Cheap shot?
I am in the doghouse, I haven’t blogged since Monday, maybe Tuesday. I am starting to get in to the routine so just cut me some slack, ok cyberspace? Anyway, Cynthia (I am trying to learn not to call her mom while in campaign mode) Christie, and I are headed to Sheridan at 4 am ( I wish I was joking). For a Sheridan County Republican Women’s brunch. I am sure it will be a lovely event once we arrive. I am most concerned about the wind on the way up (Chicago has nothin’ on Wyoming in terms of wind in the dead of winter). I’m sure I will have more on Sheridan tomorrow but for now let me focus on the present.
Today, I was apprised of the fact that the State Democratic Party had taken its first shot at my mom (the first of many I am sure). I had told myself time and time again that negative press is part of the process and you have to handle it constructively, but come on its my mom. My gut instinct will always be to protect her just the way she would protect me. When I learned of the press release I read it, assessed the large amount of political gargin and propeganda it contained and then sat down to think about what it was driving at and how best to respond.
Before I could come up with an angry retort my mom came in. She described to me the strategy behind the press release and then said, “He (the Democratic Party spokesman) was just doing his job.” She was not personally offended or slighted. I thought, its kind of sick that writing and publishing negative press releases is part of anyone’s job, but I suppose that is a better way to look at it. Then she said something even more amazing. “I just got off the phone with him.” I was shocked, “Wait a minute, by him you mean the guy who wrote the press release?” ”Yeah, I like him. He’s an old friend” she responded. That was that.
I think now I understand that, at least in theory, the political parties do work to keep each other in check and that people who have worked in politics can and do respect the “other side” for their work maintain balance in the system.