Interview With Washington Socialite Camilla Loomis: "Powerful Men Fascinate Me"
DIPLO: Camilla, thanks for taking the time for this interview. Most folks outside the Washington Beltway are unlikely to have heard of you. First, tell us what exactly is a "socialite"?
CAMILLA: I hate that term. It implies somebody who just flits from one party to another, or something flighty like that. I don't have a "job title." I see myself as someone who facilitates contact, who gets people together who should be talking to one another. In D.C., these are the policymakers, those who make decisions the entire world will have to live with, for better or worse.
DIPLO: You're on the Democrat side of the equation. Can you describe your political journey?
CAMILLA: An old, departed friend, Vince Colletta, who was high up in the CIA, used to say, "When it comes to politics the Republicans are more treacherous. The Democrats get too conscience-stricken and commit suicide or write a book.” Ha. Ha. My journey started when I was young. Then I met Jared, my late husband. Jared was a force of nature in the Democratic Party. It was through him that I got involved.
DIPLO: You were quite the rainmaker in the last election. Scuttlebutt has it that you could have had any number of cabinet positions, but that you turned away from holding office. Care to comment?
CAMILLA: After serving as America's first woman ambassador to the Court of St. James, I decided to devote myself fully toward building the Democratic Party. That's all.
DIPLO: How's Obama doing, in your view?
CAMILLA: He's getting the job done in face of tremendous odds. The Republicans want to tear him down, pure and simple. They remind me of wolves viciously attacking a prey.
DIPLO: That's pretty strong language.
CAMILLA: But it's true. Barack is a sweet man. A good man. Also, brilliant. Just listen to his speeches.
DIPLO: So, you know him personally?
CAMILLA: Yes. I find him fascinating. Powerful men fascinate me.
DIPLO: I see. When did you first meet Pres. Obama?
CAMILLA: Oh, we met very early on, months before he made that incredible keynote address at the 2004 Democratic Convention. He was this inspiring, intense man I'd met at Party meetings in Chicago. He had my rapt attention. I urged the party leadership to give him a prominent speaking role at the convention. And voila! It happened.
DIPLO: So, you two hit it off?
CAMILLA: Oh, yes. He talked hours about how he would bring change to this country. We took long walks deep in discussion. And, oh! His obsession with basketball! When he talks about his favorite teams, his eyes light up…and these dimples form on his cheeks. And Barack absolutely adores Five Guys hamburgers and…uh, he, uh, he and, uh, Michelle, are such, uh, a handsome couple.
DIPLO: Well, your admiration for the president certainly shows itself.
CAMILLA: Sure. He's a great president.
DIPLO: Switching gears -- Billionaire Jared Loomis was over five decades your senior. Fifty-six years exactly. How would you describe your relationship?
CAMILLA: Jared was a pillar in 20th century history--
DIPLO: Uh-huh. In his book on Afghanistan in American politics, Tribe, author James Bruno quoted you as stating, "I’m not a golddigger. I know what people say. In a way, it’s what they think but don’t say that gets to me more. You can see it in their faces, the way they observe discreetly at a distance, their smarmy grins when introduced to me in Jared’s presence. ‘Oh, yes. The young social climber, the bimbo marrying Mr. Big Bucks.’ Well, damn it. I was determined to show them otherwise, and I have.”
CAMILLA: I'm not going to comment. My lawyers advise me not to. I'm considering filing a lawsuit against Mr. Bruno for slander.
DIPLO: Bruno is a veteran diplomat and graduate of the United States Naval War College. His books are all bestsellers and Tribe has been called by Readers Choice "a brilliant book." He has a sterling reputation.
CAMILLA: He's also very handsome, tall and charming. But that doesn't give him license to say what he wants about us -- I mean -- me.
DIPLO: Were you and Bruno an item?
CAMILLA: Of course not. I don't like the turn this interview is taking.
DIPLO: In his book, Bruno claims you were romantically involved with a CIA covert officer and whistleblower named Harry Brennan. Brennan exposed a play-for-pay scheme involving senior U.S. officials and Afghanistan.
CAMILLA: I can't comment. Can we change the subject please?
DIPLO: Okay. But just one more item addressed in Bruno's book. He describes your origins as West Virginia trailer trash, that your original name was Cammy-Lou McGuthrie and that a New Jersey mob boss named Frank DeFalco rescued you from poverty, groomed you for polite society and introduced you to the high and mighty in Washington political circles--
CAMILLA: This interview is ended!
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