From Arlington to Obama Round Table
August 27th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
To her surprise, Arlington delegate Shandra Jackson was one of four women chosen to participate in an economic round table Tuesday morning with Michelle Obama.
Also on the panel were four female governors: Ruth Ann Minner (Delaware), Kathleen Sebelius (Kansas), Janet Napolitano (Arizona), Christine Gregoire (Washington), and surprise guest Joe Biden.
“I have no idea how they made the selection,” the 34-year old paralegal said. “They called Friday and asked if I was interested, and I was told I couldn’t say anything until Sunday.” She kept the news a secret from even her parents, Cecil and Carolyn Jackson, as well as her hairdresser, who jokingly told her to “give Michelle my business card” when Jackson had her hair cut before she left.
Jackson said she had to quell her excitement and was thinking to herself, “If you only knew!” On 8:30 on Sunday night, a few hours after landing in Denver, someone from Michelle Obama’s office called Jackson to let her know she would get to participate in the round table.
A single mother who had never had an interest in politics before, Jackson got involved with the campaign because Barack Obama gave her a “wake up call.” An arachnoid cyst and then an aneurysm in the left side of her brain also contributed to her awakening. She got involved for the first time in February, when she attended precinct captain training.
When asked whether she would remain in politics after the convention, Jackson smiled and said that she was unsure but that Obama had “truly inspired” her to get involved not just with politics but with other community services. Perhaps the greatest testament to the “change we can believe in” credo was Jackson’s newfound attitude about the impact the Obama campaign and the convention itself made on her outlook in life.
“I came here one woman,” Jackson said, “and I’m leaving a different one.”
August 29th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Cool story. It’s amazing how one day in a person’s life can have such a profound impact on what she chooses to do with the rest of it.
By the way, my mother caucused for Obama. I have never heard her so energized and excited as she was when she called me immediately after the event. There is at least one 72-year-old white woman in Brazoria County who is a fervent believer in Barack Obama and his message of hope and change.
Keep up the good work, and thanks.