T's

  When one meets a politician, you can usually tell if they are genuine or not.  Whether they care or not.  Or, whether they just want your money.  I met two people, who I felt were really genuine people.

 The first was Tim Scott, who was the United States Senator from South Carolina.  He was speaking at my church as part of a celebration for our former pastor.  He said in his speech that his life verses from the Bible were Proverbs 3:5-6:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."  He said that he has used those verses in his everyday life to get through the challenges that come his way.  After the service was over, I went up to him and told him that those were my Life Verses, too.  They were the first verses I memorized after John 3:16. Those verses kept me going, when I was homeless.  We shared a prayer together.  He was truly a man of God.

 The second was Tulsi Gabbard, who was a United States Congresswoman from Hawaii.  She was in Columbia for the Martin Luther King Rally at the Dome in 2020.  She was running for President, although she dropped out of the race soon after.  I was standing on the side of the State House's steps, where the speakers were.  It was a very cold day.  After her speech, I saw that she was leaving, and I went up to her.  There were others who wanted to take pictures with her, but I just wanted to ask her something.  I introduced myself to her accompanied by a very firm handshake from her.  She had said in her speech that we needed to do more for the veterans.  I told her not to forget about the homeless veterans, and that I knew some personally.  She said that she never would, and then we hugged.  Despite her lack of name recognition like Biden, Sanders, Warren, or Klobuchar, she seemed to really care about the veterans and their needs.  

 Tim and Tulsi represented two different political parties at the time.  Later, Tulsi became an independent.  But, they had one common thread between them.  That thread was "caring".  No matter what one may think of their politics, and I may disagree with some of their positions, they both listened to me.  That is very rare in most politicians.  I never met Dick Gephardt who served in Congress from Missouri, but he ran for President in 2008.  On the campaign trail, he went to a small restaurant and saw a little girl.  He bent down to her and asked her name.  He didn't hear it and asked her to repeat it.  He then shook her hand and called her by name.  Then, he went on shaking hands with others.  I have never forgotten that moment.  He took the time to shake her hand and ask her name.  She couldn't have voted for him.  She may not even remember that moment now, but I do.  He wasn't looking for a photo op.  He just cared.  You can't ask for much more.

Bill

 When one goes to a political event these days, you can't just show up.  You have to register for the event, so that they can check you out to see if you are a terrorist or something.  You have to go online and get a virtual ticket.  Usually, they are free.  If they are not, then I will just stand outside and wait for a sighting.  

 One of these events was the South Carolina Democratic Party Primary winners rally in downtown Columbia at the Art Museum in 2016.  They were having it outside, because there were so many people attending.  It was February at night, and it was cold.  I couldn't feel my feet, and I was wearing several layers of clothing. When I got there, I looked around and saw a metal barrier that looked like that would be the entry and exit point for the winner who was Hillary Clinton.

 Before their arrival, I saw Star Jones.  She was just feet from me but was not shaking hands.  Then, the arrival of Hillary followed by her husband Bill.  They walked past me and headed up to a stage to welcome the folks who braved the cold weather.  After their remarks, they were leaving the stage and shaking hands with those around it.  Then, it came time to head for their car, so they had to walk right past me.  I put out my hand and told Hillary, "God bless you".  She said that she needed it.  It just so happened that a State newspaper photographer snapped a picture of me and Hillary at that moment, and it ran in the next day's paper.  

 Then came Bill.  The former President of the United States.  He was surrounded by Secret Service agents.  I stuck out my hand for him to shake, which he did.  I then said. "God bless you".  He thought I had said something else, I guess, because he looked at me kind of sternly and said, "What?".  I repeated it, and then he said, "Oh, okay".  I didn't want to get tackled by the agents.  I was going to say something like "Bill Belk says hello", but the agents would have come after me.  Belk and Clinton used to be good friends, until Belk said something bad about Hillary and Clinton cut him off.  

 So, I have actually shaken hands with two presidents.  Biden and Clinton.  Biden had a sense of humor.  Clinton probably does, but not that night.  And, no federal prison for me.

