Bloggers, Campaign Managers, Interviews and Control

A few years ago, on W. St. Charles Street, Nena and I were in the parking lot of La Milpa Tortilleria.  Our son's friend, Javier Garcia, had alerted us to the Meet & Greet of John Villarreal for City Commissioner.  It was a sparse crowd, maybe 30, but included two men of girth, outgoing City Commissioner Ed Camarillo and political advisor Rodrigo Moreno.

Camarillo glanced our way but never came over.  We looked like and were fish out of water.  His dad, a smaller man wearing a hat, did come over.  He was very proud of his boy.

The ultra-attractive Melissa Castro in spike heels was taking pictures of clusters of people and a young girl playing by herself.  I took the same pics from a different angle.(Mine were better, lol) Melissa came over later to take my picture, saying she owed me one for removing her unflattering pic at Casco's swearing in ceremony at the Dancy courthouse.

Moreno mosied over like a protective Godfather.  "What is our interest in John Villarreal?  Were we the ones that sent him a list of questions about his view of Brownsville's needs and what he would do, if elected commissioner?"

Moreno listened respectfully as we explained that we had sent the same questions to all the mayoral and commissioner candidates including John's opponent for District 4, Dr. Antonio Zavaleta.  He promised John would respond.

Since then we've interviewed, interacted with many other candidates.  Sometimes a mother or father figure, acting as a campaign manager, would intervene.  Sometimes, the candidate would act on their own as an adult, not controlled by a coach. Check out our interviews with Donald Clupper, Jessica Puente Bradshaw and Jared Hockema.  We listened and recorded EXACTLY what they said.

Recently, a candidate inboxed us on Facebook:

"Jim, I'd like to spend time with you to discuss my platform. I feel the community deserves to know what I stand for. Kindly let me know when it would be convenient. I'm in San Francisco today but get back tomorrow. I will accommodate your schedule. All the best. XX XXXXXX

PS. Hope you and Nena are doing well"

We responded, noting a couple of available afternoons.  We received no response.  I recalled that the candidate had hired a guru, a campaign manager, the same Rodrigo Moreno who mothered John Villarreal years ago.  Maybe Moreno told him chatting with us was a bad idea.  No, I thought. This is a grown man with advanced degrees from a prestigious university and an envious resume'. 

Then, we got a message from Rodrigo:  

Rodrigo Moreno

Mr Barton here is the file for XX XXXXXX's fundraiser. Would you be so kind as to post this in your blog?

Thanks

In other words:  I won't let my candidate talk to you, but would you kindly post this free advertisement anyway?  The more things change, the more they stay the same.