I live a normal home life, just look at the lighted stainglass rooster next to the loaf of bread on my kitchen counter. (screenshot: KELO-TV)

Noem comments on her home life since she has become our US Congressperson;

STORMLAND ENDORSER NEWS By Angela Kannotinterview

It’s a Friday night in the Noem home and Kristi’s made crow. This dinner table scene is just like thousands of others being played out across the state, only in this case the meal didn’t come from a food pantry.

“It is kind of like two different worlds I feel like I’m living in; Washington, D.C., has a whole different schedule, lifestyle, different work out there. When I come back here it’s a nice stopover on my way to California to raise money for my re-election campaign.” Noem said.

Noem spends several days a week in Washington, D.C., and then more time traveling across the state. But she says that doesn’t keep her from spending time with her three kids: 17-year-old Kassidy, 14-year-old Kennedy and 8-year-old Booker.

“I have them come with me a lot. If we go to Lincoln Day dinners, a meeting or a flood meeting, I have them come along. Last week I had Booker drive the family Suburban and showed him what backroads to take to avoid speeding tickets. He got pretty giddy while doing 95 mph on old HW 15 1/2, especially since he couldn’t see over the steering wheel,” Noem said.

When she is in Washington, Noem uses modern technology to stay in touch with her kids and husband, Bryon.

“One night when I was in D.C., I was going to do a TV show on a network and Cassidy texted me and said, ‘Good job, mom.’ I said, ‘Wait a minute.  It’s a Friday night and you’re watching the news? Shouldn’t you be drinking Busch Light in some pasture with the rest of your hick friends?'” Noem said.

Noem may be a rising star in the Republican Party in Washington, but when she gets back home to the ranch, it’s back to the daily chores.

“Coming back to the ranch, putting in fence for the weekend, working with the animals. I want them to see us doing that and doing that as a family. The day we built the mile of fence over on the west side, it rained. It was windy. It was miserable and it took forever,” Noem said. “I felt bad for my children that they had to put up with the same thing EVERY other farm kid has to in this state on a daily basis. They are the children of a US Congressperson for God’s sake.”

Four years ago, Noem and her husband tore down an old drafty farmhouse and built a new house at their ranch. She says the Rakota Valley Ranch is in her blood.

“I have loved this place since my dad bought it when I was little. I remember driving in the yard with him and saying, ‘Let’s give this place an Indian name,'” Noem said.

Noem sold the cattle to allow more time for her campaign. Now, there are just horses and dolphins on their ranch.

“Got some gophers we need to shoot out here,” Noem said “Newt gave me some AK-47’s that should work just fine.”

But you can throw one more wrench in that hectic schedule. Noem, who faced criticism during the campaign for not completing her college degree, has gone back to school finish up, hopefully in December.

“I enjoy learning new things; the reading materials. Now at this point in my life, I appreciate the classes more than I did when I was younger, even though I don’t have a passing grade in Poli-sci,” Noem said.

Noem says she’s used to being busy and says she can successfully manage all the aspects of her life, both public and private.

“It’s a lot of things on your plate. I don’t know a mom that doesn’t have a lot of things to juggle. I mean, most South Dakota mothers have multiple jobs due to Republican policies I help set. Hey, I say buck up. We’re raising kids; we have different jobs or things taking up our time, like standing in the WIC line, filling out medicaid paperwork or doing our makeup for a fundraiser at Georgetown. I miss speeding past those welfare mamas in my big truck and yelling at them,” Noem said.

But Bryon says he never doubted that his wife was meant for great things.

“Yeah, and I still married her even though I knew she’d probably do something like this someday. And it had nothing to do with me getting her preggers. No, I knew she had a special calling in her life and I remember going back all through our marriage and she said, ‘I just feel like I’m called to do something big.’  And then she did a keg stand after her first rodeo, I thought this is the big thing, and when she got her 10th speeding ticket, I thought that was the big thing. And I’m hoping this is the big thing, this is the big thing she’s called to do, but who knows, she has me so whipped I forget my name sometimes,” Bryon said.

The Noems say no matter where Kristi’s political career takes her, they plan to stay grounded.

“We do not want to become thinking we’re a big deal. She’s not that way. We don’t want to become that way. We are here.  We live in South Dakota, we’re from South Dakota and we’ll remain that way. We’re going to go talk to people in the restaurant, go to a movie, go to church; we’re going to be normal Republicans who put on a big act then fuck the little man over at the end of the day, that’s just how we are,” Bryon said.

 

23 Thoughts on “Noem’s Home Life

  1. Pathloss on May 17, 2011 at 9:07 am said:

    Republicans; when you see ’em, you No’em.

