Well, here they are... low-quality pics fresh from my Consumer Reports Recommended Best Buy camera, taken this morning at Governor Christie's townhall event at Hoboken Catholic Academy.
As always, I refer you to Da Horsey at MSV for fine photography and finer reporting.
Which you won't get here.
The press setting up, pic taken around 10:30 am. The event started around 11:15 am.
Kyelia Colon walking onstage before showtime; she and another African American (a gentleman) were randomly selected by Governor Christie's handlers to sit up there with the City Council.
It's just my opinion but when politicians want to use ordinary people as stage props I think they ought to be compensated. They're asking you to do a job, right? Because they think you're special and want to sit with you. That's work. Then they should pay you, or at least give you some designer swag. I mean, celebrities get bags of it for going to events to be seen. So politicians (like Governor Christie) want to be seen with you for free? Does he work for free? And are you supposed to feel lucky to be sitting on some crappy folding chair seared by a hundred pairs of eyeballs?
Please.
Later I approached the stage prop victim to ask what he thought about being put up there. He said it was "Alright". What a good sport.
Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer introduced the governor, and in a moment that surely delighted her detractors, called him "Governor Corzine". Oops. It was pretty funny, lots of chuckles on and off-stage.
I should note on stage were City Council members Ravi Bhalla, Carol Marsh and City Council President Peter Cunningham.
And where was Councilwoman Beth Mason? Sitting in the audience.
I couldn't figure out why, except perhaps rather than showing respect for the office of the Governor, she wanted to make some symbolic gesture. Like, "Feh! Who needs you, Mr. Governor-pants!" Beth Mason doesn't need swag, by the way.
Here was the Q & A portion. First up: Donna Antonucci, who spoke about PILOTs.
And can you see the 2 underage stage props passing out on their father? So, it's NOT okay for Kathy Lee Gifford to have 13 year-olds in Honduras sewing her schlock for 31 cents an hour, but it's okay for a politician to make even younger kids sit on a stage for 90 minutes without a bathroom break?
My friend, Scott Siegel, waits his turn.
And there's Beth Mason!
She was waiting patiently in line when a Christie handler approached her-- which you can see in this photo, and made her go back to her seat to put down something she was holding- not sure what. The water bottle maybe? Was he concerned she might lob it at the Governor?
There she is! Mason asked 2 questions, you can watch the videotaped exchange on MSV.
I personally don't think she did herself any favors. One question was about Christie's budget cap in relation to rising transportation costs, the other was on budget cuts to charity care (there aren't any, said the Governor).
See what you think.
New School Board member Leon Gold is not smiling; he's gritting his teeth. He had tried to ask a question after the Q&A period had ended.
A little schmoozing on the way out.
More schmoozing, with Carrie Phillips and School Board member Maureen Sullivan.
Last but not least, a gratuitous Tom Greaney photo.
As always, I refer you to Da Horsey at MSV for fine photography and finer reporting.
Which you won't get here.
The press setting up, pic taken around 10:30 am. The event started around 11:15 am.
Kyelia Colon walking onstage before showtime; she and another African American (a gentleman) were randomly selected by Governor Christie's handlers to sit up there with the City Council.
It's just my opinion but when politicians want to use ordinary people as stage props I think they ought to be compensated. They're asking you to do a job, right? Because they think you're special and want to sit with you. That's work. Then they should pay you, or at least give you some designer swag. I mean, celebrities get bags of it for going to events to be seen. So politicians (like Governor Christie) want to be seen with you for free? Does he work for free? And are you supposed to feel lucky to be sitting on some crappy folding chair seared by a hundred pairs of eyeballs?
Please.
Later I approached the stage prop victim to ask what he thought about being put up there. He said it was "Alright". What a good sport.
Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer introduced the governor, and in a moment that surely delighted her detractors, called him "Governor Corzine". Oops. It was pretty funny, lots of chuckles on and off-stage.I should note on stage were City Council members Ravi Bhalla, Carol Marsh and City Council President Peter Cunningham.
And where was Councilwoman Beth Mason? Sitting in the audience.
I couldn't figure out why, except perhaps rather than showing respect for the office of the Governor, she wanted to make some symbolic gesture. Like, "Feh! Who needs you, Mr. Governor-pants!" Beth Mason doesn't need swag, by the way.
Here was the Q & A portion. First up: Donna Antonucci, who spoke about PILOTs.And can you see the 2 underage stage props passing out on their father? So, it's NOT okay for Kathy Lee Gifford to have 13 year-olds in Honduras sewing her schlock for 31 cents an hour, but it's okay for a politician to make even younger kids sit on a stage for 90 minutes without a bathroom break?
My friend, Scott Siegel, waits his turn.
And there's Beth Mason!She was waiting patiently in line when a Christie handler approached her-- which you can see in this photo, and made her go back to her seat to put down something she was holding- not sure what. The water bottle maybe? Was he concerned she might lob it at the Governor?
There she is! Mason asked 2 questions, you can watch the videotaped exchange on MSV.I personally don't think she did herself any favors. One question was about Christie's budget cap in relation to rising transportation costs, the other was on budget cuts to charity care (there aren't any, said the Governor).
See what you think.
New School Board member Leon Gold is not smiling; he's gritting his teeth. He had tried to ask a question after the Q&A period had ended.
A little schmoozing on the way out.
More schmoozing, with Carrie Phillips and School Board member Maureen Sullivan.
Last but not least, a gratuitous Tom Greaney photo.
Grea-ney, Grea-ney, Grea-ney... It's a groundswell. Or it will be before I'm done.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, this town's seeming very Updike.
ReplyDeleteOr better yet, Atwood.
ReplyDeleteStill better, Marcel Duchamp.
ReplyDeleteThe urninal is where?
The, ahem, fountain is in the gents privy. It's quite lovely, not to mention functional.
ReplyDelete@ "It's just my opinion but when politicians want to use ordinary people as stage props I think they ought to be compensated. They're asking you to do a job, right? Because they think you're special and want to sit with you. That's work. Then they should pay you, or at least give you some designer swag. I mean, celebrities get bags of it for going to events to be seen. So politicians (like Governor Christie) want to be seen with you for free? Does he work for free? And are you supposed to feel lucky to be sitting on some crappy folding chair seared by a hundred pairs of eyeballs?
ReplyDeletePlease.
Later I approached the stage prop victim to ask what he thought about being put up there. He said it was "Alright". What a good sport."
This sort of flies in the face of the fact that there are people will fight for the chance to be a stage prop, would do it again for free in a heartbeat, and being on the dais may well be their main topic of dinner conversation for days on end.....albeit they may or may not have a clue about the politics involved. It's their Warhol 15 minutes, there is no first party victim, it's "alright". Or maybe props should unionize.
ply, there was a lot of projection in my piece. Because I would hate being dragged up there, so would require a big, giant swag bag for the trouble. And I mean BIG... stuffed with Gucci, Prada and Hermes knick-knacks.
ReplyDeleteYes, you make a great point that some might fight for the chance.
And unionizing is a perfect solution to guarantee stage prop fees, working conditions (bathroom and lunch breaks, upholstered seating) and medical/dental benefits.
ply, you're always thinking!
.....and from what I've seen lately, maybe the blogging press should unionize as well, and hold out for hazard pay. Also might need to review the rate card for freedom of speech.
ReplyDelete