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Learning politics at ground zero Bob Pennell photo Teen�s summer job took her to Philadelphia and the GOP convention By Dani Dodge Kayla Wiest, 14, got a jump start on her political education this summer � but the Crater High School freshman didn�t go to summer school. Instead, a summer job took the Sams Valley girl to the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia in late July and early August. Her cousin and his partner were the official vendors for the 2000 convention, and Wiest inventoried, stocked and sold thousands of T-shirts, buttons and baby bibs bearing hot-selling buzz words like "Dubya." "I wanted to see what it was like," Wiest said of her adventure in national politics. "It only happens every four years." She worked in a store just steps away from the convention in a place called PoliticalFest, where people bought souvenirs, got pictures taken in a fake Oval Office and listened to a chorus sing patriotic songs from dawn until past dusk. Instead of Muzak, live broadcasts of the convention blared all around her. The experience has opened her eyes to politics. "I�ve gotten lots more into it," Kayla said. "Before I was just, oh hmmm. It didn�t really involve me. But I got there and it was like, �Wow, this is a big deal.� You just don�t understand how in-depth it is until you get there and experience it." She�s even tuned into the Democratic convention since returning home. She considers herself an independent � something that caused Republicans in Philadelphia to give her worried glances. "The Republicans, they were all just hard core," Kayla said. "It was like, �I�m a Republican GGGRRRR.� " And did she see anyone famous? "Oh yeah. (Comedian) Chris Rock. He came right into the store," she said. "He walked like five feet away from me." And what about George W. Bush, the Republican nominee for president? "Yeah. He walked past the store with a whole bunch of body guards . ... But Chris Rock had two really big ones." As she sold Republican doodads, elephant knick-knacks, and Philadelphia souvenirs, Kayla often listened to the speeches. She said she was most impressed by vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney�s speech. "When you heard him, he struck you as a good guy," she said. It was a fluke of fate that took Kayla to Philadelphia. Her relatives invited her to help with the convention when she visited last spring. At first Kayla declined. She was raising a steer to show at the county fair, and the dates conflicted. But the steer suffered an accident, lost 300 pounds and in the end was in no shape to be shown at the fair. "If he would have been well I would have taken him to fair. Since I couldn�t, my summer was open," she said. "But I guess I would have rather gone there than stay here." While final numbers aren�t in yet, projections show souvenir sales between numerous stores, outlets and Internet sales should surpass $1 million, more than the 1996 convention in San Diego. Kayla said souvenirs bearing "Dubya" and "W.2000" were the hottest sellers. "People would come in and spend $300 to $400 in just one buying," she said. "Texans went crazy. This one lady bought like 20-plus T-shirts." But Kayla�s summer isn�t only going to be about working from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day and making minimum wage. She headed for a weeklong Yosemite camping trip with her father, Mark Wiest, on Friday. He said he had concerns about sending Kayla all the way to Philadelphia, but is glad he did. "The beneficial ramifications will continue into the future," he said, beaming at his only child. "At 14, it�s a good time to become aware of these things." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA