Could it work? Virtual politicians. Every politician shadowed by an on-line counterpart? Virtual politicians translating talking points into truth?  

Sharing what’s said behind closed doors? Or at least what they imagine is being said.

During the 2011 Chicago Mayoral Campaign, a mysterious figure known only as @MayorEmanuel built a Twitter following that rivaled and often surpassed the real Rahm Emanuel’s’ following. The tweets from @MayorEmanuel mined the richly constructed illusion of Emanuel as a one dimensional tough guy. Virtual politicians, like their real life counterparts, not being bound by context, or accuracy or even truth.

But what made @MayorEmanuel’s missives different is that they also told a good story. There was character, plot, mystery, dialogue. The whole shooting match. That, and they were funny.

After the election, @MayorEmanuel revealed himself to be a gentleman by the name of Dan Sinker. Then, upon meeting the real Rahm face to face, Sinker announced that he had been “sucked into a vortex.” And the Virtual Politician, confronted with real life, disappeared.

Sinker then got himself a book deal. A collection of the tweets and commentary.

Last night at “The Hideout,” Sinker had a promotional party for the book. The Hideout is an off the beaten path Chicago treasure on West Wabansia Street. Two blocks from where Nelson Algren would walk Simone deBeavoir home from a night out at some of your better dive bars, back in the day before a giant expressway was built and plowed straight through the neighborhood.

And the real Mayor Emanuel showed up at the party. Talking and joking with patrons. Signing books along with Sinker.

A big fan of Sinker and his book. The Mayor stayed, folks who were there tell me, for over an hour.

So this Virtual Politician story ends.

But what if EVERY politician had their own virtual shadow. Not pundit. Not commentator. Not blogger.

A virtual self. Who told real stories. Facts not required. But truth would be good. Even if it’s “fictional truth.”

Who would you shadow?

Me? I’d pick John Boehner.  And I’d begin with a good cry.