Assertiveness is the key to politics

Congressman Stephen Horn's press secretary Mary Hinds gave a presentation in Professor Ivan Goldman's Journalism 319 class on Wednesday and covered such topics as resources available to students at the congressional office, internships and jobs available, and the road to success in the business of political public relations. Horn is of the 38th district which includes Cal State Long Beach.

"A congressional office primarily is a resource for it's constituents, and CSULB by virtue of the university fits within the congressional district and are our constituents," Hind said.

Help with term papers in relating to tracking down information is available in the district office. Internships are also available and recommended by Hinds.

"The reason I want to encourage you to consider internships is because when you go looking for a job your perspective employer wants you to have as much real life experience as possible."

Internships in a congressional office are not as glamorous as they sound, Hinds said. However, interns are invited to see special or famous visiting guest speakers on Capital Hill.

Internships are available at Horn's office in both Lakewood and Washington D.C.

Hinds, in an effort to describe the random road to her niche in politics, presented an outline of her resume.

"I was a marine's wife and a freelance writer. Then I started as a White House volunteer. Next, the 1990 economic summit and after that was the Bush re-election campaign as a staff writer. Then I was a stringer at the L.A. Times and other magazines," Hinds said.

Finally Congressman Horn's press secretary summed up the paradigm to a job in the Capital by saying that there is no set route.

"Politics is very much like the entertainment industry. It really is a matter of being in the right place at the right time."

It is, however, about a little more than just being lucky, Hinds said. Foremost are the proper skills and attitudes. She added that a strong writing base, diplomacy skills and an aggressive or assertive personality are necessary.

Hinds described an example of one intense day in Washington D.C. trying to lasso support for a human rights campaign with Congressman Horn on Capital Hill.

"The Congressman wanted to have a press conference with Kurdish rebels that were staging a starvation strike in front of the Capital, and it turned out that day that the President of South Korea was there and created a huge distraction."

Faced with a deficit of attention and only an umbrella as a prop she decided to let her assertiveness kick in.

"So here I was with these emaciated Kurds and a congressman, and then I saw Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington D.C., who was going over to see the South Korean president, so I hiked may skirt up and ran over to him and physically took hold of him, so he came over [to the human rights press conference] along with several members of Congress I grabbed as well. That is the epitome of what is aggressive," she said.

For more information on the 38th district congressional office internship program and general questions students may call (310) 425-1336. Also, the e-mail address is Steve.Horn@mail.house.gov.