Sam grumbled as he got up out of bed. He got even less sleep than usual, and his usual wasn't enough to begin with. Thus, he was already crabby when he picked up the Post from the breakfast cart, turned to the editorial page, and saw the headline "Will the Real President Please Stand Up?"
"Will the Real President Please Stand Up?"
During the election, then-candidate Sam Seaborn-Lyman made it clear that his husband Josh Seaborn-Lyman would be an active participant in his administration. What wasn't made clear was just how active he would be. It turns out that the First Gentleman has perhaps an even bigger hand in the running of the country than the actual President. Multiple times it has gone on record that the First Gentleman was the one with the final say in regards to policy decisions. Never has the country seen such direct governing by the First Spouse.
Meanwhile, Sam Seaborn-Lyman is a political operative's dream candidate: handsome, well-spoken, and full of unrelenting optimism despite the pressures of politics. Is it any wonder why Washington's best insider married him and pushed him to run for California's 47th district just a year out of the Bartlet administration? A pretty face can only go so far in politics, so who knows how long he would have lasted without the political genius of his husband.
Sam folded up the newspaper and tossed it aside before finishing the piece. He'd heard it before, that he was merely a puppet and Josh was the one pulling all the strings. It still stung him a little, although he would never admit it.
Just then Josh came in the room, freshly showered and buttoning up his dress shirt.
Sam, still in his sleeping clothes, nodded at the newspaper lying on the coffee table. "There's another editorial in the Post today about how you're the one running the country, and I'm just window dressing."
Josh walked over and put his arms around his husband. "Sam, your words inspire people in ways I can't even imagine. You get people to care about the things that really matter, and to do the things that need to be done to make this country better. If that's not a leader I don't know what is. I'm just the guy who helps you get things done."
"Just the guy who helps, huh?" Sam said, smiling. "You're more than that, but thanks for the encouragement."
"No problem, now get in the shower."
"Yes dear." Sam gave him a quick kiss before heading to the bathroom.
It was during their daily walk through the colonnade to the West Wing when Sam brought up the subject again. "You know, that op-ed also implies that this is just a political marriage."
"I was pretty determined to be your campaign manager."
Sam looked at him with mock disappointment. "I thought you married me for my boyish good looks."
Josh looked over the Rose Garden as he spoke. "Nah, it's because you're the only one who can put up with me being a total asshole."
"Ah yes, in exchange for my undying love I get the full, uncensored Josh Seaborn-Lyman experience."
"As I remember it, you wouldn't have it any other way."
Sam nodded his head. "Damn right."
By then they had reached the Oval Office, where the business of the day was already in full swing.
"Remember, you're joining me for the international finance meeting later," Sam said as Josh was walking towards his own office.
Josh stopped and turned around. "Remind me again why we both have to be there?"
"This way at least one of us will be paying attention during the meeting."
"Okay, but what if we both end up not paying attention?"
"That is a risk I'm willing to take."
Josh rolled his eyes as he continued on to his office. "Yeah, I'll be there."
After the finance meeting was over, Josh pulled Sam to the side. "Hunt is pulling out of the urban trees bill because he says we can't afford to take on local government problems."
Sam sighed in exasperation. "So much for bi-partisan support. You know, this was supposed to be a small, easy win for everyone."
"I think you should talk to him. Get him in here, go full bad cop on him, that should change his mind."
"But didn't you just yell at him?"
"On the phone. Putting him in the Oval Office will tell him we mean business."
Sam nodded. "Okay, but I've only got approximately 37 seconds to spare him. What should I say?"
"Just call him out on the cost and hammer his whole bi-partisan shtick," Josh said as he walked back to his office.
An hour later Sam and Josh were greeting Senator Hunt in the Oval Office.
"Good Morning, Mr. President, Mr. First Gentleman," Hunt said as they shook hands and sat down in the seating area.
Sam gave him his deadly serious look. "Let's just get down to business here. The urban tree bill costs as much as the tires on one new jet the military is buying. Not even one jet, just fifteen percent of one jet, and we're buying 57 of them this year. Jets, by the way, that are made by a company located in your state. And since they are being made in your state, you're making sure the government buys as many as possible. Because if you don't, your constituents in the aerospace industry might get laid off due to lack of business, and that will cost you votes.
"So stop hiding behind cost because we both know that's crap. This is about you not getting that 58th jet you were promised. Which sounds an awful lot like partisan politics, something you like to champion yourself as better than. Tell me, how would it look to people in your state when it gets out that you're just as partisan as your Republican opponents? You can kiss those moderate Democrat votes goodbye, and thus your re-election."
Hunt looked mildly defensive. "Look, maybe we can-"
Sam interrupted him, making sure the senator saw how irritated he was. "You're not here to debate me, you're here to listen to me. Now that I've spoken, it's time for you to leave. Goodbye, Senator Hunt, it was good seeing you."
"Thank you for your time, Mr. President," Hunt said, and left the room.
"See, told you it would work," Josh said once the Senator had left.
"Technically we don't know that yet," Sam pointed out.
"Yeah, but I know that look. You got him."
By then a group of people were filing into the Oval Office.
"Want to stick around for the Interior briefing?" Sam asked as people were settling in.
"Nah, my yelling won't put out the fire in California, so what's the point?"
Sam let out a little snort of laughter as Josh smiled and went back to his own office.
That night, as they were walking back to the Residence, Josh brought up that morning's editorial again. "So, feeling sufficiently Presidential?"
Sam put on a look of mock confusion. "It's the weirdest thing, everyone kept on calling me Mr. President all day."
Josh merely smiled, waiting for the real answer.
"Although I will admit going after Hunt felt great, like I was telling the Post to shove it," Sam finally said.
"That's exactly why I wanted you to talk to him."
"So I could focus my righteous indignation to a lazer point that can destroy even the staunchest opponent?"
"Told you it would work. We got the trees bill back on track, you got to blow off some steam, and I got to see you in bad cop mode."
"And it's all thanks to the Post."
The two shared a laugh as they continued their walk to the Residence.