The David Madeira Show is a family affair

The David Madeira Show and David’s candidacies for office have been a family affair.

“I’m his No. 1 fan,” Melanie Madeira says. “He’s a loving husband and I can never imagine that another man on the planet could ever love a woman more than he has loved me. He’s a selfless person.”

Running for office didn’t detract from family time, either: Melanie was David’s campaign manager in 2010.

“I loved it,” she says. “I really enjoyed political strategy. Those were long, unpaid days, but well-worth it because I got to be with my husband every day.”

While Melanie now serves as a sounding board for David’s show ideas, Hannah, 19, and D.J., 16, are on the front lines working for Dad.

Hannah helped her father in his two campaigns, so had some experience dealing with the media. That easily translated when he started his radio shows, especially the Under the Liberty Tree bits. Hannah’s a big fan of history, and likes to write, so creating some of those scripts for her father came naturally. Once the three-hour show started, Hannah picked up duties as talent producer, finding guests and keeping her father updated on the news. She also appears for a few minutes on Wednesdays in “History with Hannah,” a segment in which she discusses how history relates to modern American politics.

“It’s the result of being taught that history and our country are important to us, not just as Christians but as U.S. citizens, and how as Christians it’s our duty to protect the rights, the foundation, and the Constitution of this country,” she says.

D.J., meanwhile, handles web chores at thedavidmadeirashow.com and also screens calls during the program. One of his responsibilities is to keep the website updated with news items. He also has to create podcasts out of the show by cutting out commercials, keeping track of topics throughout each hour, and adding information tags to it. He says he’s usually able to do it while the show is running.

And, even though he claims he doesn’t have “any special affinity for politics,” he admits his political knowledge might be better than other teens’, since he grew up in a political household.

“I’m really doing it because I want to see my dad succeed,” he says. “I’m giving my dad an edge that other people don’t have.

“He’s really fantastic to work with, first of all because he’s my dad and I like hanging out with him, but also because he pushes you hard, but he’s never difficult about it. He pushes you to learn new skills and apply yourself well.”