Can a 64-year-old go 72 hours?
You’ve probably seen Matthew Lesko on television before. He’s the guy with the funky hair and the colorful suits decorated with question marks who’s jumping all over the place, urging you to take advantage of the “thousands of programs available for people of all ages, all incomes, with or without insurance — from the government!” The Kensington resident hardly comes off as hip and modern, but he may be out to change all that: Lesko is taking to the National Mall next week for a 72-hour — wait for it — “Leskothon,” which will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.LetUncleSamHelp.com.
Lesko will set up camp in front of the U.S. Capitol from Aug. 14 to 16, and individuals may ask him questions on how to mooch off the government. Lesko proudly calls it, “One Man. 72 Hours. 100,000 Government Freebies.” Lesko claims that, with his advice, he can show you how to use the government to start businesses, get a better job, solve a legal or health problem, get an education, fix up your home, take free vacation or even get free term papers (and all for free, naturally).
But is the 64-year-old Lesko up for a three-day bender? “I don’t know how long I’ll last,” Lesko told Yeas & Nays. “I’ve never stayed up longer than a day before.” One has to wonder why Lesko would encourage anyone to take anything from the government, given how much he loathes the current state of affairs. “Everything is just bad,” Lesko said. “The government is just screwing up everything.”
Still, he sees some hope in presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, whom Lesko currently favors in the 2008 presidential race (and Lesko’s son is campaigning on Obama’s behalf up in New Hampshire). “Any of the Democrats now look pretty good compared to the Republicans,” Lesko said.
