As pint-sized Mexican President Felipe Calderon made his way to the podium on the White House South Lawn, he was faced with a dilemma.
Step on the box behind the podium … or not.
Calderon made the decision impulsively at the arrival ceremony and “tapped the box aside with his foot to push it away” a witness told Yeas & Nays. Calderon stood, seemingly proud, Wednesday night delivering his remarks –inches below President Barack Obama.
But not everyone who’s vertically challenged has the power to kick the box.
On the Senate side of Capitol Hill, there are some notable politicians who actually bring their own stand-on box to place behind the podium in the Senate Radio-Television Gallery to elevate themselves for televised press conferences.
One of the most well-known platforms in the gallery belongs to Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. The customized box is known to her staff as “Boxer box,” and the staff lugs the wooden stand around for her and sets it up before press conferences.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who measure up to the 60 inch range give or take within the margin of error, are known to stand on a soapbox, literally.
On the other hand, the new House Radio-TV gallery has a remote-controlled podium that electronically moves up and down for the height of the lawmaker. The old school Senate, trapped in its traditions and reluctant to upgrade, has left some vertically challenged lawmakers in an awkward position.
Mikulski and Murray’s office did not respond for comment. Neither the White House nor the Mexican Embassy responded for comment by press time.
