One of the worlds leading female blog sites, BlogHer.com, featured a profile piece today on Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA). Many times, the personalities behind politicians are lost amid policy and talking points. With today's piece on McMorris Rodgers, readers are offered a glimpse behind the scenes. An excerpt is posted below the photo:
...But there’s more to being a Member of Congress than legislation and policy talk. McMorris Rodgers has lived in the Pacific Northwest her whole life, having grown up on her family farm and fulfilling her parents’ dream of being the first in her family to graduate from college. Though she eventually went on to earn an Executive MBA, serve in the statehouse and get elected to Congress, McMorris Rodgers’ humble roots keep her grounded. She remembers the family orchard and fruit stand filled with homegrown cherries, apricots, peaches, pears and apples.
Folks in her district find her background and life experience relatable. As a former member of the 4-H, Rodgers was fond of showing her lamb Freckles and participating in speeches.
“I gave my first speech in 4-H, the topic was salmon,” said McMorris Rodgers. “Decades later, I’m still giving speeches on salmon!”
As a child, McMorris Rodgers also played the piano, something her parents sacrificed to provide for her year after year. Another passion for McMorris Rodgers is traveling the world – including backpacking through Europe. She counts visiting Israel with her husband as the highlight of these travel experiences.