Politicians as Royalty

Rob Taub   |  

May 13, 2021

Nancy Pelosi has lectured us endlessly about the merits of a healthcare system she doesn’t use.  Mayor Bill de Blasio considers climate change a key issue in a city where violent crime is on the rise, subways are again dangerous and there is a homeless crisis, yet he travels in an SUV with a police detail, while assuring us the streets are safe. Governor Andrew Cuomo lectures the public on how to live every aspect of their lives, yet even the New York Times has written about his excessive use of private planes and his behavior has earned him the nickname, “King Cuomo.”

How have politicians suddenly become our country’s royalty? It wasn’t always like this.

I grew up around politics.  My parents began working on New Jersey state and local political campaigns in the early 1960’s, eventually leading my father to work for Hubert Humphrey when he was Vice-President. 

My maternal grandparents were involved in local ward politics, so beginning in elementary school I regularly got to meet politicians, including our Congressman, Ed Patten, when he made the rounds through their neighborhood in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.  

“Eddie’s walking the ward today,” was how my grandmother described Patten’s visits to private homes and small businesses ranging from funeral parlors to pizzerias where he discussed everything from weddings to civil rights.  Politicians of that era interacted regularly with constituents, and truly understood their wants and needs. They saw how people lived because they walked the same streets and witnessed life’s glories, tragedies, and vagaries.

Prior to his presidential run, John F. Kennedy (though immensely wealthy) travelled the country in a Ford Thunderbird with advisor Ted Sorensen, visiting small towns not only to build his brand and political capital, but to grasp the pulse of America as well.  That trip was considered instrumental in Kennedy’s victory.

In the late 1970’s, I fondly recall Mayor Ed Koch, a ubiquitous figure on the streets of the city constantly asking New Yorkers, “How am I doing?”  The responses where usually rude, but like him or not, Koch was an undeniable part of New York and always available to the public. My neighborhood at the time (112^th and Riverside) had town meetings which Koch frequently attended, despite the consistently angry responses he received from us. 

I’m not proposing politicians abandon technology and return to whistle-stop tours on the back of a train, but communicating to voters solely via social media and television has completely removed today’s leaders from reality.

Filmmaker Werner Herzog once said, “The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot,” and its advice we should all heed.  For a good part of the pandemic I was without a gym, so my treadmill was replaced by long walks throughout New York City, which opened my eyes to how wildly out of touch our politicians are with the real world and the people inhabiting it. (Take a stroll through the lackluster LIC neighborhood that would have housed Amazon and created thousands of jobs if not for Alexandra Ocasio Cortez.)

What was once called “public service” is now more like some form of elite rulership based solely on ideologies rather than pragmatism and public needs. 

It’s time for our “public servants” to live like the rest of us.

The Russian Tea Room is serving up a new type of dish…

Located steps from Broadway, the New York institution has been a go-to gathering spot for artists, celebrities, and royalty since its opening nearly 100 years ago and Broadway at The Russian Tea Room is a weekly one-hour AM radio show/streaming/podcast dedicated to productions from Broadway, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and every venue in between.

Host Rob Taub is a devoted advocate of the arts, previous host of radio programs on iHeart Radio as well as a long-time contributor to People Magazine.  Rob is also a national spokesperson for Know Diabetes By Heart.    Broadway at The Russian Tea Room has created a “safe space” for actors, writers, directors and producers to discuss their achievements, artistic dreams, hysterical off-nights, and continued hopes as they share stories about their careers.

Broadway at The Russian Tea Room is a unique program, with a host who’s been attending a wide range of productions for more than 50 years.  We reach a sizable audience across the globe, and we are not here to review or critique, but rather to promote and support the arts.

The program airs Sundays from 5 – 6 pm on 970 AM and is live streamed at www.am970theanswer.com Podcasts can be found here: https://omny.fm/shows/broadway-at-the-russian-tea-room/playlists/podcast

Tune in Sunday at 5pm on 970 AM or livestream here.

Podcasts of past shows!

Rob Taub has enjoyed an eclectic career in film, television, radio and journalism. His work in television has encompassed everything from scripted comedies to producing World Wrestling Entertainment. As a journalist Rob has written more than 200 articles for top tier outlets including People Magazine, Foxnews.com The Cauldron/SI and The Huffington Post. Rob’s distinctive voice can be heard in several of the Coen Brothers most memorable movies including Miller’s Crossing and Barton Fink. Rob has made more than 200 appearances as a political pundit/humorist on Fox News where he shares his unique perspective on the world with viewers. He also plays the role of Russell Carlton on The Onion News Network and is a regular contributor to numerous Sirius XM Radio shows where he offers his opinions on politics, sports and popular culture. Rob hosted Tech Hub, a weekly radio show on WOR-AM and is a frequent speaker/commentator on type 2 diabetes as well as being a spokesperson for Know Diabetes by Heart, a joint venture of the American Heart Association. His new radio program, Broadway at The Russian Tea Room can be heard on AM970 The Answer on Sundays from 5 – 6 pm. Rob serves on the Board of Directors of the Foreign Press Correspondents Association. Rob is a graduate of Ithaca College. Learn more about Rob at www.robtaub.com twitter @robmtaub