Lethal Trajectories - Michael Conley [57]
Crane saved the best for last. Shortly after they finished the most delicious lobster lunch Hugo had ever eaten, in a shaded veranda overlooking a scenic copse with a fountain, Wellington had finished his third glass of rare wine and reached for a box of Havana cigars—the best money could buy. After offering them their choice of cigars and then clipping and lighting his own, he’d said, “Gentlemen, there’s something I’d really like you to see. Won’t you follow me, please, to my media room?”
After making themselves comfortable in the room’s plush stadium seating, Wellington announced, “Senator, Hugo, what I am about to show you is a little promo piece I put together on the Save America tour we’ll launch later this month. I hope it wasn’t too presumptuous of me, Senator, to include you in the piece, but after you agreed yesterday to become part of this effort, I had the boys in the studio rework it to feature you.”
The “little” promo piece that Wellington presented on the wall-sized screen in Dolby surround-sound was an extravaganza that matched anything Hollywood could offer.
It started with breathtaking panoramas of the most beautiful scenic areas in America, perfectly choreographed with the deep baritone voice of Wellington Crane against patriotic background music. It then transitioned into images of great American moments including victory in World War II, the moon landing, and the defeat of the Soviet Union in the Cold War, with dramatic footage of the Berlin Wall being torn down. Hugo was enthralled with Wellington’s commentary: “… it all came with a price tag and obligation. We shed our blood for the values set forth in the Pax-Americana philosophy, and we must not be ashamed to stand against alien doctrines, the welfare state, un-American activities, and the liberal dogma subverting our true American values.”
The next part, honoring great American leaders, was even better, Hugo thought. To his great delight, his boss followed the batting order of Abe Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan; Collingsworth was featured on the steps of the Capitol in rolled-up sleeves, talking to high school students. “We are blessed to have a man like Senator Tom Collingsworth picking up the mantle of leadership and fighting for the true American values manifested in the Pax-Americana philosophy,” Crane pontificated as the U.S. Naval Choir hummed “America the Beautiful” in the background.
Looking over at his boss, Hugo could see Collinsworth wiping his teary eyes.
After setting the stage with patriotic nostalgia, the documentary completed the trifecta by contrasting the bumbling efforts of the BM administration with the results that the Pax-Americana philosophy could have generated. Crane commented in voice-over, “We’ve caved in to communist China, deserted our loyal allies, forgotten our manifest destiny to oversee the well-being of the world, and squandered opportunities and resources. We’ve allowed foreigners to take American jobs, rob us of our time, talent, and treasury and subvert the American way of life. We’ve catered to masses of American workers too lazy to work, and we’ve allowed alien doctrine, religions, and liberal dogma to corrupt all that is good in America. It’s time to stand up and take back the country we love.”
Just then, a blaring commercial jarred Hugo from his dreamy reverie. He did a quick scan of the quad screens in front of him and found nothing that interested him. The Save America campaign trumped everything else. That was where he would invest his efforts. But, once the program launched, he anticipated a strong backlash from the White House,