By Michael Marley
WASHINGTON--I don't know if former amateur boxer and Nevada Sen. Harry Reid ever promised Pinoy Congressman Manny Pacquiao and his "boxing campaign manager" Bob Arum a Rose Garden, but he surely delivered one Tuesday afternoon.
After the powerful Democrat, read a proclamation praising the life and achievements of the rags to riches Pacman in and out of the ring on the Senate floor, Reid held a brief press conference at which he revealed that he had prevailed upon the always busy President Barack Obama to show some professional courtesy to a visiting politician and that the American leader had agreed.
After Reid and Pacquiao exchanged their national flags in front of reporters in the hallowed halls of the Senate, Reid revealed that the president and First Lady Michelle would host the Pacquiaos, Arum and presumably Arum's wife, Lovee, at a meet and greet session complete with photo and video recordings at the White House.
The nearly 80 year old Arum was over the moon about the presidential visit.
"I'm sure some boxer has visited the White House sometime but I cannot recall of any right now," Arum said.
"This is a great honor for me," an impressed Pacquiao said.
Besides boxing and politics, Barack and Manny can also disuss their real favorite sport, which is a mutual passion, meaning basketball.
I'm no political pundit but I would say that Obama, while no cinch to be reelected next year, has certainly wrapped up the Fil-Am vote across the United States.