I know, I know. You get these robocalls constantly where a disembodied voice congratulates you on having won a three-day vacation to the Bahamas or Jamaica or some other tropical destination. Naturally, the call is a bait and switch. If you stay on the line long enough, you eventually find out what they are selling.
The same might be said (in the spirit of full disclosure) about the headline of this post. Granted, if you follow the example of the little girl in the video embedded in the following tweet, you probably can finagle a free trip to D.C., but as with the robocall, there is a catch: You have to meet — and pose for a picture with — Barack Obama. (You probably also have to tell him that you’re disconsolate over his presidency coming to an end, but I know if I tried that, my tongue would fall right off its roller.)
See first grader Kameria’s wish come true after writing a letter to @POTUS. #ObamaAndKids https://t.co/YEKbv4G6lw
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 30, 2016
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
Seriously, I find his efforts to fulfill the dreams of first grader Kameria charming as hell, but I sure hope the cost of her plane fare (and presumably that of a parent or caretaker) came out of the president’s pocket. I’d hate to think that with his having nearly doubled the national debt during his eight years in office, Obama is expecting taxpayers to foot the bill for little self-indulgences like this.