The iCongressman, page 15
part #2 of The Michael Bennit Series Series
“So you are okay with it?”
“I wish Americans were using social media to comment on things of substance instead of this carnival I’m in, but I’m glad they’re getting involved in the political process again.”
You would think I would be used to getting ambushed by the media. In a scene eerily similar to what happened on my front lawn during our campaign oh so long ago, we were accosted trying to get into the Cannon Building. Ten minutes later, the congressman is still answering questions.
“Congressman, what about reports surfacing that you orchestrated the story about the involvement of the House leadership and lobby firm Ibram & Reed to hide your illegal actions?”
“You guys are all capable journalists, so stop allowing yourselves to be spoon-fed and do some digging of your own. If I told you I found a Thai hooker with a snorkel on, lying flex-cuffed in a bathtub full of cherry Jell-O at Johnston Albright’s house, would you take my word for it, or would you verify it first?”
“That’s not a believable claim.”
“Neither is yours,” the congressman says with an amused laugh. “I have to get going, folks. Thanks for the chat,” the congressman says just before we weave our way to the entrance.
We led every newscast and found ourselves on the front page of every newspaper the day after his spectacle in the hearing. Headlines reading “Flipping Out,” “Congressman Flips Off Committee,” and “Flip You!” screamed from the pages of the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and every paper in between.
As evidenced by the horde we just encountered, the story hasn’t lost any interest in the four days since. The talking heads have been going nuts over the Bennit hearing on the cable news channels every night. Panels of experts have nearly started riots on their sets over their defense of one side or another. Mister B may have reignited ‘Bennitmania’ with the American people, but he’s got the establishment tearing themselves to pieces on television.
“A hooker and Jell-O?” Vince asks the congressman when we move into the grand foyer and are far enough away from the press to not be concerned about anyone overhearing. Vince is known for some classic one-liners of his own, and is beaming like a proud father that his boss is still equally capable. It’s been a while since we have heard one.
“Too much?” he asks in reply.
“No, it’s good. I can’t wait to see that on YouTube,” Vanessa chimes in, already no doubt thinking about the headline for it.
We make our way down the hall in silence, saving any further discussion for the quiet privacy of our sanctuary. Walking in, I conclude it’s not so private after all. The flurry of activity of the staff is something I’ve never seen before.
“Okay, will one of you please tell me why am I suddenly being bombarded with tweets about hookers and Jell-O?” Kylie demands playfully as we cross into the congressman’s outer office.
“Priceless! It won’t be long before that’s trending,” Brian observes, content with the prospect of making sure that happens.
The congressman gives Kylie a kiss and a hug then waves us all into his office, Vince closing the door behind us. The gang all headed south down I-95 from Millfield yesterday. Pissed that they missed the fireworks at the committee meeting, they aren’t about to skip the show at the final vote on the House Floor.
“Since we’re only campaign staff, are we allowed to talk about this here?” Amanda asks, sensing that there probably is some line between official and campaign duties.
“They are about to throw me out on my ass. Ask me if I give a damn,” the congressman says pleasantly, but with a tone that lets us know what he thinks about the rules right now.
“Let’s start with you, Emilee,” I say as we all take our seats on the couches and chairs in the office.
“The aptly named ‘Congressman Flips Out in D.C.’ is setting records at YouTube. So far, over forty-five million views in the first twenty-four hours and over three hundred million in the last four days.” The congressman whistles, and even Kylie looks impressed. I’m not surprised. Politicians doing something unexpected rates right up there with stupid pranks and cat videos in terms of what people will invest a couple of minutes to watch.
“The best part is they are following the link to our site we posted at the end of the video,” Brian adds. “I checked Google Analytics this morning.”
“Google what?” Peyton asks.
“Analytics. The short explanation is it allows us to track where web traffic comes from. It’s very exciting.”
“You make me so hot when you talk geek,” Peyton responds playfully. “Please don’t stop,” she pants as she unbuttons the top button of her shirt. Brian turns bright red before trying to continue.
“Uh, yeah, uh … anyway, uh …”
“Peyton, knock it off or we’ll never get through this. Another thirty seconds and Vince will start baying over there,” the congressman scolds with a laugh. It’s been almost two years since we were all in a classroom together, and yet nothing feels like it has changed.
“Anyway, the hyperlinks from YouTube account for almost eighty-five percent of the traffic that visits the Meet the iCandidates website I set up. Many of the drop offs from the main site are to individual icandidate sites in districts. Our allies are getting a lot of traction.”
“All the icandidates announced their campaigns on Monday night after the hearing,” Amanda reports. “They have gotten a huge bump in the polls because of all the publicity surrounding us.”
Amanda has taken on the role of liaison between our campaign and the others. Congressman Bennit made it very clear to us that he didn’t trust that being left to Blake and Senator Viano. Much to my dismay, he is warming up to the former. I’ll question his sanity when he trusts the latter.
“Publicity is an understatement,” Vince states. “The media has gone ballistic over this. Watch this.”
