Sandip nodded agreement. ‘In politics, the only thing that’s certain is that nothing is certain.’
That made Pippa laugh.
‘I’ll watch the interview here then come over to the West Wing,’ Pauline said to Sandip. ‘What was the second thing?’
‘The media in East Asia have woken up, and South Korean television is saying that the rebels in North Korea now have control of both nuclear bases and two regular missile bases, plus an unknown number of ordinary military bases.’
Pauline was perturbed. ‘This is no longer just an incident,’ she said. ‘This is a real rebellion.’
‘Do you want to say anything about it?’
She considered this. ‘I don’t think so,’ she said. ‘I’ve raised the alert level, and I’ve told Americans that we’re ready for anything. I see no reason to add to that message, for now.’
‘I agree, but perhaps we should talk again after we see Moore’s interview.’
‘Of course.’
‘Thank you, Madam President.’
Sandip left. Gerry and Pippa both looked thoughtful. They often heard hot political news, but this was more dramatic than usual. The family finished dinner in silence.
Just before seven thirty Pauline went into the former Beauty Salon and turned on the TV set there. Pippa followed her, but Gerry said: ‘I can’t bear to spend half an hour in the company of that fool Moore,’ and disappeared.
Pauline and Pippa sat on the couch. Before the interview began, Pauline asked Pippa: ‘What does Ms Judd look like?’
‘Small and blonde, with big tits.’
So much for non-binary gender descriptions, Pauline thought.
The interview took place in the studio, on a set that had been dressed to look like an anonymous lounge, with lamps and side tables and flowers in a vase. Moore did not look at ease.
He was introduced by an experienced television journalist, Amanda Gosling. She was perfectly groomed, as they all were. She had carefully styled blonde hair and a blue-grey dress that showed her perfect calves, but she was also smart and tough. She would not give Moore an easy ride.
Moore had moderated his appearance. His jacket still had Western stitching, but he wore a white dress shirt and a regular tie.
Gosling began sympathetically. She asked him about his career as a baseball star, then a commentator, and finally a radio host. Pippa got impatient, saying: ‘Who cares about this crap?’
‘She’s softening him up,’ Pauline said. ‘Just wait.’
Gosling quickly got around to the issue of abortion. ‘Some critics say that your policy on abortion means that women will be forced to have babies they don’t want. Do you think that’s fair?’
‘No one forces a woman to get pregnant,’ he said.
Pippa said: ‘What? What?’
It was obviously untrue, but Gosling did not say so. ‘I’d like to make sure we get your views perfectly clear for our audience,’ she said with sweet reasonableness.
Pippa said: ‘Good idea – then everyone will see what an asshole he is.’
Gosling went on: ‘In your opinion, when a husband asks his wife for physical intimacy, does she have the right to say no?’
‘A man has needs,’ Moore said, in a voice that suggested profound wisdom. ‘And marriage is God’s way of satisfying those needs.’
Gosling allowed her scorn to show. ‘So when the wife gets pregnant, is that God’s fault or her husband’s?’
‘It’s certainly God’s will, ma’am, don’t you think?’
Gosling avoided discussion of God’s will. ‘Either way,’ she said dismissively, ‘you seem to believe the woman should have no say in the matter.’
‘I believe that husbands and wives should discuss such things in a loving and caring way.’
Gosling was not going to be brushed off that easily. ‘But in the end the man is the master, you say.’
‘Well, I think that’s in the Bible, isn’t it? Do you read your Bible, Ms Gosling? I sure do.’
Pippa said: ‘What century is he from?’
Pauline said: ‘He’s saying what a lot of Americans believe. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be on TV.’
Gosling took Moore on a tour of hot-button issues from immigration to gay marriage. In each case, without seeming to oppose him, she dug down past his sound bites and brought him to state the extreme views to which he was driven. Millions of viewers were squirming on their couches with embarrassment and disgust. But, unfortunately, millions more were cheering.