I remember the most peremptory of knocks, the sound of his voice talking even as he walked in. … He was charged up, going a mile a minute.ADDED: I'm going to guess that Love's job included constant access, and that the routine was to knock on the door to give an alert but then to barge in.
“Hey, Reggie, we need to go over the schedule” – at which point the senator finally noticed my friend in bed, covers pulled to her throat, mortified.
“Oh,” he said. “I apologize.” Then he turned around and hurried out.
That is the routine that was followed in judicial chambers when I was a law clerk, and we clerks needed to consult with the judge. We were supposed to knock but then go right in, not make the judge come to the door or yell out "Come in." Once, I went in that way, and the judge was lying on the sofa (reading), and I said "I'm sorry." I got the impression that even saying "I'm sorry" was an unnecessary distraction. Just get on with whatever it is we are working on and ignore these personal, bodily details.
Obama's relationship with Love was more intimate than that, and my instinct is to say: Obama did nothing wrong by barging in, Love shouldn't have diminished Obama's full right of access to his personal aide by having a lover in the hotel room, and Love shouldn't be cashing in on his erstwhile intimacy with the President by telling us things like this.
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40 comments:
Jealous lover.
Obama had the hotel master key? Even pre-presendency he couldn't observe even the most basic propriety and simple negotiation protocol of knocking on a door and waiting for an answer? One shudders to think what he's like now!
Oh, we know.
Tony Hale's "Bag man" schtick on 'Veep' is the one of the best parts of the show. I can imagine that there are a lot of politicians that have their guy.
I believe in Hollywood terms the "Body man" would be called a Production or Personal Assistant, depending on who was paying them.
Wow, the MSM is already trying to fast forward to the apocryphal legend stage of Barack Obama?
Supposedly Reagan once found his assistant in bed with 10 UCLA cheerleaders and said, "Get outta here, O'Neill, let me win one for the Gipper." And all 10 said it was the best night of their lives.
The end.
Honestly I'm just surprised the WaPo went with such a low bar when they could've made up a truly flattering story.
In a hotel room, there's always that device that stops the door from being opened even with the master key.
As I say in the post update, I bet Love was supposed to be available at all times. That was his job. That's why Obama came in like that. The knock was the minimal privacy level that gives the person the chance to cover any nakedness and quit picking your nose.
Well, but in defense of Reggie he might feel like including this anecdote protects the Obamas from the rumor that Obama is gay and that Reggie Love is/was his lover. One may argue that it these times that shouldn't be a slur, but accepting that point entirely, the point is that this rumor does impact Michelle and their kids.
So I doubt that the poor guy is doing this without thought and I doubt that he sees it as any betrayal of his loyalty. Just my thought.
I don't equate a hotel room to a judge's office.
Being available at all times doesn't necessarily include barging into his hotel room after a cursory knock.
"Love shouldn't have . . ."
You are applying standards of class and good taste to Barry's people.
I'm guessing they'll give you more opportunities to pass judgment as they try to craft the legend and make money doing so. I'm also guessing none of them will care.
The difference between Clinton and Obama is Obama accidentally walks in on a scene, where Clinton would have stood and watched.
Hah! In 45 years of romp time who hasn't been been barged in on or been the bargee? Especially I our younger late 1960's to early 1970's lives. I've even taken the odd phone call here or there - though that was back when phone calls were a tethered and more precious commodity than today's wanton and promiscuous telephone usage...
Obama sounds jealous that Love is getting some intimacy. Why should his campaign for president not subsidize Love's love life? Wasn't Obama's entire life being subsidized by his campaign for president? Was his love life being harmed by the campaign?
Anyway, I agree with Maxed Out Mama. It's to counteract the gay rumors about them.
Monkeys can learn to see themselves in the mirror
I don't think the issue is whether or not it was wrong for Obama to walk in like that.
His man was offering some consolation to Obama's embarrassment. Obama was probably angry but he could have shown some grace and given a better answer. "I'm glad to see someone is having fun on this campaign".
