Sometimes, the best ideas come while you’re just spinning your wheels. At least that’s how it happened for Daniel Island resident Beth Brannan, who had an epiphany of sorts while riding a stationary exercise bike during a class at the local East Shore Athletic Club. Brannan decided then and there, as her feet went around and around in circles, it was time that politicians stopped doing the same.
"I had just watched the ‘State of the Union’ address the night before and was really so disappointed," she said. "It seemed that the House and Senate were much more interested in displaying party loyalty than in actually trying to work together. It just seemed ridiculous at times."
Tired of watching things on the political scene seemingly going nowhere, Brannan began pondering a question.
"I was wondering if women were in the majority in the House and Senate, would we act the same way?"
That led to another thought. Perhaps women in America had a message for President Obama about the real state of the union and perhaps she could compile those thoughts into a book.
"It must have been my focus just to get through the (spin) class!" said Brannan, a mother of three who operates her own jewelry business. "…I’ve been thinking of writing a book for quite some time now."
Brannan’s debut book, titled "Dear President Obama," is now in the works. With help from fellow Daniel Islanders Janie Still and Shana Meyer, Brannan has been reaching out to women all across the country to gather personal messages for the President. Still, who has lived in a number of places, including Hawaii, Florida and Germany, has enjoyed the process thus far.
"It was intriguing to me, because this is something I would never do on my own," she said. "So, it’s fun! Because (Beth) is so excited about it…you know this is going somewhere."
"The premise of the book is to give the average American woman a chance to be heard," added Brannan. "From the responses that I have received, it is amazing the things that are most important to women. Most could care less what ‘party’ it comes from, they just want to see results from our elected officials."
Brannan hopes to collect 1,000 responses to feature in the book, which may also include entries from young girls as well.
"It’s a simple concept," she said. "But hopefully when (President Obama) reads it, and all the male egos that sit on the opposite side of the aisle, it will give them an insight as to what we as women, mothers and wives of America really want and expect of our government."
Brannan, who is shopping for a publisher for the book, said the feedback she has received so far has been "amazing." The messages for President Obama have been very broad and not focused on any one thing in particular, although she has received several entries on health care.
"I haven’t really gotten any derogatory things" said Brannan. "A lot of women say ‘we support you, we know what you’ve had to deal with,’ and I’ve gotten a couple of pages about health care!"
Women interested in adding comments to the book can contact Brannan at Bethbrannan6141@gmail.com.
"The biggest thing that has surprised me is how passionate women are, and not about the issues you would think," added Brannan. "I have gotten a lot of responses that are a page long, others just a few sentences. We want them all!"
Brannan is hopeful her presidential project will show her children the power that is within each of them to make their own dreams come true.
"I have come to a point in my life where I have a little more time," she said. "I just want to show my children another example that you can really do anything you put your mind to."