Political junkies like me have our own brand of celebrity issues to deal with on a daily basis. I don't "worship" politicians and candidates in the traditional sense, but I do have an obsession with seeing them and getting them to sign stuff for me. Especially books. I know many other people who are similarly afflicted.
For example, I waited more than an hour in the hot sun for Bill Clinton's autograph the other day. Same story with Obama, though it wasn't hot, it was just crowded.
I've heard the same complaint from activists all over the democratic map in the last few years. They send books and other memorabilia with a trusted campaign advisor or staff member to be signed, and they never see it again. Friends of mine left their Obama books in Washington D.C. two summers ago and have not received the books back. They are pissed.
At the Hillary event, my friend Mary Campos, a hugely influential Latina organizer in Des Moines told me that she was trying to get a book signed by Bill Clinton for her friend at the Mexican Consulate in Omaha. A staff member took the book, promising to get it signed. No deal. And she is pissed.
Working for Al Gore in 1999 opened my eyes to political memorabilia freaks. Rule number one: Never let your prized book or poster or campaign button out of your sight. You need to be very diligent and get up to the rope line to get it signed. Do not give it to anyone.
And I have a message for all the campaigns and candidates: Get your act together. Get those books signed and returned to their rightful owners. You are losing your best supporters by not doing that. I hope all the campaign staffers who see themselves in this post will do your best to return all those items to the junkies out there, waiting for their fix. It's only right.
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