by Dana Miller

I have had good influences during my days. I have also had my share of bad influences. This is a tale of influences I’ve sought out in the necessary name of clarity. Influence may damn well just be the highest of human skills. These are mine; I want you to find yours.

This is quite likely the most exciting presidential election of our lives. When I was a kid, the national news with Chet Huntley and David Brinkley was just 15 minutes a night on NBC. That’s how Nixon stayed around so long. Now we have oodles of channels pontificating 24/7. I watched all the shows prior to the New Hampshire primary and it was crystal clear Obama was going to kick Clinton’s ass, likely by double digits. The Los Angeles Times ran a story just prior to the primary essentially stating how all of Hollywood was close to bailing on Clinton. The Drudge Report was suggesting she was about to pull out of the race. The Gallup Poll, MSNBC, CNN and even Fox were all wrong. It was a broadcast potluck full of nonsense, and none of it was true that day. But what is yet to come? We have a woman and an African-American running for the first time in history toe-to-toe for the highest office in the land. And now, I’m quite simply confused. But hell, if you’re not confused, you’re not paying attention. So I entered 2008 in search of powerful and positive influences.

I first met Bill Clinton in 1991 in the late Scott Hitt’s living room up in the Doheny Hills. Clinton had come to the board of ANGLE, (Access Now for Gay & Lesbian Equality) to persuade us to support his struggling run for the presidency. He was eloquently introduced that evening by his old friend, political consultant and gay and AIDS activist, David Mixner. They had been friends since the ’60s. Clinton was just damned impressive. Then in 1992, Mixner brought the candidate to the Palace Theater, (now Avalon) at 1735 N. Vine, and in front of 700 of us gay reprobates Clinton proclaimed, “I have a vision of America, and you're part of it.” We were blown away. Stunned. It was electric! We all dashed to Revolver in Boystown to celebrate. Mixner had quite simply delivered to our community the first person ever with very real potential to be the leader of the free world, and that candidate made us warm, real, respected, giddy and involved. The American gay and lesbian gang went on to raise $3.5 million for Bill Clinton.

I first met Hillary Clinton in January 1994 at the Universal Amphitheater. She was first lady, and she spoke with passion and pride over her healthcare campaign. Steve Tisch and I were producing an AIDS benefit for APLA titled, “Heaven Can Wait.” It honored artists we had lost to the scourge. The evening’s chairman was David Geffen. I remember sitting in David’s then office on Sunset brainstorming on who to honor. Out of nowhere David said, “I’ll get Katzenberg and Hillary.” I swear to you right then and there he picked up the phone and got commitments from both. He also called Bruce Springsteen during the same meeting and asked him to perform his title song from the movie Philadelphia. He then called Streisand to ask her to introduce Hillary. He then buzzed Tom Hanks and even Tom Cruise. He was the master, and he got them all. It was a heady couple of hours. David clearly respected the Clintons and had a very close and special bond. That amazing event went on to raise well over $5.7 million in three hours, the largest one-off event in APLA’s history. Just a few years ago, when Bill was out of office and Hillary was in, I went to a small bash at their Washington townhouse. Chelsea was there, yearning to bolt and party a bit in D.C., and said of her parents, “Don’t worry, they’ll both pass out soon.” I kind of liked them all the more suddenly.

Cut to 2008. After the pundits pooped and Hillary won New Hampshire, I got to thinking about what the two smartest and extremely connected guys I know concerning politics thought of this election. I knew firsthand how supportive the two Davids once were of the Clinton dynasty. I also knew they were both over it. But why? I figured I’d rather hear from Geffen and Mixner than Matthews or Russert. I really wanted to hear from Shields and Yarnell, but that would be impossible.

I tracked down Geffen the other day sailing in the Caribbean. David is smart, savvy, quick and has neither time nor patience for fools. His problem with the Clintons began when the president pardoned finance fugitive Marc Rich. He is pissed at Hillary’s war votes and believes her ambition clouds her judgment. He also feels she is just too polarizing. Today, Geffen is an Obama man all the way. Simply put, he told me: “Personally, I think he is the right guy for all at this very important time in the history of our country.” What Geffen meant in the “all” part was that it included our LGBT community. Back in the day, David raised over $18 million for President Clinton. Today he’s over them. Wow!

Then I found David Mixner in Turkey Hollow on the East Coast. He lives on six acres there, thinking about the past and planning for the future. His place is a sanctuary for animals and a sanctuary for ideas. Mixner writes one of the best blogs out there. Check out www.davidmixner.com when you have a moment. He is warm and swell and still tortured like so many of us by the early days of AIDS. Mixner was a very close friend of the Clintons for 30 years. I asked him about this election. “I am strongly supporting either Edwards or Obama and have real problems with Senator Clinton. My reasons range from the war in Iraq to the type of campaign they are running to her support for the Iran Revolutionary Guard resolution to the fact that having 28 years of either a Bush or Clinton in the White House does not represent change to me. Dana, they did some amazing things 12 to 16 years ago, but I don't want to go backward, I want to go forward.”

So here’s the deal. If the two gents who introduced me to this power couple, praised and called them dear friends, raised millions, introduced entire hamlets to their ideology and supported their political lives beyond imagination have today turned on Hillary and Bill, I need to take heed. These are guys who were there. They were hanging in the Oval Office and the Lincoln Bedroom and now are nothing but totally saddened, skeptical and soured. Damned scary! A quick check this week with sharp gents in the Caribbean and Turkey Hollow has influenced me greatly. It has me thinking. It’s time to really get involved and make your own choice. Who are your wise men? Track ‘em down.

Media pundits are many, but wise and front-line teachers are few. Find yours. Talk about this election. Think about this election. Today it is nasty and confusing. But then, so is Bobby Trendy. Yet in a few short weeks we will choose the gladiators to battle for the White House come November. Gang, we gotta focus. The wrong result could lead to another eight years of most unhappy and disastrous consequences to our beloved country. Take a moment to follow your heart and get involved. Then, know where you’re going and look good when you get there!

Contact me at Malibudana@aol.com.