Vince turns on the television and tunes into CNN. Sure enough, they are talking about us on their morning show. He then flips to a few others. Fox & Friends, Morning Joe, and CBS This Morning are all the same. GMA and Today had moved on to other stories, but no doubt we got some attention on those programs as well. Congressman Bennit is the hot topic of the week, and all of the networks are cashing in on us again.
“Like, where are they getting their information from?” Peyton asks. Vince shakes his head and we all look at Kylie.
“I may have leaked an item or two and pointed others in the right direction,” she says coyly.
“Nice!” Xavier, Emilee, and Vanessa say in unison.
“I’m sure your current employer will just love that,” I add. It’s no secret that the relationship Kylie has with the Washington Post is a tense one. Even working as an investigative journalist, they have shielded her from covering almost anything to do with Mister Bennit to maintain the appearance of integrity and unbiased reporting. Probably a smart move on their part, but she isn’t on board with the decision.
“Not one bit, but screw them. I have been on the sidelines long enough.”
“Okay, I hate to be the guy who brings up unpleasant subjects again, but what are the odds we survive the vote tomorrow?”
“Afraid you’re wasting your summer again, X?” the congressman chides.
Xavier asked the same thing back when we first started the campaign for Mister Bennit two years ago. He was a great basketball player in high school and knew that he would eventually land the scholarship he earned to play at Syracuse. He didn’t want to waste his time back then, but somehow this is different.
“No, it’s not like that Mister … Congressman B.”
“Mister is fine, Michael works too.”
“Yeah, that’s still not gonna happen,” Vince opines from his spot along the wall.
“Honestly, it’s good working with you guys again. I don’t want it to end tomorrow,” Xavier confesses.
“It’s not going to,” Vanessa reassures, “but where do we stand?”
“They are going to win by forty votes according to the majority whip’s staff,” Peyton says with a flip of her hair.
“How do you know that?” Kylie asks.
“I spent some time last night at Ebbit’s something-or-other. Some guys started hitting on me and said they worked for the Democratic whip. I played the dumb college girl visiting a friend at GW, and by the third drink, they were telling me anything I wanted to hear.”
“You got served in one of Washington’s most notorious restaurants within stone’s throw from the White House?” Congressman Bennit asks incredulously.
“Yeah, why? Is it hard?” I just shake my head as the others let out a chuckle. I love Peyton, and while she may come across as a dumb blonde, that girl is one of the slyest people I know.
“There’s no way we can make up that many votes in a day,” I say, dejected. I wish I could be more optimistic, but I’ve been in this town a year and I get crushed every time I do.
“I don’t get it. Why would they vote ‘yes’ if they know about the video? Why would they support a lie?”
“Some of them don’t condone flipping tables at committee hearings. Other members are all hanging their hats on Congressman Reye’s testimony,” Vanessa practically spits while saying. She loathes disloyalty.
“The extremes in the media are doing the same. That clip of his testimony is being shown again and again to provide cover for their favorite candidates so they can vote ‘yes’ to please the leadership.”
“I still don’t get it.”
“They can’t hide, Peyton, so they need political cover. Usually Americans are too apathetic to care what goes on here. Thanks to all the Facebook and Twitter comments, constituents are paying attention now.”
“Yeah, the traitorous bastard’s lies are going to sink us.”
“Just when you guys thought you had a friend down here, right, Vanessa?” Amanda asks. She shakes her head in disgust.
“He’ll get his, but you’d better tell him to stay away from me until then,” Vince adds with the dramatic pounding of his fist into his open hand.
Kylie and Michael share a smile, one that I used to see in school between two people sharing a secret. What could they possibly be hiding? I begin to wonder what I’m missing. I’m certain it’s not something he has shared with me, so now I need to know why he is leaving me in the dark again.
-THIRTY-ONE-
SENATOR VIANO
“Let’s end with predictions. Is Michael Bennit going to survive tomorrow’s vote to expel him? Ryan?” the host asks the one of the guests being shown on split-screen via satellite as she winds up her interview.
“I don’t think so, no.”
“Gabe?” the attractive brunette queries her other guest.
“Bennit did nothing wrong. Vulnerable incumbents won’t vote to expel him.”
“So he’ll be spared?”
“Yes, he will.”
“Thank you both for being with us this morning.”
“They still are talking about this?” Gary booms from the adjacent white sofa when he sits down.
When I was in the Senate, the only time staff was ever allowed in my house was during the extravagant parties I would throw with my husband. He is out of town so often, it was the only time he ever interacted with anyone in my political circles.
Gary is more than just staff, and he doesn’t technically work for me anyway. I have been running a low profile since I partnered with Bennit on this icandidate experiment, so having him meet me here was the logical thing to do.
“Every channel,” I respond, muting the huge flat-screen television mounted to the wall. “What have you learned?”
“James is panicking. He’s got Ibram & Reed calling in every marker they have trying to keep this thing afloat.”