Fernandinande said...
Monkeys can learn to see themselves in the mirror
Before some goofy racists cry "racism", the monkey in the article is Caucasian.
"Brando said...
The difference between Clinton and Obama is Obama accidentally walks in on a scene, where Clinton would have stood and watched."
Nah, he would "Give that man a cigar!"
woman? so he is not gay?
"Love shouldn't have . . ."
So you are proceeding as if this story is real, not a big smoke screen because of persistent the rumors?
When I was young, I thought JFK was the very model of a perfect family man. I think future generations will learn many interesting details about the domestic arrangements of the Clintons and the Obamas. Obama has plausible deniability, and it's possible that his home life is as upstanding as that of, say, Jimmy Carter. With the Clintons the only question is how sordid and sleazy they really are. I get the sense that what we know is just the tip of the iceberg.
I think Althouse's take in the addendum is right, except that I think this is probably vetted and authorized by the Obama staff. Reggie isn't going to piss off the best line on his resume. He is being allowed to cash in, and this doesn't make Obama look that bad.
I wonder if Bertie ever walked in on Jeeves having his way with the chamber maid.
They really are trying to stop the talk about Obama and Reggie. Maybe after he is out of office, he will come out of the closet.
I think this story is bulllshit.
With three Ls, apparently.
The fact that Althouse believes this ridiculous story is the best explanation yet for her 2008 vote.
Remember when Reggie and Swaggy played Spades during the Osama raid?
Er I don't know. If the story is true we now know that Reggie Love goes both ways.
It would be difficult to lower my impression of either one. What is a "body man".
I believe in Hollywood terms the "Body man" would be called a Production or Personal Assistant, depending on who was paying them.
The proper term, however, is "valet." Or you could just call him a general purpose manservant.
Do repubs get to have Reggies or Humas?
PM317,
That was my first reaction. First time I've heard that Love was heterosexual (NTTATWWT)
I don't think he has been outed for sure as gay but all I'd heard so far was rumors that he was.
Is it possible that he was in bed with a man and Obama changed the story?
Something else fishy: This took place in 2007, why would Obama have had a "Secret Service master key"? He was a junior and unknown senator and he had Secret Service protection?
And why does this come out now?
Could be just a coincidence, I suppose.
John Henry
Ann,
I understand the "Knock then enter" protocol. It is fairly common out in the real world.
Generally it applies to offices though, not to bedrooms.
If a judge had a private dressing or robing room, would you knock then enter and perhaps catch him/her in their skivvies?
I suspect you would wait for a come in or the like.
John Henry
Then you have LBJ who used to sit on the crapper taking a dump with the door open so he could dictate and give orders to his male and female staff.
A man like that would probably not respect anyone's privacy.
John Henry
"Anyway, I agree with Maxed Out Mama. It's to counteract the gay rumors about them."
I heard there is a test to see if a man is gay by comparing the length of his ring finger to the length of his index finger (pauses to self-exam). If the ring finger is longer, he's straight.
Don't ask, don't tell.
Chillblaine,
Are you sure about that ringfinger thing?
I just checked and find that my right ring finger is slightly shorter but my left one slightly longer.
Does that mean I am bi-sexual or does it mean I am trans-gender?
John Henry
You'd think the SS knew who was in the room?
The valet must always be at the beck and call of the narcissistic King.
That's only one thought about this story that hit me.
Re: RecChef:
The valet must always be at the beck and call of the narcissistic King.
Well, yes, that's his job. What do you think this is, the 20th century? Just wait -- in a matter of years we shall reinstate the Master and Servant Act! That is, after all, the whole point of the immigration amnesty.
John Henry, most interesting. I recommend you seek the counsel of a qualified specialist of phrenology, astrology and divination. To me it's all cool.
Matt Blaine
Beard
Please, this BS is cover for the fact that they are gay lovers.
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