I met James Carville at Wal-Mart and all I got was a dirty look and a handshake
Posted on December 3rd, 2007 at 11:14 am by Jason Wright, EditorSome of you know that I live in the kind of town that made the term “sticks” famous. My home is Woodstock, Virginia, right in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. It’s a gorgeous slice of heaven-on-earth, but it’s a small slice.
So I’m in Wal-Mart recently. It’s the largest store in town by about 1000% and one of only two grocery stores. I’d heard rumors that James Carville and his wife, Mary Matalin, lived in New Market, another lovely map-dot town the Valley. But I’d not run in to them during my six months here… Until a fateful morning at Wal-Mart.
I see James (should I call him Jim now that we’re peeps?) walking toward me near the front of the store. I stop and in my friendliest voice say, “Hello there, I’d heard you live in the Valley.”
“Snort snort.” He replied with no eye contact. He may have muttered a “how are you” as he looked the other way, but it could have been something else that ends in “you” - I’ll never know.
I did what Ma and Pa taught and stuck out my hand and said, “Well it’s nice to meet you, my name is Jason Wright, I appear on your competition at Fox from time-to-time.” He shook my hand without actually breaking his stare from the display of eyeglass cleaner and mumbled something else I couldn’t have heard even if I had Lassie’s ears.
I’ve been in situations like this before, many more times than I’d care to admit, and I’ve never met a public figure (except James Spader) who appeared less interested in meeting an admirer.
So that begs the question, what media or political figure have you met that left a bad taste in your mouth?
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Phil Gramm, former US senator from Texas left a bad taste in my mouth. He’s one of the most arrogant individuals I’ve met in politics. Forgive me Ronald Reagan for speaking evil of a fellow Republican, but it’s true.
I met Congressman Chris Cannon several times, even sat in meetings with him, and he’s one pompous windbag. Thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room no matter who’s there. He’d even be the smartest guy if Darwin and Einstein invited him to lunch.
LOL!!! This is the best post PD has had in awhile, keep up the good work. I’ve had the privaledge of meeting several media and political figures, and I can think of very few of them who didn’t leave a bad taste in my mouth
I’ve met all the Dem candidates besides Mike Gravel, and all were quite nice, besides Hillary becoming a bit standoffish after seeing my Obama button. I met Mark Green, a former congressman and Gubernatorial candidate for Wisconsin, and he is by far the slimiest politician I’ve ever met, after being involved in local and national political campaigns. It wasn’t just because he looks like Gollumn, but because there didn’t appear to be a sincere bone in his body.
Jason,
Maybe you’ll be luckier next time and run into “Mrs. Carville” instead!
I ran into Larry Craig once in an airport bathroom. Sort of creeped me out
I met Zell Miller. Every bit the elder statesman in person as I had imagined.
Also met [a Republican blogger], who had a dead/limp fish handshake. Eww.
Although I don’t agree with his political viewpoints, I do have to say something nice about California uber-liberal Jerry Brown. Back in 1996 I met him in San Francisco where Brown was helping to push a fellow’s car out of an intersection where it had stalled, blocking traffic. Even though he was in a sweat-stained jogging outfit, he took the time to say hello and was generally pleasant. I’d wager that less that 10% of the politicians out there (of all stripes) would be willing to help out one of us hoi polloi!
I was a senior in high school and worked a Jerry Lewis Telethon. I stopped and watched Rip Torn do his bit then leave the stage. As he walked by me he told his manager, “Get me the hell away from all these damn kids.”
Chuck Muth was a very nice guy I had lunch with when I ran for Nevada State Assembly in ‘98.
You thought Chuck Muth was a nice guy?!?! I shall forever question your judgment. (and require future comments be moderated first)
I once nearly flattened Tucker Carlson as he walked through Times Square talking on his cell phone and not paying attention to where he was going. Were it not for my nimble feet, Tucker would have experienced what football players fondly refer to as a “lookout block”.
I met Elvis Costello before a concert, and he told me to “Go F#$K off” because I tried to ask if he’d read a piece of music I gave to his roadie the week before. My bad, I guess…
People change Jason. Besides, I did pull 32% of the vote with only a 100 dollar investment.
I hope you knew I was kidding, Troy, Chuck’s one of my favorite people. A good American and a great conservative.
Not bad for $100!
I know Jason. Say hello for me the next time you see him.
I really wish I could have beat Richard Perkins though. I could have saved this state a lot of grief and the unnecessary Nevada State College.
Jonathan Edwards has a snotty quality in real life - a laser like intensity on the ‘important’ person (saw him campaigning in Maine). Ted Kennedy is a sweetheart, nice as the day is long to everybody (sorry!); John Kerry, OTOH, is EXACTLY as advertised. McCain, when the camera isn’t on him, is just old and tired - I feel bad he’s doing this. Huckabee is a genial guy, very nice. Mitt is more SLIGHT than you would think; he’s slender anyway, but when you meet him, he makes you think of a greyhound.
He didn’t leave a bad taste in my mouth, but in 2003 I met then Louisiana gubernatorial candidate (now governor-elect) Bobby Jindal. He was really friendly, talked to me for a second or two, and he and his wife took a picture with me.
I didn’t like meeting Congressman Chris John, a conservative Dem that used to represent my Louisiana CD. He kept referring to me as “young man” despite the fact that I was in my early 20’s, and seemed very disinterested with meeting potential voters.
Met Barney Frank once… nice guy, and incredibly wonky despite his past indiscretions.
Edwards is a slimeball in person… can’t stand the guy, period.
Jim DeMint seemed nice enough, but was very aloof.
Rick Santorum is a class-act.
George Will is about like you’d expect - bookish.
Former Atty. Gen. Ed Meese is a lovely old man, and even remembered my name and said hi to me on the street a day or two after riding an elevator with him.
Texas Gov. Perry is a great guy — very likable and personable. Always chatting up the “little people” about this or that, but quite genuinely.
Saw Mitch McConnell at the grocery store once. Didn’t say hi, but seemed nice enough.
Newt Gingrich is great — saw him waiting out in a hallway in the Rayburn HOB, standing by himself, and so chatted with him for a while. Very down-to-earth. You can tell he used to teach.