“He doesn’t like to lose.”
“Yeah, that’s apparent. He must have the leadership of both parties tied in knots. They had a meeting and agreed to do whatever it takes to keep their caucuses in line. As of this morning, they have the votes to get rid of him, but it’s going to be much closer than everyone thought.”
“Giving away the keys to the castle, are they?”
“Something like that. Even my boss is getting in on the action.”
The Bennit expulsion has become a political risk for the members, so they will demand concessions for their votes. The House is filled with opportunists, so they will leverage this to get pork barrel spending for their districts, choice committee assignments, and anything else they can think of.
“This is coming together much faster than I ever dreamt. Each of the one hundred icandidates is climbing in the polls, so the establishment has to be getting very scared.”
“It’s going to be standing room only tomorrow, so I’ll save you a seat.”
“Thanks, Gary. If all goes as planned, I should be able to rescue you from your life serving the weak and helpless congressman you got saddled with.”
Gary nods in assent. He’s my loyal soldier, trusted confidant, and soon we will once again be the toast of this town. I just feel bad that it will be not soon enough to spare him the agony of working for a buffoon.
“Anything you need me to do, Senator?” Gary asks.
“No, we let tomorrow play out before we make any moves. I need you to keep your ear to the ground though. Michael is less than forthcoming with me about his plans, and I prefer not to get blindsided again.”
Gary regards me for a moment and I know what’s coming next. He hasn’t quoted The Amazing Spiderman in a while.
“We all have secrets: the ones we keep ... and the ones that are kept from us.”
-THIRTY-TWO-
MICHAEL
I am not sure if it is because today is the eve of a month-long recess or if it’s the uncomfortable subject of my dismissal, but everyone is eager to get on with the show. Floor speeches kicked off at nine a.m. and have dragged on for the last four hours. I tuned C-SPAN on the TV in the office and watched as the battle lines were drawn. What has transpired is not your typical Republican–Democrat partisan fight. Representatives from both sides called for my ouster while others came to my defense. It was surreal to see a split having nothing to do with ideology.
With only a half hour until the scheduled vote, Kylie accompanies me down to the Capitol. My staff is already hanging out in the gallery, since getting seats will be harder than scoring something on the fifty-yard line at the Super Bowl. As we reach the doors of the House chamber, I share a moment with my beautiful girlfriend.
“Would you have ever predicted a year and a half ago that it would come down to this?”
“Honestly, no,” she answers, “but I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything.”
“Speak for yourself. If I could do it again, I would have taken the blue pill.”
“The matrix isn’t real, Neo,” she says with a laugh. “You know you wouldn’t change a thing. Whatever happens in there, Michael Bennit, I will always love you.”
“I love you too. You know, this reminds me of the time during the Constitutional Conven―”
“No time for a history lesson right now, dear,” she says playfully.
“I know. Catch you on the flip side,” I say with a wink and enter the chamber for what will probably be the last time.
* * *
“The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas for five minutes,” I hear Speaker Albright say as I enter the chamber.
Cisco stands at the small podium in the Well and greets the other members in the chamber. It’s a full house this close to the vote, so I grab a seat toward the back and wait for the party to start.
“A lot has been made of my testimony on Monday,” Cisco says in preamble, “and I have come to understand that there are members of this House that are basing their votes solely on my remarks to the Ethics Committee. Bearing that in mind, I wanted to clear a few things up about my relationship with Congressman Bennit.”
Most of the representatives in the room are paying scant attention. Even the Speaker, who is serving as Chair for this session, looks bored. Well, they are about to get the shock of a lifetime as Cisco spends a minute or two outlining how we met and became friends.
“So when I testified at the hearing, it was the hardest thing I had to do. Not because it was about my friend, but because I had to lie during the whole thing.”
The Speaker’s head shoots up, questioning whether he just heard what Congressman Reyes just uttered. I would pay money to see the looks on my staff’s faces up in the gallery right now. Chelsea verbally berated him outside of the committee room following his testimony and wondered why I stopped her. Now she knows, although will be pissed I kept it from her.
“You see, I was approached by the majority whip with a proposition, one I can only assume was on the behalf of all the leadership in this body. I was offered millions of dollars in earmarks for my district and even several plum committee assignments in return for false testimony against Michael Bennit.”
There is a collective gasp in the room and Speaker Albright has to bang his gavel several times to bring the room into order. Guess they didn’t see that coming.
“I waited until today to come forward with this, mostly because I wanted to see if the promises were upheld. They were. If you check House Resolution 871, you will see an earmark for eleven million dollars for my district. Also, yesterday I was named to a coveted seat on the House Banking Committee. Now, I would love to say I earned those, but ask yourselves a question. How do I, an independent, get granted such rewards when the other independent here is systematically ignored?
“I suspect most of you won’t take my word for this. It may be because I’m new, or an independent without party affiliation. Maybe you just hate Hispanics and think I should be cleaning your pool instead of making laws.” Of course he had to get that line in.
