Infidels Paradise

President Obama rallies Florida Democrats in Miami Beach

Babalu:

Throughout the years, I have met some interesting folks. I’ve met several famous politicians, governors, senators, congressmen, etc., I have also met some American Presidents as well, George H. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Bush the Elder I met when he spoke at my University in 1988. I met Bill Clinton, the candidate, when I was having lunch at an Italian restaurant in Sunrise, Florida the Monday before Super Tuesday in 1992. I met GW Bush at a fundraiser in 2003. I didn’t have my camera for Bush 41 or Clinton. I did photograph GW Bush and have some great photos of him (albeit on B&W film).

So today I got the opportunity to meet our current President, Barack Obama, during a fundraiser at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. You bet I was going to take my camera there. Interestingly enough, I had a special VIP pass which allowed me to have my picture taken with the President and I got to attend a small VIP dinner with 14 tables or so which included a speech by the President, and other important politicians with the Democratic Party. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. It was akin to being a scout for the Phillies in the Yankee locker room.

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And then while there were a few folks in front of me zipping through the photo line, I could only think of the famous lines uttered by Michael Corleone in Godfather II, “We’re all part of the same hypocrisy.” You see folks; there were people there who are as right wing as they come. In fact, at GOP fundraisers, I’ve seen many Dems there too. So I was asked by someone, “why are there GOP folks there donating so much money to the Dems?” It’s simple folks. It’s called access. You get access with only one thing – dollars. In the true scheme of things, there are no real political parties. There is only money and access. They will take your money even if you give the same amount to the other side. And the more money you give, the more they will listen to you. It’s really amazing when you come to think about it. They don’t really care about regular folks. No one does. Unless that regular folk coughs up a few hundred grand or so. So here I was, myself and my GOP friends, 5 feet away from Congressman Grayson. You think he saw us as folks that want people to die? No. He saw us as folks that probably paid a lot of money to be there, so he was most friendly with others and us in line. None of these folks are heroes. They are mere politicians. No different from any other politicians. In fact, this Dem fundraiser was no different than the GOP fundraisers I’ve gone too. They both had their share of women with excessive plastic surgery; bloated and balding men with lots of money; and young volunteers with the belief that these people are different from everybody else and that they are making a difference. Sorry to burst your bubble folks. But only money is spoken here. I think 1.5 million dollars was raised at the dinner I attended for 100 seats at 15 tables. Do the math. Unless you have the money, don’t even think you could have a seat here.

At the dinner, which followed, a few others and myself went towards the real stars there, JT, Wade, and Zo. We had our pictures taken with them and chatted up with them for a bit. We were seated and then the politicians started their speeches. Senator Nelson and the head of the Dem. Congressional Committee all patting themselves on the back and telling everyone that with additional contributions, they intend on holding the current seats and gaining more seats in the Congress. Wasserman-Shultz was there and introduced Speaker Pelosi who introduced the President.

Read the whole encounter in full with a link to Michael Pancier’s Photos of the event @ Babalu Blog