Not All Circuses Need Have Clowns

GUEST OPINION

Bernie Sanders supporters at Hillary Clinton’s book signing on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017 (Photo – Garrett Rowlan).

Book signings are usually a placid event with a sparse crowd of fans, invitees, and the author’s friends gathered in numbers that—it is hoped—will not offend the creative ego.

By Garrett Rowlan

Sometimes, if the author has a reputation, a following, there may be a roomful of people, usually thanked profusely by the author for coming.

If the author is a celebrity, there might even be a line going out the door.

And then there is Hillary Clinton.

Well before her Friday afternoon book signing at Vroman’s was about to commence, the crowd went around the block, and up Oak Knoll. Some wore pro-Hillary gear, while others wore lettering proclaiming “Nasty Woman,” a reference to a remark made by the then-Republican candidate about Hillary. Trump supporters were not in evidence, but Bernie Sanders supporters were, presumably exiled by the authorities to the southwest corner of Target, where they sang a song blaming Hillary for Trump’s election, the words matched to the tune of “Jingle Bells.”

There was a spirited give and take between Hillary supporters and Bernie’s according to Lisa Smith, a Clinton supporter who was there at seven in the morning for the two o’clock signing.

She was one of the late arrivals, by the standards of the day. Some arrivals camped overnight, and others arrived at five a.m., according to an employee of Jones Coffee, the shop that adjoined Vroman’s.

Some arrivals for Hillary’s event camped overnight, and others arrived at 5 a.m. (Photo – Garrett Rowlan).

Finally, at one-thirty in the afternoon, the doors opened to the 1000 people who had bought tickets to the signing. No bags or cell phones were allowed, and no ticket, no admittance. Vroman’s was closed to anyone except those with a ticket, the numbers sold out two hours after going on sale October 16^th.

Once admitted, the ticket holders had to walk past a maze of book shelves to reach Hillary, who was sequestered in a recess of the bookstore away from the stares—and who knows?—the less friendly intentions of whoever might be in the crowd.

Present, too, were the police, the video trucks of various news organizations, and the secret service. The latter was not interested in having their picture taken.

As the crowd began to move the Bernie hecklers left. It was a reminder that not all circuses need have clowns, acrobats, or trained animals to entertain. These days, politics is like its own circus, a reminder of which was on the streets of Pasadena.