Governor shows humorous side during Bloomington visit
Bob Zaltsberg
Bloomington Herald Times;
March 30, 2009
While President Obama recently went on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Gov. Mitch Daniels last week showed what he might be like playing a late-night talk show audience for laughs.
Visiting Bloomington for a luncheon sponsored by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, Daniels warmed up the crowd before getting to serious topics.
He said he had visited an elementary school recently, and one of the kids came up to him with a request. The youngster said his friend said he’d give him $30 if he smacked the governor on the posterior.
Daniels’ response: “What’s my cut?” The kid told him $10, and the governor told him to smack away.
Tough times call for creative revenue generation, even though Daniels said he didn’t take the money.
The governor said he’s also visited several prisons around the state in his time as the state’s chief executive. He’s been told that it’s unusual for Hoosier governors to visit correctional facilities.
“In Illinois,” he deadpanned, “the governors visit prison all the time.”
He talked about his father, noting that he once asked him if he could have a new car. “If you get good grades, read the Bible every day and get your hair cut,” was his father’s reply.
A few weeks later, he took his dad good grade cards and told him he had been diligently reading the Bible, so he wanted the car. “But you didn’t get your hair cut,” his dad said.
Young Mitch acknowledged he hadn’t done so, but said he’d learned from his Bible readings that Samson, Moses and even Jesus had long hair.
“You’re right,” his father said, “and did you also notice they’re all walking?”
