Staffer of the WeekEric "Sharp Elbows" Schmeltzer
Press Secretary
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)Why they were nominated:
"Eric is one of the funniest guys on the Hill and -- as a press secretary -- it is a very useful skill. He's also hardworking, a nice guy, and represents to qualities all staffers should strive for."
Bachelor's in Communications (Public Relations), Syracuse University. Cheltenham High School, Class of '93, Bay-bee!
What was your first political experience?
It was the night of the prom, and my girl and I went up to Blueberry Hill, which was known as the time as "make-out point." And... Oh wait, that's my OTHER first experience. I think listening to my grandmother show me how she answered the phones, "Dukakis for President" was really my first. I also made a commercial for "Jimmy Peanut Butter" in grade school English class, for our great peanut farming President.
What is the first thing you’d do as a Member of Congress?
Introduce a resolution making WrestleMania a national holiday.
The BEST advice anyone ever gave me was ...
"No glove, no love." My Dad told me this on the way to college. With no kids (that I know of), yet, I think that was pretty sound advice.
The WORST advice anyone ever gave me was ...
I don't think I've ever gotten any real bad advice from anyone else, though, I ignore plenty of good advice, like when to hold my tongue as a Press Secretary. I'm a Gemini, so I'm kinda headstrong like that. Oh, once someone told me that taking Rashaan Salaam in my fantasy football draft was a "Sure thing." Does anyone remember Rashaan Salaam?!
In my free time, I usually ...
... hang out with the Fonz at Arnold's. Also, I tutor an 8 year old on Saturday mornings. I like doing this because he's the only guy in Washington DC that I know that will sit there and talk with me about Wrestling, Hip Hop music, bein' a ladies man, and doesn't think I'm weird when I say, "Dag!"
The one TV show I always make time to watch is ...
The Simpsons. It used to be Emeril's cooking show, but DC Cable sucks. I'm all for deregulation and competition if it gets me a chance to watch the "BAM!" Man again.
Who is your favorite politician from the opposition party?
George W. Bush. Not because I necessarily think he's all that great, and he's certainly not been the best as far as promptly getting New York City the emergency recovery money that it needs so badly, but the man always has something funny to garble, and if that fails, there's always pretzels for a laugh. If I was in Congress, my staff would get tired of me saying. . . "BAP!" or "DAG!" or "ENUNGH!" or "FRICKA!" or any other nonsensical sound of frustration that my co-workers have to hear me yell daily.
Behind my back, people say ...
I have a sweet ass. Or, if they are 70 years old, that I have a "nice tushy."
Most people don't know that I ...
... secretly think that chick flicks can be cute and touching. You go girl!.
If someone wanted to get on my good side ...
... they will not try to impress me with money and connections, and not be too shallow. I swear to God, if one more beefcake idiot with a Friends haircut, sideburns, and khakis who's deepest thought is whether to wear Drakkar Noir or Hillfiger Sport takes over another one of my hipster punk joints, I'm gonna go postal.
My ultimate, fantasy "dream job" would be ...
... an '80s rock star with feathered hair and rouge and chest hair, who has women in hot pants lusting after me. Yes, I would be on top of the world, until a dark underbelly of drugs, booze, women, and debauchery brought my world crashing down. But then, I'd also get a VH-1 Behind the Music episode.
I would push my way through a crowd to get into a picture with ...
Donovan McNabb. He went to Syracuse with me and now is playing for my hometown Iggles! I would change my sexual orientation for Donovan. Seriously.
Pose one question to yourself we haven’t asked … and answer it:
Question: "Eric, you've done and accomplished everything there is to do in this world. You have a steady set of female groupies who follow you and steal your underwear just so they can sleep up against it. Men read everything there is about you so that they can more be like you. What's your secret?"
Answer: "Haha, that's a good question, Tom Snyder. Well, I scribbled this thought down this morning, that explains it all. It's an original thought by me, and quite perceptive. Ahem. 'I don't care too much for money, cause money can't buy me love.'"
Editor's Note: Since Eric also sent us this picture to use with the profile, this 1980s time warp response seemed to be as a good a place as any to drop in this photo of Eric & Tha Boyz -- and, yup, that's Eric in the middle. Be sure to note Eric's snazzy white shoes, too.
