In the Southwest Las Vegas campaign office Jessica Marciel is a usual suspect. Every few days she brings in a new batch of signed pledge cards for her field organizer Julie. “I wear my Obama buttons everywhere,” says Jessica. “I strike up conversations about Barack wherever I go and I have the pledge cards at the ready.” Jessica has noticed that more and more people have heard about Barack. “I get a lot of good response when talking to people whether in-person or on the phone. The caucus is getting closer and people are starting to pay closer attention.”Fed up with the Bush administrations ever worsening handling of Iraq, Jessica was drawn to Barack’s opposition to the war from the start. “We need to get our troops home and Barack will bring them home.” In 1972, she campaigned for the Democratic Presidential Nominee George McGovern who called for an end to the Vietnam War. “We didn’t win that election but this one’s going to be a lot different.” During the early 70s Jessica was a member of Hair an anti-Vietnam War musical. Her and the rest of the cast toured the country performing the show in major cities. “The wonderful thing about the show,” reminisces Jessica “was that all of the actors and actresses were against the war as well.”Jessica reflected on her time in the cast of Hair by writing a chapter in Good Hair Day. In the book, she and other cast members wrote about how Hair changed them and what affect it had on the country. Jessica has seen a steady decline in the youth being active in politics. So when she ventured in the office for the first time she was surprised to see half a dozen high school students making phone calls. “It’s gratifying to see all these young people understanding their potential to change the world and believing in Barack’s vision.” Jessica attributes Barack’s appeal to young people to be because of his honesty. “I think he’s sincere. I mean look at him – nobody owns him. He doesn’t take money from lobbyists or corporations. He’s a fresh face. He was a constitutional law professor. He’s worked for civil rights. Barack wouldn’t have done those things if he didn’t have a good heart. He could have made more money doing other things.”I asked Jessica what she thought about the essay that Barack wrote in kindergarten. “That’s silly. I remember when he was saying things like ‘Oh I’m not going to run for President. I’ll just stay here in the Senate.’ And then everybody started screaming for him to run. We were the people that said ‘Please we really need you.” He wasn’t going to run until he saw that the public wanted him to.”
Not only does Jessica talk about Barack Obama wherever she goes she also sings about him! She is currently re-recording a song with Duncan Faure (of the Bay City Rollers) entitled “A New Today”. “Duncan wrote the song almost twenty years ago but the song is very relevant with what’s happening with Obama today." Jessica sang a few lines of the song for me. Here’s the chorus:
“We’re re-mastering it right now and it should be ready in week or two.” Stay tuned to the Nevada blog for a preview of “A New Today”!
You're a rock star Jessica. Thanks for all of your help!
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