January 13, 2015

"Well, Reggie, it’s actually not a consolation to me that my campaign for president can help subsidize your love life."

Obama said to his "bodyman" Reggie Love, after Love said "You know, sir, if it’s any consolation, I’m having the time of my life." The "consolation" was offered after Obama walked in on Love when he was in bed with a woman:
I remember the most peremptory of knocks, the sound of his voice talking even as he walked in. … He was charged up, going a mile a minute.

“Hey, Reggie, we need to go over the schedule” – at which point the senator finally noticed my friend in bed, covers pulled to her throat, mortified.

“Oh,” he said. “I apologize.” Then he turned around and hurried out.
ADDED: I'm going to guess that Love's job included constant access, and that the routine was to knock on the door to give an alert but then to barge in.

That is the routine that was followed in judicial chambers when I was a law clerk, and we clerks needed to consult with the judge. We were supposed to knock but then go right in, not make the judge come to the door or yell out "Come in." Once, I went in that way, and the judge was lying on the sofa (reading), and I said "I'm sorry." I got the impression that even saying "I'm sorry" was an unnecessary distraction. Just get on with whatever it is we are working on and ignore these personal, bodily details.

Obama's relationship with Love was more intimate than that, and my instinct is to say: Obama did nothing wrong by barging in, Love shouldn't have diminished Obama's full right of access to his personal aide by having a lover in the hotel room, and Love shouldn't be cashing in on his erstwhile intimacy with the President by telling us things like this.

40 comments:

Unknown said...

Jealous lover.

PB said...

Obama had the hotel master key? Even pre-presendency he couldn't observe even the most basic propriety and simple negotiation protocol of knocking on a door and waiting for an answer? One shudders to think what he's like now!

Oh, we know.

Xmas said...

Tony Hale's "Bag man" schtick on 'Veep' is the one of the best parts of the show. I can imagine that there are a lot of politicians that have their guy.

I believe in Hollywood terms the "Body man" would be called a Production or Personal Assistant, depending on who was paying them.

Franklin said...

Wow, the MSM is already trying to fast forward to the apocryphal legend stage of Barack Obama?

Franklin said...

Supposedly Reagan once found his assistant in bed with 10 UCLA cheerleaders and said, "Get outta here, O'Neill, let me win one for the Gipper." And all 10 said it was the best night of their lives.

The end.


Honestly I'm just surprised the WaPo went with such a low bar when they could've made up a truly flattering story.

Ann Althouse said...

In a hotel room, there's always that device that stops the door from being opened even with the master key.

As I say in the post update, I bet Love was supposed to be available at all times. That was his job. That's why Obama came in like that. The knock was the minimal privacy level that gives the person the chance to cover any nakedness and quit picking your nose.

MaxedOutMama said...

Well, but in defense of Reggie he might feel like including this anecdote protects the Obamas from the rumor that Obama is gay and that Reggie Love is/was his lover. One may argue that it these times that shouldn't be a slur, but accepting that point entirely, the point is that this rumor does impact Michelle and their kids.

So I doubt that the poor guy is doing this without thought and I doubt that he sees it as any betrayal of his loyalty. Just my thought.

lgv said...

I don't equate a hotel room to a judge's office.

Being available at all times doesn't necessarily include barging into his hotel room after a cursory knock.

Sebastian said...

"Love shouldn't have . . ."

You are applying standards of class and good taste to Barry's people.

I'm guessing they'll give you more opportunities to pass judgment as they try to craft the legend and make money doing so. I'm also guessing none of them will care.

Brando said...

The difference between Clinton and Obama is Obama accidentally walks in on a scene, where Clinton would have stood and watched.

Heartless Aztec said...

Hah! In 45 years of romp time who hasn't been been barged in on or been the bargee? Especially I our younger late 1960's to early 1970's lives. I've even taken the odd phone call here or there - though that was back when phone calls were a tethered and more precious commodity than today's wanton and promiscuous telephone usage...

MayBee said...

Obama sounds jealous that Love is getting some intimacy. Why should his campaign for president not subsidize Love's love life? Wasn't Obama's entire life being subsidized by his campaign for president? Was his love life being harmed by the campaign?

Anyway, I agree with Maxed Out Mama. It's to counteract the gay rumors about them.

Fernandinande said...

Monkeys can learn to see themselves in the mirror

dbp said...

I don't think the issue is whether or not it was wrong for Obama to walk in like that.

His man was offering some consolation to Obama's embarrassment. Obama was probably angry but he could have shown some grace and given a better answer. "I'm glad to see someone is having fun on this campaign".

