Michael Steele Is A Cool Cat

Mock actually called Michael Steele a cool cat last night.  To his face directly. It was when we got to interview him with a couple of other national bloggers, up close and personal at Mo’s Steakhouse in Indianapolis after the GOP State Dinner.  “How did THAT happen?” you might ask.  And the answer is that we have absolutely no idea.  But we’ll try and give you a timeline of last night’s events, because the entire night was totally surreal and just one more example of the kind of shenanigans that Mock and I get ourselves into on a regular basis.  

The evening started out with Mock and I primping after a long day of work, showing up at the downtown Marriott at 5:30, and acting like we knew what we were doing. It was our first GOP State Dinner, and we were just two chicks in a sea of Indiana Republican regulars. On our walk into the hotel, we saw a bunch of Tea Party people outside, signs and all, protesting the ridiculous Washington spending like champs. We went over to talk to them, and they were a bit shocked that we were the same, drowned-rat-looking girls that they saw last Saturday at the July 4th Tea Party. Last night, we had decent clothes on. And makeup and stuff. One woman even said, “well, you gals look a lot better than you did a few days ago.” We have decided to take that as a compliment.

On to the dinner.

When we walked in the door, we pretended to know where we were going and what we were doing, as we were greeted by a cute staffer guy who knew exactly who we were. “Oh, you’re the Chicks on the Right! Your nametags are on their way now. Hold tight and I’ll bring them to you when they arrive.”

Of course, Mock and I thought that was completely hilarious, seeing as how we hadn’t met this guy before and seeing as how we are just two regular chicks who really had no business being anywhere near this event.  And yet there we were, being kind of fussed over, and Mock turned to me and said, “I think that there are people here who actually think that we are SOMEBODY.”  And then we broke out into a fit of giggles at the very thought that anyone could find us remotely relevant.  

So then we sat, waited for our nametags, and made up stories about how the GOP had hired special pigeons from Venezuela to fly our specially-made nametags in, just for us.

Our nametags arrived, and we started mingling. Our good pal and supporter, “J” was introducing us to everyone she could.  J is one of those rare chicks that is void of girlish cattiness – she has done everything over the past month to support our efforts to make Chicks On The Right a success.  She’s quite possibly been our number one chick supporter, and in true form, she spotted Michael Steele from across the room, right as he whisked in, and she directed us to go, go, go. With Mock’s camera in her hand, she moved us across the room and within 10 seconds, we were talking to Michael Steele. I told him that I loved listening to him on Fridays on the Bill Bennett show. And after chit-chatting for about 10 more seconds, Mock threw out her now-standard request whenever we meet someone fabulously important: “Mr. Steele, ” she said, “Would you entertain a kiss on the cheek from us?”   He obliged happily.  He didn’t even seem scared or ANYTHING.  And the result was this:

After the kiss shot, people started shuffling in for dinner. I was starving at this point. I’m one of those girls who would be a complete failure at anorexia, because unless I eat something every two hours, I feel like I am going to either pass out or throw up from lack of food.  As the official program began, naturally the Star Spangled Banner was sung, and you guys – it was quite possibly the longest rendition of the song ever performed in the history of the planet.  My stomach was starting to eat my small intestine at this point as Mock scanned the room for stray pieces of bread.

And just when I thought I was going to get my hands on some bread, our two seats at corporate-sponsor Table 14 turned into one seat, due to a miscount.  Mock and I expressed our need to stay together (there is strength in numbers, after all), so the same cute staffer who got us our nametags worked his magic.  “E” from the Governor’s office instructed that we needed to be taken care of, and taken care of we were.  Our new table assignment?  The dead-center of the room. At the Mayor’s table. Yeah.  And without going into too much detail about the reception we received from the mayor’s staff at said table, I’ll just take this opportunity to reiterate how much we LOVE THE GOVERNOR’S STAFF.  I can say that the pretzel-bread was yummy, our chicken dish was divine, and after chowing down on some good GOP State Dinner vittles, my stomach stopped the invasion of my small intestine. Mock and I were in the center of the room at the GOP State Dinner, and it was pretty damn cool.

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman spoke briefly, and Mock and I especially loved the way she described Mitch Daniels’ absence (he was on vacation with his family).  She said, “Mitch is on vacation, but yes, we know where he is, we know how to reach him, and he is with his wife.”  LOVE.  Indiana Chairman Murray Clark then introduced Michael Steele for the keynote.  And you guys – he was AWESOME. I expected a good speech, but his speech was ridiculously real, motivating, and all around fitting for a cool cat like Mr. Steele. It was quite possibly the most down-to-earth political speech I’ve ever heard.

After dinner, we met up with the writer for Hoosier Access who told us that a reception for Mr. Steele was being held at a steakhouse shortly, and that we should join him there because it was possible that bloggers would be allowed to ask a few questions.  Again, Mock and I just looked at each other like, “Whaa?  WE are going to be able to ask questions of the Republican National Chairman?  US?”  Ridiculous.  But we weren’t about to pass it up, so off we went.

The place was PACKED with people.  We made our way up to the 2nd floor where a few bloggers were hanging out and taking pictures and video, and we waited.  About 20 minutes later, we were shuffled into a tiny dark room with no chair, filled nearly to capacity with just tables.  There was probably standing room for maybe 5 people tops, but somehow about 15 people filed in, with security shouting for people to get out of the way so they could get Michael Steele in the room, and screaming for anyone other than bloggers to get out.  So we did what any other self-respecting chicks on the right would do.  We climbed up on the tables and finagled our way into sitting DIRECTLY ACROSS from Michael Steele.  Here’s some video taken with Mock’s camera of everything getting started:

The official questioning began, and somehow, we were able to get questions in of our own.  Cameras and microphones were shoved into our faces, and we just went with it. We expect video of that shortly, which we’ll obviously post, but yes, Mock told Michael Steele ON CAMERA that he was a cool cat. And I asked him directly (with the caveat that he had to answer as though he and I were just sitting down, having beers together) who he thought should run for president in 2012. I had follow up questions and everything. And he was engaging and responsive and looked us right in the eyes, and answered OUR questions – questions from just two regular chicks. Unbelievable. Even this morning, Mock and I are wondering how in the world it all happened.

As we climbed off the table, J quickly introduced us to (and photographed us with) former Governor Jim Gilmore, who was so sweet to us and happy to take one of our cards. If we’d had more time, there would have been face-kissing, I can promise you. Next time.

Inexplicably, we are headed to yet another fabulous dinner this Saturday – the Young Republicans’ Gala, courtesy of both “E” and the great Kevin Kellems. A full report, complete with more face-kissing, will follow on Sunday.