Editor’s Note: Susan Dromey Heeter will take an occasional break from her column Joyful Musings to tell it like it really is as the first-in-the-nation primary parade of candidates ramps up in her new political column Decoding the Vibe.
By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER
Three is a lovely number. I have three brothers. The triangle has three sides. There are Three Stooges and let’s face it, three is cool. So, in the spirit of three, after I attend three visits by presidential candidates here in the granite state, I’ll write a behind-the-scenes look at their visits. Decoding the vibe.
I’ll muse joyfully on what I have seen, observed, laughed at. And while I hope to cover some political angles, my intent is to invite you, dear reader, to join me before the rhetoric begins, before the backs straighten, the lights go on. I want you to come with me behind the scenes, watch the mic checks, meet the people who go visit presidential candidates.
Last Friday I attended Mass. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s visit to Exeter’s Town Hall. Full disclosure, I like Liz, she’s exceedingly down to earth and I admire that she wears pretty much the same thing to every event.
Last week it was black pants and a scoop neck shirt – very utilitarian, very comfortable. She arrived with her husband and yellow lab, both of whom sat in the front row.
SUSAN DROMEY HEETER photo
I was in the back with the other reporters, one from London, another from Germany. I felt very international, grateful that I am fluent in both British English as well as passable auf Deutsch. We talked of the current political climate and I realized how lucky I am to have only driven about 20 minutes to attend this event. I walked around and learned the music playing was orchestrated by the Warren team; unfortunate though it was to hear Michael Jackson, I still get pumped by his music.
I saw some friends in the audience, went up to chat and learned they were, like most people there, supportive of Warren. When I met the official Warren campaign workers, those who have decided to devote their lives to this campaign, my takeaway was that they were probably all National Honor Society members in high school or, as my Massachusetts friends would say, “wicked smaht.”
I like chatting with the workers, the volunteers. Like the make-up artists and the stage directors, they’ve got the real behind the scenes view which, let’s face it, can be far more interesting.
Seth Moulton is a congressman from Massachusetts who has not officially put his hat in the ring, but who spoke at the Teetotalers Cafe in Somersworth last Saturday. His assistant arrived early; it’s easy to spot those affiliated with political campaigns as the waxed jackets and distinctive leather footwear is a dead giveaway. No offense, New Hampshire, but men’s fashion is not the strong suit here; I give my husband’s worn out Merrell’s and LL Bean jacket as evidence.
Moulton spoke eloquently; he’s got the vibe down of a politician and wears the cloak of Marblehead, Andover and Harvard. When I asked him when the last time he was with someone who could not afford feminine products, he responded with his military service and spoke of his affiliation with people from all walks of life – those who’d never travelled, people from all around the country. He answered a lot of questions with reference to his military service. And, for me, being married to a veteran, having worked for the Department of Defense, I still like specifics to answers and honestly, felt a little let down. But, his shoes were great and he seems a nice guy…an NGB as a friend would say, “Nice Guy, But.”
Yesterday, my friend, John O’Mahoney (Hi, Johnny O!) and I attended Tulsi Gabbard’s Meet and Greet in Durham. Sponsored by the Young People’s Coalition and held in the Freedom Cafe, this was a really comfortable venue by which to listen to another politician; we scored a front row couch. Again, the assistant was wearing the distinctive leather footwear, jeans and a waxed jacket. I watched as he took down all of the posters after the event and as he corralled Gabbard to her next venue I saw the distinct correlation between assistants and border collies.
SUSAN DROMEY HEETER photo
Gabbard is stoic and she referred to being president as being “Commander in Chief” several times. She responded to questions about climate catastrophe, Palestinian/Israeli conflicts with confidence, with serious commitment. The vibe of the event was less “cowabunga dude” and far more “Be afraid, be very afraid.” I left feeling far more alarmed than I would have liked; it was challenging to muse joyfully after listening to Gabbard – even though leis were plentiful. Yikes.
So, dear readers, dear Joyful Musers, I thank you for coming along with me on these initial visits. I’ll continue to write of the next three and invite you to join in any candidate visits if you are in the 603. We can decode the vibe together, ask some good questions, drink some tea.
Be well, enjoy the ride and if you are wearing fabulous leather shoes and a waxed jacket, good luck corralling those crowds.
Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.
The opinions expressed are those of the writer. InDepthNH.org takes no position on politics, but welcomes diverse opinions. email nancncywestnews@gmail.com