Hal’s Take on Politicians
Politicians are interesting people. But just as F. Scott Fitzgerald said “The very rich are different from you and me,” so are politicians. The more elevated their office, the more aides they have. Aides make out their schedules, sometimes decide who they’ll talk to, and try to control their public persona. One of the great behind the scenes dramas is watching aides pace, look at their watches, clear their throats and try to get the congressman or senator to wrap things up and move along. Politicians like to talk, though, and they usually like cameras. A lot. So it can be difficult to get them to move along.
One of my favorite memories along those lines is interviewing former President Bill Clinton at, of all places, the Los Angeles International Airport, in a nondescript hallway of some kind. He was late. He usually was, we were told. We were also told we had 15 minutes to talk with him. So I, and reporters from two other stations, budgeted our time, focused our questions. As our time was ending, an aide waved at us to wrap it up. So we did. The President, though, had other ideas. He wanted to talk…about San Diego, about California politics, about illegal immigration. He wanted to shoot the breeze. It was interesting for us, but the aides were frantic. “Uh, Mr. President..uh…we really need to go.” And the President kept chatting. I quickly understood why he was usually late. We wound up with a lot of good information. His aides no doubt wound up with the need for antacids.
Politicians can be showmen. Well, many of them are. They understand how to sell their ideas. One of my favorite shows on a number of local election nights was having Congressmen Bob Filner and Duncan Hunter on together. Filner, of course, is a Democrat, Hunter a Republican. They may agree on a few things, like the color of the sky or the color of grass, but that’s about it. So I would pose a question on some topic, and sit back and watch them go at each other. They were both extremely passionate about their views, and it got a little heated. I sometimes felt as if I should be wearing a striped shirt and blowing a whistle. The viewers, however, got an interesting look at the kind of debates that go on in Congress and the sometimes vast differences between the two parties. It was interesting. It was also good television.
Three elections this year. I can’t wait.
Submitted by Hal Clement, 10News Anchor
February 5 is Election Day. Anyone can vote from 7am to 8pm at the Registrar of Voters office in Kearny Mesa. Call them for more information at 858.565.5800.
