1600 Madison Ave: Home of the Pimp-in-Chief

By: Michael Gabriel

Remember the Republican uproar over Bill Clinton and the "sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom" fiasco? At issue was selling access to the White House for political gain. So where is the Republican uproar over George W. Bush brazenly acting as the "Pimp-in-Chief" for the tourism industry? If this isn't an issue of access, I don't know what is.

I'm sure you've seen the TV commercial by now. The Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) has taken excerpts from Bush's recent speeches, and mixed them in with images of travel and tourism employees enthusiastically gushing in response to his call to get out and travel. Boy George says spend your money, and TIA is more than willing to thrust its hand out.

This commercial does nothing less than turn The White House into 1600 Madison Ave. What's next? Bush acting as pitchman for the Independent Petroleum Association of America? "Get out there and buy extra unleaded everyone, it's your patriotic duty!" How about if Bush appears on behalf of the National Automobile Dealers Association, standing in a car lot, and tells everyone: "Hey, my fellow Americans, take advantage of 0 percent financing. Buy a new car today and enjoy the ride of your life!" How about if McDonalds taps Boy George to drive up to the drive-thru window and order a Big Mac from the open window of the presidential limo: "Go out to eat again, America. The Fast Food Nation needs your cash!"

George W. Bush has sunk to a level lower than that of any president in history. He's always been a pimp for corporate profits and a whore for special interest groups, but to stick it in the face of the American people on national TV, to so explicitly demonstrate how deeply in bed he is with specific industries and voter blocks, make his actions that much worse.

What will Boy George give to the tourism industry in return for them giving him free TV time in an attempt to create the perception that he is a leader? Maybe relax a regulation here, a little more access there. Next thing you know, he'll appoint a new cabinet position: Secretary of Tourism. Doesn't matter if your credit card is maxed out, get on a plane and take that vacation to beautiful Orlando, everyone!

No, that's not true, is it? All Boy George is doing here is lending his boyish visage to the economic recovery of America, isn't he? This is a positive thing for a president to do, isn't it? Well, America is fast becoming a hog farm of corporate welfare and a gigantic golden soup kitchen for special interest groups that donate millions of dollars to the Republican party. It's a government of big-money GOP contributors, by big-money GOP contributors and for big-money GOP contributors, all at the expense of middle class taxpayers.

This a most disturbing development in the degeneration of the presidency. It began with Richard Nixon and continued with Ronald Reagan. The arrogance of power that is demonstrated by the Republicans who fraudulently hold office in this nation is beyond reproach. Boy George must feel as if his 85 percent approval rating entitles him to do anything he wants and to be above criticism. I've got news for you Georgie: Don't pat your self on the back too hard. Daffy Duck would get an 85 percent presidential approval rating in today's national climate of fear and apprehension. And he comes across much more professional on TV.