This counts as a woman in politics....right?

     So for my last post about women in politics I'm getting a little unconventional. Rather than talk about an extremely influential women rising in the political sphere of the United States, my focus this time around is a little bit more.....well....unrealistic.
    My last woman in politics that I'm focusing on is not a real woman in politics, she's actually a television show character. Amy Poehler's character of Leslie Knope from the NBC show "Parks and Recreation" has progressed further than any other woman in politics in this year. In 2011, she was just the head of the Parks and Recreation department of the fictional Indiana city of Pawnee and in 2012, after a long and grueling race against a rich son of a businessman, Leslie won the seat of councilwoman.
     I know I sound like a total psycho, speaking of a television character as if she is a real life politician, but truly, as weird as it may sound, Leslie Knope is a character that serves as an inspiration for all little girls that aspire to one day become a politician. The history they give the character of Leslie is that of a woman who has dreamed of being a politician in her small All-American town, and one day president, since she was a little girl. As a child she served on the Model UN, Mock Trial, Young Democrats, Young Republicans, Young Independents, Debate Club, and she was Co-VP of her student body.

      The character of Leslie resonates in all girls and even guys that we have ever known as children that we thought of as "that kid that's going to be the president one day." Not only does Leslie have intentions of becoming the first female president, in addition she refuses to give up her stances even when people discourage her. One time, she tried to hang out with all of the guys of the city hall so she could become the first woman to hang out in the political "boys club".  Not only does Leslie have big dreams, she has a "wall of inspirational women" which include big current players like Hillary Clinton and Madeline Albright (who is often in the background of her interview scenes at her desk, as seen in the picture above).

Leslie and her crush Joe Biden

     But nothing is more interesting than watching Leslie Knope's reactions to Washington D.C. and in a very epic episode, her reaction to her biggest crush, Vice President Joe Biden. Leslie Knope is legitimately the mixture of every pop culture woman in politics with big dreams in a small po-dunk town of people who refuse to buy smaller sodas (despite her intended soda tax) in one clever written TV character who is played by a very talented actress.
     This show accurately pins every girl with political aspirations, yet also accurately pins the inner workings of local government. Nothing is more accurate than the dramatic nature of the debates over the small issues that burden a small town (such as resurfacing of sidewalks). Parks and Recreation makes politics fun and for that I treat this show and it's main character, Leslie Knope, as valuable political symbols.

Leslie Knope targeting obesity in Pawnee