to take off any layers of pretense and simply address us, face-to-face, not as a candidate for Senate but as just one man: himself.
I was honored to attend the event, and it only re-affirms my support for Jeff. I'm proud to work on his behalf, and look forward to what he can do in the United States Senate. If you want to learn more about the campaign, go ahead and click on the button in the upper-right corner of the page or visit his website.
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Comments from site editors have a darker background than comments from everybody else.Sure, one cannot run for U.S. Senate until 35
Make that 30. The presidency must wait until you're 35, however.
"Article I, Section 3. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen."
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Ben:
It was great to meet you last night. Thanks for being there.
I hope to have more events like that in the future.
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Carla- my pleasure. Thank you for putting it on!
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Who else was there from the blogging community, Ben?
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TJ-
Good question, sorry I didn't get into it more in the entry. We had:
-Sean from Blogolitical Sean
-Sarah from Lefty Lane
-Randy from the Ridenbaugh Press
-Kari from Blue Oregon
-Sam from The ZehnKatzen Times. In his entry about the event, by the way, he has a nice photo of me and his wife. Also, he calls me "intense in a good way." Any ideas as to what that means? I'm guessing dedicated and passionate, which are a-okay for me.
And a few others whom I didn't get a chance to talk to, beyond the three-headed Witigonen crew.
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@Ben:
Also, he calls me "intense in a good way." Any ideas as to what that means? I'm guessing dedicated and passionate, which are a-okay for me.
That's exactly what I meant by that, Ben. You got it.
Sam.
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Hooray! I win!
Thank you, that means a lot to me. For what it's worth, I'm now zeroed in on your blog and will look forward to reading it in the future. I appreciated your insight into the event (and into other topics as I read backwards).
Take care and see you at more events like these in the future!
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Looking forward to it, Ben, Looking forward to it. You Witgonenites rock!
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Suddenly, like a burst of water from a hose, cold water, green rubber hose, it occured to me that "witigonen", spelled backwards, reads "nenogitiw." I am unsure of the significance of this discovery, but am virtually certain that this fact, in fact, is an actual fact, and that fact gives me comfort, cold comfort, but comfort nonetheless, the sort of comfort only a green rubber hose can deliver.
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Damn, you're on to us.
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...green rubber hose...triple nozzle...cold comfort....
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