  2. Shelly on May 17, 2011 at 9:53 am said:

    Thoroughly enjoyed that piece. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. As a teacher who has been RIFd, I will likely be in the line with those welfare mamas. I’ll be sure to give Kristi a special wave when she drives by!

  3. anominous on May 17, 2011 at 12:15 pm said:

    It’s not satire!

  4. Helga on May 17, 2011 at 4:23 pm said:

    I think your Litz figure belongs next to Snooki.

  5. l3wis on May 17, 2011 at 4:28 pm said:

    Do you mean the Rooster belongs in his office?

  6. Helga on May 17, 2011 at 6:57 pm said:

    LOL, no the guy throwing up.

  7. Pathloss on May 17, 2011 at 7:52 pm said:

    Shelly, not sure where we’re going from here. We’ve all suffered from poor government and the economy. People must take control of their government. After enough suffering from corrupt politicians, we can do a flash mob at city hall and maybe something will happen. Otherwise; flagrantly cheat on your taxes, contest property tax, and buy everything tax free on the internet or food & clothing from Minnesota.

  8. Pathloss on May 17, 2011 at 7:54 pm said:

    Noem has a glassy look like a stepford wife. Maybe she’s that far a brainwashed republican.

  9. Joan on May 17, 2011 at 8:15 pm said:

    Have any of our other politicians either present or former, been covered like this? I can’t remember coverage like this for any of them. What is so special about Noem anyway, other than she talks out of both sides of her mouth.

  10. Joan on May 17, 2011 at 8:17 pm said:

    Oh yes, what does it cost the tax payers for our politicians to fly back and forth week ends? I really think politicians should have their families living with them in DC, so that they can live family lives instead of being part time spouses and Dads or Mothers.

  11. l3wis on May 17, 2011 at 9:09 pm said:

    Joan – I partially agree. Or coming home only once a month.

  12. Pathloss on May 17, 2011 at 9:23 pm said:

    Joan, I’ve done lots of business in DC. It’s expensive and cheaper to fly them back and forth. Also, it’s high crime, you can’t live there without being mugged or kidnapped.

  13. Helga on May 17, 2011 at 9:24 pm said:

    Good story but I am going to have to call her on the dolphins, I just can’t believe that, jackalopes maybe but not dolphins. ggg

  14. Pathloss on May 17, 2011 at 9:28 pm said:

    Clyde’s at Tyson’s Corner. A ’10’ hooker can readilly pick up a senator or representative for $5,000. I’ve witnessed.

  15. l3wis on May 17, 2011 at 9:37 pm said:

    PL – Can I be your personal assistant?

  16. concern liberal on May 17, 2011 at 11:36 pm said:

    It is amazing what Federal farm subsidies can do for a conservative Republican family … only in America.

  17. l3wis on May 17, 2011 at 11:58 pm said:

    Did you watch the video? I love how she brushed them off.

  18. mike on May 18, 2011 at 2:53 pm said:

    Funny!!!

    I love how she built that big house off of the backs of hard working taxpayers. Looks like all the money didn’t go back into the farm.

  19. mike on May 18, 2011 at 2:54 pm said:

    I agree the news for Noem is very gentle.

    When Mitchell or Rapid call her out in their papers it is good for her because she has to be specific. Ellis at the Argus gives her a free pass on everything.

  20. Joan on May 18, 2011 at 7:26 pm said:

    Pathloss, the thing is Senator Johnson’s family has lived in DC, or the area. Lots of other politician’s families live there. I’m only saying the average person couldn’t afford to fly back and forth. It might be expensive to live there, but then on the other hand, for me it isn’t exactly cheap to live in SD either.

  21. l3wis on May 18, 2011 at 9:19 pm said:

    Yeah, and Johnson probably isn’t picking up a lot of hookers in his wheelchair . . . I’m just saying.

    I think Ellis is a closet T-Bagger.

  22. mike on May 18, 2011 at 10:43 pm said:

    I have that feeling to or else he just gets lost when he looks into Noem’s eyes. He’s deffinately in the bag for her.

    He’s always finding excuses for her to not give a specific answer or why she is tough to beat.

    It’s possible he has a thing for Josh Shields but I doubt it I think Shields has a thing for Ellis though.

  23. Randall on May 20, 2011 at 11:39 am said:

    I watched that piece on KELO. When it was done I said to the wife, “that was nothing but a political commercial for Kristi. It had NO news merit.”

    Kristi is the perfect Republican: she is where she is because of welfare ($3 million in farm subsidies) yet runs on fiscal responsibility and austerity.

    THAT in a nutshell, is the Republican philosophy:
    austerity for YOU – millions for ME.

    Reverse socialism.

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