Not so popular
Those of you who followed our exploits on twitter.com/SFPartytime will know that as I suspected, I’m not so popular when it comes to convention parties.
Last night Gabriela Schneider, the Sunlight Foundation’s communications director, and I met up with a crew from Inside Edition, which was doing a piece about the Baca golf fundraiser I blogged about yesterday. (The story should air tonight.) Our first stop was the lobbying firm Brownstein, Farber party at the Denver Art Museum. It had all the appearances of an elegant affair. Well coifed and dressed folks chatting outside the entrance in the cool evening, not paying much attention to the riot police who were grouped nearby.
Stephen Farber, lobbyist and lead organizer of the convention for the Denver Host Committee did a photo op outside before entering. Alas my rendition is too blurry to include here. And for anyone who doubted that members of Congress were invited need only look at this sign in front of the building. I went up to the other side and asked if I could go in and was told, quite pleasantly and politely, “no.”
Next stop was the Blue Dog party sponsored by AT&T and Genworth Financial, out in what seemed to be an industrial wasteland by the Pepsi Center. Fitting with the surroundings, the bouncers there were, well, rather thuggish. I was told in no uncertain terms that I was not even allowed to stand near the entrance, since that was private property. When I demurred from moving, a police woman walked over to me, said, “So YOU’RE the self professed party crasher?” and told me I had to stand over on public space. So Gabriela and I complied.
We weren’t the only ones who tried to get into the Blue Dog party and failed. Inside Edition didn’t get in. Neither did folks from Crooks and Liars or Jane Hamsher from Firedoglake or Matt Stoller of Open Left. Neither did reporters from CQ or the AP, at least not while we were there. There was also a demonstration by Code Pink, although I don’t believe it was their object to go in the party, but rather to flaunt their pink and sing protest songs.
Well, today is a new day. We’re off soon to the Big Tent. More later.
PARTYFINDER™ Hints
Beneficiary: congressional candidate, lawmaker, or entity which collects funds raised at party
Host: person who is hosting party-often, but not always, a registered federal lobbyist
Venue Name: where the party is
Entertainment Type: type of gathering, such as "breakfast," "ski trip," "bowling"
Other Lawmakers Mentioned: lawmakers mentioned on invitation who are used as a draw for the event
Party Time has been nominated for best English blog (in Germany)! Vote early and vote often for Party Time.
- September: the month most partied: http://tinyurl.com/5g45sp
- Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow: http://politicalpartytime.org/party/1815/
- Energy industry partying: http://tinyurl.com/5q22s4
- essential party going equipment: http://tinyurl.com/58pzbw
- recap of hottest races--and hottest parties: http://tinyurl.com/64w7e4
LuuMarr said...
Video of Blue Dog attendees may be coming, via Greenwald & Hamsher (Jane Hamsher’s twitter, and related blog post).
Listening to you now on Kojo’s show - you’re doing great!
Comment posted: Aug 25, 2008 at 1:50 pmDem02020 said...
I’m looking forward to the reports this week from Political Party Time.
I’ve only just visited this website, and just started reading the entries, and I like what I see so far, and I wish you all great luck and success in covering this aspect of the Democratic National Convention.
Just as a purely personal aside, this stuff can seem almost depressing at first glance: not Party Time’s reporting (which seems upbeat and amusing so far, which is good), but the underlying issue of corporate money and it’s influence on our Lawmakers in D.C., and also on those who aspire to next administer our Federal Government… it seems almost surreal, how off-hand and casual are these people in their fundraising and contributions: they even brag, Democrats do, at how much money they are raising, all campaign long, and now especially at the Convention, as though that were the function of Government, and the ideal of Democracy… it seems almost like a convention of fundraisers and contributors: where is the Citizen, and the Democratic process?
Who is hosting a party for them, and for that? And does it cost anything to get in.
Anyway, it seems almost depressing, but only for the short time it takes to buck up to the truth, and find the black and resigned humor, in the fact that not only are Democrats just fine with selling the influence of their Offices, but they actually brag about it, as though that were the service they provide to the American People: We Raise Funds!
Good luck in monitoring the many parties, which are of course nothing but junketts and social seminars, with business as their real agenda: the business of raising funds, and selling influence.
I have a suggestion, that I know you have already thought of I’m sure: want to get into these parties, and past the many gatekeepers?
It’s the same as trying to get into any other hot club: Your VIP Ticket Is Always Hard CASH!
Right there at the door, take out your checkbook, and start inquiring how much of a number it will take, to get you inside: $1,000? $5,000… $10,000?
Write out a check, right there at the door, and get inside!
Of course, you will be doing it all with a wry sense of black and resigned humor, especially when it comes to writing out the check, which of course will be a bum check, signed by Publius.
Comment posted: Aug 25, 2008 at 7:11 pmLeave a Comment