Going Incognito
Posted at 5:25 AM on August 13, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(14 Comments)
Radio Heartland has 3 pairs of tickets to give away to Dar Williams and Haley Bonar in concert at the Minnesota Zoo on Friday, August 21st.
Use the online form to enter by 1pm today. Obey the rules. Good luck!
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Yesterday, 9th district Congressman Loomis Beechly (representing all the water surface area in Minnesota) called a press conference to do something our political leaders try regularly these days - he made an impassioned, rambling statement with a swipe at the press. Unfortunately for Mr. Beechly, turnout was low. Here's what he said to the assembled camera:
Earlier today, an irresponsible report in the media claimed that I didn't even show up to my own Towne Hall Forum about health care. That's a lie. I was there! Just because this certain reporter for a not-very-available radio station got it into his stuffy head that I wasn't, I have been unfairly criticized by people who otherwise would have paid no attention to this at all.How could this be? Maybe he looked right at me and didn't recognize me. What kind of reporter does that make him? Not very good, I guess. But you don't see me holding him up for ridicule. Until now.
A good reporter would know that I make it a habit to attend all my Towne Hall Meetings in the very same manner my constituents do - dressed as if I just got up from a half finished dinner to rush down there to give the big stupid government a piece of my mind. No Washington D.C. Inside-the-Beltway fancy suits for me. I'm a man of the people. I had on my shorts, my flip flops and a t-shirt that said "Shout First and Ask Questions Later".
Right away I got a clear sense from the crowd that something underhanded was up. Our government was trying to pull a fast one, and we weren't going to let it happen. While this "reporter" was rubbernecking around the front of the room trying to find some authority figure to explain it all, I was vocalizing my answers to the problems that face us and thrusting my fist in the air to show that I "got it". If people didn't notice it was me, that's because I don't practice politics as usual. I practice politics as unusual.
As time went by and the chanting got louder, I was frustrated by how there weren't any decent answers or explanations or anything sensible at all coming from the front of the room. Some of my staff people got up and said the rumors about what is in the bill simply aren't true. These denials made perfect sense when I rehearsed them with my aides in our offices on Monday, but when I heard them from my place out in the crowd, they rang hollow, like exactly the sort of empty thing you'd say when you didn't know what to say about a bunch of wrong stuff that's way too wild to understand.
The longer I stayed and the more I listened to these weak explanations, the madder I became, until I finally couldn't stand it anymore. Plus, it was hot in there and my fake moustache was starting to peel off. I stormed out of the meeting, along with many of my most belligerent constituents. We complained loudly to each other out in the parking lot. Fortunately it was dark, so nobody noticed my toupee was slipping. Then I went home to fume about what was being done to our country.
Earlier today, when I heard on a news report that "the congressman" wasn't even at my meeting, I got angrier. Until I realized they were talking about me. That's why I called you people, uh, person of the press here, to listen while I tell you how unfair you've been to me.
I guess you could say I had a much better grasp of what was going on in that crowd than the so called "reporter" who claimed he didn't see me. I was more "there" than anybody there. Until I went home early. As you can see, I'm still upset.
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No questions
Congressman Beechly is fortunate that most of his constituents don't have a clue what he looks like. The disguise may have been totally unnecessary.
Have you ever spotted a high profile person trying to keep it down low in public?
Comments (14)
Can't say that I have...but the question brings to mind Christine Lavin's song about Harrison Ford. Got that one handy?
Thanks for the suggestion, Linda. Good idea!
Harrison Ford is coming up!
Now that I think about it, there was one time when I was working in a bookstore and Dear Abby came in, dressed as a witch. It was Halloween, though, so probably not a deliberate attempt to deceive.
Would this be a good time for "Tou Can't See Me." by the Beatles or the Beechlies?
Dale thank you for capturing the high tone of the public discourse these days.
Thanks, Dale, for the goat song and wishes. It'll be a long hot day watching goats...kids handled by kids is always an interesting day.
Jessica Lange was in plain clothes, no make-up hanging out in the Cloquet Natural foods store...so plain I didn't even notice her, I was so taken by her beautiful daughter....I had to have Jessica pointed out to me.
I also had to be told when I was in the same shop in Aspen with Rock Hudson...celebrities don't have to dress down to escape me...
Off to the county fair!
I remember being out to dinner and realizing that the man about to walk by was Paul Wellstone. I found myself caught between wanting to jump up and say something (he's one of my heroes) and letting the man have a quiet evening out with his wife. I decided on the latter - at least in part because I was a little star struck.
I think I saw a Twin Cites TV personality on the street and I think she gave me a look that said: "leave me alone" and I did. Even without the hostile look, I wouldn't have spoken to her.
An other time when I saw a famous person I was speechless. I think I am now able to over come the speechless problem, but I hope I would manage to leave such people alone if they really want to be left alone.
I'm with Cynthia, wouldn't recognize a celebrity without the gloss, they'd be totally invisible. Often can't place them when they are glossy either.
I did live in the same neighborhood as Wellstone and Garrison and saw them often around and about, but then they're just Minnesotans at the core...
I think it might be true of all celebrities. Maybe I just don't get it, it just seems like it's recognition. I'd be just as delighted to run into a friend in NY or Paris as to run into Dennis Quaid or Tom Cruise. I'd be "Hey, I know you!" What are the odds? Dazzling!
Off topic......
I just found out that in October Richard Thompson & Loudon Wainwright III are touring together they’re calling it the Loud & Rich tour!
There’s one problem though…they aren’t coming to Minnesota! I’ve e-mail Richard’s people to ask if there is a chance a show will be added but haven’t heard anything. However I did go to Loudon’s site to see that he is coming to the Cedar in the middle of the tour, they will be in Milwaukee Oct 30th and he will be here (solo) on the 31st. The next Loud & Rich show is on Nov. 7th in Austin TX. It looks like a road trip is in my future, I can't miss this show!
Dale, could you play something by Richard or Loudon or both?
My cycling group ran into Paul Wellstone at El Burrito Mercado. I prefer to let celebrities have their peace, but two I was there with had worked on his campaign and went straight up to introduce themselves. He came to our table and introduced himself to each one of us (I think there were 6-8 of us), asked our name, chatted briefly then started his meal. I was floored by his generous nature.
Thanks Dale.....for the Loud & Rich!
Those were two fun choices, imagine what the show would be like. I love those two guys!
I see and talk to celebraties all the time in my dreams! Have had dinner with Paul Newman, etc. The great part about this is they know me too! :)
When I was a senior in high school, my choir was trying to raise money to go to Austria. We were selling Krispy Kreme donuts at the county fair and Tim Pawlenty stopped by. We sang songs we made up on the spot, carols, anything to get him to buy some donuts, but he didn't buy a single one. I hadn't liked him before, as a politician, and that certainly didn't make me like him as a person. I've met Alan Parsons though, he was as nice as could be :)
Oh, and in keeping with the two songs about Icarus today :)
http://xkcd.com/620/
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