when politicians give a press conference

i've noticed

when politicians give a speech

or want

to complain about something,

or deny

the impending charges

against them, or

when they need to make

a stand

on some issue, the first

thing they do

is haul out 

their diverse allies, 

paid employees,

putting

them behind

them in a row,

at the podium

as they talk.

there's a black guy, a white guy,

a lesbian,

an Asian,

a Latino and someone that could

be 

a man or woman

with rainbow hair.

to the left is the interpreter

for the deaf,

with arms and eyes

akimbo,

and a small child in a wheelchair.

a few

comforting support dogs

stand nearby.