Tom Harkin, Brad Pitt, and Me

A few years ago I went to Washington for the Sioux City Steak Dinner. Senator Harkin spoke to our group, and he recognised me (since I was chair of the Woodbury County Democrats at that time.) Senator Harkin graciously invited me to his office and gave me the 10-cent tour, introducing me to his staffers and arranging for a private visit to the Capitol building with his chief - all very nice. Apparently Harkin will even be nice to movie stars who can't vote for him:

When actor Brad Pitt's entourage requested a meeting yesterday with Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Hotline On Call reports "they laid down some conditions: clear the office. Don't introduce Pitt to anyone. Don't talk about the visit ahead of time."

"But we're told the Senator didn't take kindly to being told what to do in the confines of his own office. So when Pitt showed up around 2:00 pm, every available member of the Harkin staff -- even if they were busy -- were arrayed around the office. Harkin proceeded to introduce them to Pitt, one by one."