chapterSix
passItAndThenWeWillReadIt
The congressional agenda that was placed in Jeremiah Issachar’s hands by Horace and Dr. Hocks seemed like an insurmountable task for a President to accomplish. The bills were written in advance by a liberal think tank and no one else had the time to read every word let alone the President.
The agenda included a comprehensive Health Care bill, an Immigration reform which including complete amnesty to those aliens in the United States at the present, and several other controversial measures that would attempt to bring financial equality to every American.
Issachar worked really hard convincing the Congress that the country needed a financial stimulus for the weak economy. In addition, the auto industry was failing due to slow growth, so Horace had a bill fashioned as a bail out for General Motors and Chrysler Corporation. The GOP was intensely against all of these proposals, and according to polls, the American people weren’t happy either.
The President was on the move all over the country taking the Administration’s plans to the people. He was in Columbus, Ohio and Abby and Josh were with him. The President and his family reserved a whole floor of the Embassy Suites near the capitol building in Columbus. Issachar with his fleet of Secret Service walked down the large hallway hand in hand with his son Josh.
“So, Josh, you like this hotel? This hotel is bigger the Mark Hotel in the city. We’ve been there before.”
“But, Dad, I like our house better than this.”
“Which house is that? …the White House or the one in California?”
Josh stopped in his tracks and let go of his Dad’s hand. Jeremiah walked a couple of steps before the Secret Service surrounded Josh. Then the President spoke, “Josh, come on let’s go.”
Josh sat down on the floor in the middle of the hallway and started to cry. At that moment, Abby came from behind and knelt down to where Josh was sitting and spoke, “Josh, why are you crying…Is something wrong?”
The President and the Secret Service assigned to him continued walking down the hall toward the elevator. They all got on the elevator leaving Abby, Josh and their SS team in the hallway.
Abby watched as Jeremiah disappeared into the elevator. Then she again spoke to Josh, “Son, your Dad had to leave…Why are you here on the floor? Please get up. We have dinner waiting upstairs.”
Josh looked at his mother and smiled. Then he said, “Mom, when are we going home?”
“We will go back soon. We have to go to a couple more cities tomorrow. You, your Dad and I will go on the big United States airplane in the morning. Does that sound like fun?”
“Mom, I want to go home. To that little house…It’s yellow and green and has two bathrooms.”
“Son, stand up!” Josh stood up. “We can’t go back to that house….I wish we could… Someone else lives there, now.”
The young Issachar and his mother walked and he was holding her hand tightly. Then he asked, “Why, mom?”
Abby, Josh and their Secret Service protection entered the elevator and immediately Abby knelt down and replied to what Josh had asked, “We live in the White House and your Dad is the President of the United States. Do you understand that?”
The Elevator arrived at their destination and Jeremiah was standing at the door waiting for his family. Josh saw his Dad and asked, “Dad, what is the President of the United something or other? Why do you have to be that guy? I want to live in the yellow house with the two bathrooms.”
The president picked his son up and carried him to the restaurant on the top floor of the Embassy Suites. The hotel reserved over half the facility for the President’s entourage. The Issachar family was escorted to a large table where the President and his staff and family would sit. They brought a booster chair for Josh.
The whole group found their seats and Josh pulled his booster chair next to his Dad. Again Josh spoke, “Dad, you didn’t answer my question,”
Jeremiah tried to ignore his son and whispered to Abby, “Dear, what’s this about the yellow house with two bathrooms?” The staff, at the table who were listening, laughed out loud.
Abby, who was talking to a staffer’s wife, looked at Jeremiah and smiled, but she didn’t say a word.
Josh again spoke but this time to his mom, “Mom, Dad won’t answer my question. Will you?”
By this time the mother and father were a little agitated and Abby politely but sternly responded, “Josh, I’ll tell you later. We are going to eat in a few minutes so I have picked a hamburger for you. Is that what you wanted?”
“Mom!!” Josh screamed loudly and everyone at the table looked up from their menus. Jeremiah and Abby smiled in embarrassment.
The President spoke, “Sorry, folks, Josh is not used to this much excitement. Josh, apologize to these people for screaming, please.”
Josh put his head on the table and covered his head with the cloth napkin that lay on the table. Abby got up from her seat, picked her son up and carried him out of the restaurant.
A few minutes later she returned to the table and their meals has arrived. Abby set Josh in his booster chair next to Jeremiah and the young Issachar immediately began to eat his burger.
Later that evening back in the hotel room, the President and Abby talked, “Abby, what was that hysteria earlier with Josh? What happened out there in the hallway?”
“Dear, Josh is homesick and I think I am as well. California has its problems and all that…. but there’s nothing like home.”
“I know how you and Josh feel. I feel the same way. How did I get myself into this mess? I guess I looked to be the most….easily swayed to their dishonest cause. I believe in the cause but not to the expense of my character. So far, my character is intact when it comes to….Maybe it’s not, though….some of this shady stuff…I am promoting…All over the country and in Congress. You repeat a lie long enough….What is it?
