I have one of me with Al Gore, and I didn’t even have to pay $2500, the going rate for a vanity photo of yourself with a presidential candidate, which you hang in your living room to impress visitors with how important, powerful, and well-connected you are. (If you want actual influence, it’ll cost you a hell of a lot more than that.) I got mine free; just ignore the grainy image and the crowd in the background. It was taken before digital cameras became widely available, with one of those disposable film cameras you used to be able to buy in drugstores.
I have no idea how much Ben Carson paid to have his picture taken with Jesus. I imagine the Son of Man doesn’t come cheap. I’ve heard His speaking engagement fees are out of this world, so I assume a portrait like this likely commands a premium price. Also, the Savior is only available on Sundays, so it’s a tough to even get a place in line. The line outside must be horrendous, like Macy’s Santa.
Of course, if Ben Carson wanted a photo of himself with a presidential candidate, he could get one without standing in line or paying a cent, simply by standing in front of a mirror and taking a selfie. Evidently he figured that wasn’t impressive enough, so he aimed higher. After all, not everyone can say they had their picture taken with God. In fact, it takes a damn big ego to even want one like that.
Which reminds me of a doctor joke I heard many years ago. It goes like this …
A doctor, a lawyer, and a priest are passengers on an airplane. There’s a lot thump, they look out the window and see an engine and wing are on fire, then the pilot comes back into the cabin to inform them the crew is bailing out and to wish them good luck and happy landings. After the crew has left, the passengers go to the cockpit, and begin arguing about what to do, as there are no more parachutes left. First the lawyer says, “We need to apply our minds to the problem and reason our way to a logical solution.” The priest shrugs and says, “Give it up, it’s hopeless. There’s nothing left to do except pray to God for the salvation of our souls.” Then the doctor shoves them both out of the way, climbs into the pilot’s seat, takes the controls into his hands, and says, “Move over ! I am God!!!”
Read the story (with next interior shots of Carson’s perhaps-overdone mansion — how big a house do two people need?) — here.