Fernandinande said...

Fernandinande said...
Monkeys can learn to see themselves in the mirror


Before some goofy racists cry "racism", the monkey in the article is Caucasian.

Curious George said...

"Brando said...
The difference between Clinton and Obama is Obama accidentally walks in on a scene, where Clinton would have stood and watched."

Nah, he would "Give that man a cigar!"

pm317 said...

woman? so he is not gay?

Shanna said...

"Love shouldn't have . . ."

So you are proceeding as if this story is real, not a big smoke screen because of persistent the rumors?

William said...

When I was young, I thought JFK was the very model of a perfect family man. I think future generations will learn many interesting details about the domestic arrangements of the Clintons and the Obamas. Obama has plausible deniability, and it's possible that his home life is as upstanding as that of, say, Jimmy Carter. With the Clintons the only question is how sordid and sleazy they really are. I get the sense that what we know is just the tip of the iceberg.

Bob R said...

I think Althouse's take in the addendum is right, except that I think this is probably vetted and authorized by the Obama staff. Reggie isn't going to piss off the best line on his resume. He is being allowed to cash in, and this doesn't make Obama look that bad.

Bob R said...

I wonder if Bertie ever walked in on Jeeves having his way with the chamber maid.

wendybar said...

They really are trying to stop the talk about Obama and Reggie. Maybe after he is out of office, he will come out of the closet.

Known Unknown said...

I think this story is bulllshit.

With three Ls, apparently.

jacksonjay said...

The fact that Althouse believes this ridiculous story is the best explanation yet for her 2008 vote.

Remember when Reggie and Swaggy played Spades during the Osama raid?

Skeptical Voter said...

Er I don't know. If the story is true we now know that Reggie Love goes both ways.

Sam L. said...

It would be difficult to lower my impression of either one. What is a "body man".

Balfegor said...

I believe in Hollywood terms the "Body man" would be called a Production or Personal Assistant, depending on who was paying them.

The proper term, however, is "valet." Or you could just call him a general purpose manservant.

SteveR said...

Do repubs get to have Reggies or Humas?

PuertoRicoSpaceport.com said...

PM317,

That was my first reaction. First time I've heard that Love was heterosexual (NTTATWWT)

I don't think he has been outed for sure as gay but all I'd heard so far was rumors that he was.

Is it possible that he was in bed with a man and Obama changed the story?

Something else fishy: This took place in 2007, why would Obama have had a "Secret Service master key"? He was a junior and unknown senator and he had Secret Service protection?

And why does this come out now?

Could be just a coincidence, I suppose.

John Henry

PuertoRicoSpaceport.com said...

Ann,

I understand the "Knock then enter" protocol. It is fairly common out in the real world.

Generally it applies to offices though, not to bedrooms.

If a judge had a private dressing or robing room, would you knock then enter and perhaps catch him/her in their skivvies?

I suspect you would wait for a come in or the like.

John Henry

PuertoRicoSpaceport.com said...

Then you have LBJ who used to sit on the crapper taking a dump with the door open so he could dictate and give orders to his male and female staff.

A man like that would probably not respect anyone's privacy.

John Henry

chillblaine said...

"Anyway, I agree with Maxed Out Mama. It's to counteract the gay rumors about them."

I heard there is a test to see if a man is gay by comparing the length of his ring finger to the length of his index finger (pauses to self-exam). If the ring finger is longer, he's straight.

n.n said...

Don't ask, don't tell.

PuertoRicoSpaceport.com said...

Chillblaine,

Are you sure about that ringfinger thing?

I just checked and find that my right ring finger is slightly shorter but my left one slightly longer.

Does that mean I am bi-sexual or does it mean I am trans-gender?

John Henry

BudBrown said...

You'd think the SS knew who was in the room?

RecChief said...

The valet must always be at the beck and call of the narcissistic King.

That's only one thought about this story that hit me.

Balfegor said...

Re: RecChef:

The valet must always be at the beck and call of the narcissistic King.

Well, yes, that's his job. What do you think this is, the 20th century? Just wait -- in a matter of years we shall reinstate the Master and Servant Act! That is, after all, the whole point of the immigration amnesty.

chillblaine said...

John Henry, most interesting. I recommend you seek the counsel of a qualified specialist of phrenology, astrology and divination. To me it's all cool.

Matt Blaine

Anonymous said...

Beard

Mick said...

Please, this BS is cover for the fact that they are gay lovers.