“You repeat a lie long enough you believe it yourself. That’s really scary, Jerry. What do we do? By the way, have you heard from Juan? Has anyone reported him missing?”
“I even checked with his cousin in San Jose. He hasn’t heard from him. I…I…talked to these ladies….he knows and they hadn’t heard from him….twins.”
“Twins?”
“Yea, he knew some twins….He….. said he knew some twins he spent time with.”
“Someone maybe you knew, as well?” She said with a wicked smirk.
“Abby!!??
“Just wondering….Talking about integrity….. But Juan was single.”
Issachar had a questioning look on his face and then he asked, “Do you have someone watching me like Horace does? Do you think I would….?”
Abby got her night clothes on and washed her face while Jeremiah waited for an answer to his question. She walked back into the suite and said, “I have my connections and so does Horace.”
The president got up from the table where he was going over the speech, prepared by others, he would present the next day in Cincinnati. Then he spoke, “So do I” Then he laughed.
Abby responded, “Seriously, I am worried about Juan. Where is he? Did he leave town and is he hiding out?”
The president shrugged his shoulders while he stared at his speech. Then he commented, “Abby, what if I…..” Issachar reached in his pocket and pulled out a flash drive. He stared at it for several seconds and then he continued, “What do we do with this?….Some of which I still don’t understand. What do you think, Abby?”
Abby did not respond so Jeremiah asked again, “Abby, are you….?” The President turned around and Abby was fast asleep on the gigantic round bed.
Jeremiah mused, “I hope I don’t put the people in Cincinnati to sleep like that tomorrow.” Issachar continue to stare at the flash drive and then he asked, “Juan, where are you? What do I do with this thing? Something will come up and…. I want to do the right thing but will the right thing hurt my family or get us all ki…..?”
Bright and early the next morning the Issachar’s family boarded Air Force One and they flew to northern Ohio. They landed in Cincinnati about two hours later. The President was to speak for a group of GM employees in a plant near the city. Josh and Abbey remained at the hotel in Cincinnati while the president spoke.
“You are, the people in this plant, the men and women of your unions, you are the key to America’s come back. Stand strong and help us promote this wide spread reform for your company. We cannot and will not let GM fall.”
The crowd cheered loudly and then the President continued, “America is the country which paves the way for all nations to provide a descent way of life for everyone in our own country and in our world. Everyone should be in your union that promotes the good things in America. We are not the country we used to be but we can be. My opinion is that all of the nations in the world should be as one. We need to stand together and provide ways for all peoples of the world to be equal. We need to get rid of the poor. Provide jobs for all.”
Again they stood and praised what the President was saying. Issachar looked deeply moved from the cheering and the applause. Then he said, “I have a hard time saying this but I need to. There are some people in our country who are not honest and lack integrity. Be aware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. I will do my best to stand for what is right weather others oppose me or not. America, GM, and the world, please do what is right not just in your eyes but the right which effects and changes the world for good. God bless, GM and God bless America and the world. Thank you.”
The Secret Service quickly ushered Jeremiah off the stage as he waved to the crowd. The media did their best to get an interview with the President but Leonard and Horace wouldn’t allow it. His chief of staff whispered in his ear as he walked to the limo. Issachar smirked as he looked back at Sidney and Jeremiah got into the car.
Sidney Leonard got into the Limo from the other side. When inside, Sidney spoke, “Mr. President, you can’t read or are you trying to make us mad?”
“Now, now, Sidney, Isn’t a President allowed to speak his own mind? I’m really tired of this. Why not just make a clone of me that you computerize and you won’t even need me…a real human being?”
“I’ll speak to Horace…Maybe we can arrange that.”
“Seriously, Sid, think about it. I need some more freedom. By the way, Mr. Leonard, I…I.. learned some stuff lately…from my friend, Juan, who is missing. Did you guys get rid of him like Horace did to Joe? I’m still sick over that.”
“When are you going to learn…you are not in charge?….I’m not either. Be really careful…. There is more going on that you know.”
“Yea, funny….Juan told me that, too and I had a hard time believing him. What happen to honesty and integrity….real leadership by merits instead of force?”
Leonard thought for a minute and then responded, “You studied under Dr. Mocks at Harvard, Jerry, didn’t you?”
Jeremiah responded, sarcastically, “You know I did.”
Leonard continued, “What did he teach you in your sociology and history classes? He said… The strong survive…not the whimps….not those who tell the truth but those who can make it past the truth….Those who can tell a good lie and make people believe it. You believed Mocks and now you believe Horace…. You soon will catch the drift…and understand if you don’t change your outlook you could lose everything …not just your friend but everything.”
It was quiet in the limo as they neared the Hilton. Issachar was in thought as he was escorted upstairs. He had plenty to talk to Abby about when he got to his suite.
