How the West (Wing) was won
Cast your mind back to late 2007, it’s the Democratic Primaries. Hilary Clinton has a substantial lead in superdelegates and what seemed to be an insurmountable lead in the national polls over Barack Obama. Whilst I’d like to think it was my appearance on local telly in Chicago that swung it for Barack, unfortunately the footage never saw the light of day. Because I’m an inarticulate twat. Let me explain.

I was living in Hyde Park on the South Side of Chicago, a mere 3 blocks from where the Obama family had their Chicago residence. It was a Saturday morning and my friend Jess and I had completed our traditional weekend breakfast of chili, eggs and pancakes at the local diner and were heading back to my apartment for an afternoon of watching Dexter. As we skipped through the snow on 53rd street, we were stopped by a camera crew from a local TV channel who wanted to talk to people from the Hyde Park area about their local candidate and how they thought he would fair in the upcoming caucuses. Being from Bridgeport, Jess declined to comment, so they turned to me. I explained that as I was in fact British, I wouldn’t be voting; at this point I assumed the conversation was done and turned to leave. But no, they had other ideas. How great would it be to get a perspective from someone from another country on the primary race, indeed someone from a country with a much vaunted “special relationship” with the US. Without warning, the camera was on me and a fluffly microphone thrust in my face, “so, what do the British think of potentially the USA’s first black president then?”

I should at this point explain that in real life, under normal circumstances, I have an accent that could only belong to someone who has spent their formative years in the North West of England. Indeed, I pretty much sound like an extra from Coronation Street. However, under stress, and particularly when doing any kind of public speaking, years of elocution lessons at my first school (designed to bring out my inner Radio 4 presenter voice) kick in with wild abandon and I end up sounding like Margo from The Good Life. So my response to being put on the spot like this was to reply (and you’ll have to imagine Penelope Keith saying this) “Well, I must say, he seems like an awfully nice chap. Yes, jolly nice. I imagine he’ll do a terribly good job. I’ve seen him on the telly. He was marvelous. Simply charming.”

The camera crew are looking at me in horror. Jess is doubled over laughing. They thank me and I walk away in shame, with Jess repeating the words “Simply charming” at me. They never used the footage, thank Christ. And clearly Mr Obama managed to get elected without my help.

Obligatory “Length? 4 years, with an option to extend…” joke here.
(Rakky (forgot her password) The muffin maverick, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 10:23, 2 replies)

Oh, rather!
*clicks*

Also, in London on Saturday? Bash happening! :)
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 11:49, closed)

As always
another superb gaffe.
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 13:35, closed)