Dec 27, 2011
In late December before the Caucus, I stopped at a small Iowa diner for breakfast. It was my first visit, as I had stumbled upon it by driving around the downtown looking for some place that wasn’t a franchise.
The restaurant was split into two dining areas. The rear, where three men and I sat at separate tables sipping coffee, and the front, which was clogged with cameramen, lighting and boom operators — all curiously dressed in suits and business attire.
A bearded, heavy-set man appeared from the kitchen, wringing a greasy towel. One of the regulars asked him what we were all wondering: “Whats going on up there?”
“Those are Perry’s people. They’re setting up for a visit. He’s coming by this morning.”
“Perry? Is he Democrat?”
I snorted, thinking of that recent article in the Atlantic by Iowa Professor Stephen Bloom, a poorly written attack on Iowa and its first-in-the-Nation status, which relied heavily on stereotypes and generalizations of the populous. But at that moment, for a brief second, Bloom was vindicated. This man wasn’t even aware of what party was holding the caucus.
“No. He’s a Republican,” said the owner. “He’s a governor of Texas.”
“They’re taking up a lot of your place,” one man said.
“Did they buy anything yet?” asked another.
“I sold one guy a Pepsi. The other five got water.”
The waitress brought out my skillet of eggs, peppers and hash browns, with a side of toast, bacon and pancakes. Large orange juice and a refill on my coffee.
“When he gets here, he’ll probably want it all for free,” said the third.
The owner chuckled, a bit nervously, and returned to the kitchen. I dug into my skillet and limp bacon. The patrons went back to their coffee and conversation about the late Winter, while the men up front continue to set up the “spontaneous” visit to this little Iowa diner.
I wondered what it would be like if Perry, or any other politician, walked unexpectedly into a diner and spoke with actual patrons rather than “plants.” What would happen if they didn’t have a team of handlers setting up the perfect scene?
I paid my bill, left a nice tip, and the next day I read the press online. The AP articles boasted of a crowd of over 100 supporters. (That diner could hold forty people, TOPS, and that’s without all the cameras and lighting.) Plus, I don’t recognize any of the earlier patrons in this picture. And none of the folks are wearing a hat (take that Mr. Bloom). None of them are eating either. All that owner sold, for giving up the front of his restaurant all morning, was a few Pepsis and coffee.
