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November 23, 2004
Letter to the Editor: Proactive politicking
During the election week, four Hamline students did what very few college students have ever had the privilege to do: We rode U.S. Senator Norm Coleman’s 24-hour pre-election tour bus. This opportunity was made available to us by Sarah Ann Wagner, who was an intern this summer at Norm Coleman’s Minnesota office.
The four students involved were Sarah Ann Wagner, Nathan Ohler, Mike Fuchs, and Andrew Thompson.
During this period we toured Rochester, Owatonna, Mankato, Hutchinson, St. Cloud, Alexandria, Fergus
Falls, Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Wadena, Brainerd, and Little Falls. At each stop we became the property of whatever congressman or woman was running in the local election. That person would have us do whatever they saw fit to help their election, whether that was wave signs at specific intersections or simply deliver political literature to area residences. We were more than happy to participate.
In addition to Norm Coleman, Tim Pawlenty also joined us on half the tour. Both men made speeches at every stop. It was interesting how they changed their speeches so that every group heard a slightly different speech, not the same generic speeches that are so common today.
Working side by side with Senator Coleman really showed us what a classy individual he is. Minnesota is definitely being represented well.
Every one of us took back with ourselves a sense of pride that we had participated in the election process, that we had actually done something for our party besides moan and complain. By the end of the trip we were all so exhausted that continuing the day seemed absolutely ludicrous, but it was election day, and our work had just begun.
Andrew Thompson, Mike Fuchs
CLA Students
Posted by msveum at November 23, 2004 11:09 AM
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