I Don’t Care if You’re the Richest Guy in the World
Roll Call Staff
I Don’t Care if You’re the Richest Guy in the World. Billionaire Bill Gates learned the hard way that the Secret Service means business when it comes to checking identification at the White House gates.
Gates showed up at the White House on Wednesday afternoon for a substantive meeting with Homeland Security Department Secretary Tom Ridge. But when he was asked to produce some ID, Gates said he had left it in a vehicle parked nearby.
While HOH has to assume that the Secret Service officers recognized the
founder of Microsoft, they refused to let Gates in. So he had to cool his heels as Microsoft’s chief lobbyist, Jack Krumholtz, rushed back to the car to get the ID.
Fortunately for Gates, it took Krumholtz only about 60 seconds to retrieve the wallet, so the big shot didn’t have to suffer too long in Washington’s 95-degree heat.
“It’s like that VISA commercial,” one insider joked about the spot featuring various celebrities who aren’t allowed to cash a check without some ID.
Gates eventually made it past the gates for his meeting with Ridge. And then, with his ID presumably in his pocket, the billionaire huddled with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) to discuss tech policy.
Kucinich Scoop. If you get liberal Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen on the phone, you never know what the man who has endorsed the presidential campaign of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is going to say.
HOH was trying hard to keep up with Cohen’s rapid-fire musings about how he’s no big fan of presidential candidate Howard Dean, the former governor of his own home state, or potential future candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).
But then the conversation got more interesting when Cohen was asked who his fellow co-founder in the Vermont ice cream business, Jerry Greenfield, will endorse in the presidential race.
“Hang on a second,” Cohen said.
He put down his cellphone and could be heard shouting across the room, “Hey Jerry, it’s Roll Call! They want to know who you’re supporting in the presidential race!”
After a moment, Cohen returned to the phone. “Kucinich,” he said gleefully, revealing his longtime pal’s choice.
While the company sold a “Maple Powered Howard” sundae this week in Vermont to celebrate Dean’s official kickoff, Cohen said there are no hard feelings among company officials. And he’s not bent about the fact that there will not be a Kucinich sundae.
“Neither Jerry nor I are active with Ben & Jerry’s,” he said. “We speak for ourselves, not the company.”
Cohen said his problem with Dean, who is considered a radical by many Washington insiders, is that he’s actually too cautious.
“In terms of incremental change, he’s the best of the lot who’s running,” he said. “But in terms of the fundamental, systemic change we need, clearly Kucinich is the only guy who would provide that.”
As for Clinton, Cohen said he hasn’t read her new book and has no plans to do so.
“In terms of her agenda and what she stands for is somewhat similar to former President Clinton and Dean — they’re all centrists,” he said derisively.
Cohen said Kucinich has the best handle on budget priorities by putting education and health care above Pentagon spending. In fact, he’s on board for the Congressman’s push for a Department of Peace to replace the Defense Department.
“Absolutely, is there any doubt in anyone’s mind that peace is better than war?” he asked.
Cohen acknowledged that he’s supporting Kucinich even though the lawmaker is a vegan who has hurt the ice cream company by not eating dairy products. “We can afford it,” he said with a laugh.
Take One for the Team. With President Bush raising $10 million for his re-election campaign this week alone, Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe has to take small comfort in any small victory that comes his way.
Hence the somewhat strange e-mail McAuliffe sent out to Democratic strategists on Tuesday night about the exploits of DNC staffer Dennis O’Brien.
“I would like everyone to know that Dennis has been a superstar today,” wrote McAuliffe. “He raised $6,500 for” the party that came after Wednesday night’s fundraising dinner for the White House candidates.
Taylor: Preventing Another Underwear Bomber
March 19, 4:09 p.m.
The intelligence community faces challenges daily. No example is more emblematic of the problems faced than the so-called underwear bomber of 2009. As threats emerge, the hunt for “persons of interest” must occur in a more reliable and efficient manner because the consequences of inaction can be catastrophic. Read Full Article
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