Republicans

  I have met a lot of Republicans.  Maybe even more than Democrats.  I don't know why that is, but it just seems to be.  Despite what some may think about me, I have voted for more Republicans for national office than Democrats, but I have voted for more Democrats in local elections than Republicans.  This story is about two Republicans who have both been on the national stage.

 Newt Gingrich used to be the Speaker of the House.  He was one of the most powerful Republicans in the country.  Much of what the Republican Party is now can trace its roots back to Newt.  He had come to Columbia to make a speech outside at the State House.  I went, because I wanted to meet him.  Not so much because of what he believed in.  He was a bit too extreme for me.  I saw where his bus was parked on the side of the State House, and I headed over there.  His security was a little tight, but I got to shake his hand and introduce myself.  There were only just a few of us there.  One of my former friends was right across the sidewalk from me, but he didn't say hello.  I was nice to him, but he looked right through me.  His loss.  By the way, Newt's handshake was very firm.

 Mike Huckabee and I were at Southwestern Seminary together, although he was a class ahead of mine.  At the time, he was studying to be a minister.  He became one before entering politics.  I didn't really know him then, but I think we had a class or two together.  When he was filing in South Carolina to run in the Republican Primary of 2016, I went to the Republican Headquarters to say hello.  I brought our seminary's picture book of the students to show him we were there at the same time.  The book is known as the "Funny Book", since the pictures can be hilarious.  Most of the students look so serious.  Just before he went before the cameras, I showed him my picture and his.  He turned to me and said that we both had more hair back then.  After the event, he and I were standing out in the parking lot chatting about the old days.  He said he remembered a couple of drama presentations I did out there.  He also told me how much the campus had changed since those days in the 1970's, and that I should go back.  Maybe one day.

 

Bees

  The next group has one thing in common, and probably only one.  Their last name begins with "B".  One was primarily a singer.  One was primarily in politics.  And, one was a professional golfer.  

 The first was Pat Boone.  He came to Columbia to make a personal appearance in opening a restaurant.  This was in the early 1960's, so I was just a kid.  I remember he smiled a lot and had a California tan.  He shook my hand and asked my name.  I told him, and he said he was happy to meet me.  I can't say he was sincere about that, but he seemed that way.  I also remember he was taller than me, but pretty much all adults at that time were taller than me.  

 The second was James Brady.  He had been President Reagan's press secretary and had been shot in the head during the failed assassination attempt on Reagan.  He and his wife visited my church in 1983 on the same day as the Marines' barracks bombing in Lebanon.  That is how I remember that day.  Brady was in a wheelchair.  He could talk a little, and he still had a very firm handshake.  I was an usher at church that day and helped bring him into the sanctuary.  His wife was very protective of his welfare.  Brady was known for his sense of humor, and he didn't disappoint.  He was an inspiration to us all for not giving up.

 The third was Mark Brooks.  I met him, when he was 16 in Ft. Worth.  His mother taught public speaking and drama at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  She and I developed the curriculum for a Communications major at our school.  She was a great teacher.  She invited me to have dinner at their home a few times.  Mark and his sister were there, along with his mother and father.  Mark was in high school and obsessed with golf.  He didn't want to eat as much as he wanted to hit golf balls outside.  At one dinner, he was squirming so much that his mother told him that he would have to finish his dinner before leaving to hit balls outside.  He reluctantly did so, and then he bolted out of the door.  Even in the dark, he was hitting balls.  He embarrassed his mother for not being more polite at the dinner table, but practice made perfect.  Mark went on to the University of Texas and excelled in golf.  He turned pro and won several tournaments including the Bob Hope, the PGA Championship, and more.  He came in second at the U.S. Open one year.  He also holds the PGA record for the most starts in tournaments (803).  I guess his being "rude" at dinner paid off.

 Three people who were famous in their own chosen fields.  And, all three knew that God had given them talents to share with others.  And, they did.