Legal Commentary

Party On, GOP

By TChris

Republicans sure know how to party.

As residents of New Orleans were fleeing Hurricane Gustav, top Republican party officials donned pink boas and swigged vodka shots at a wild whirl of corporate and lobbyist-paid parties this weekend in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Really, you can't have a good party without pink boas and vodka shots. Attendees at the "corporate and lobbyist-paid parties" apparently didn't get the memo that Republicans are supposed to feign concern for those whose lives are being disrupted by Hurricane Gustav.

Here's the funniest line of the linked ABC story: [more ...]

Yet, last night lobbyists for the National Rifle Association, Lockheed Martin and the American Trucking Association put on a raucus six-hour party at a downtown bar featuring music by the band "Hookers and Blow." There was no evidence of any actual prostitutes or cocaine. [emphasis added]

How diligently do you suppose the reporters looked for the "evidence"? Interestingly, ABC reporters weren't allowed into the party at "a Minneapolis restaurant where waiters wore pink wigs and guests danced through the night as they wrapped themselves and their partners with pink boas."

More party news from ABC:

Along the Mississippi last night, corporate lobbyists for the chemical industry were entertaining Ohio Republicans on two large yachts. ... Saturday night, 22 big corporations sponsored a pig roast and "booze cruise" for California Congressmen and delegates on Lake Minnetonka, west of Minneapolis.

There appeared to be no plans to cancel any of the lavish corporate parties planned for Republicans, although some lobbyists said they would invite Red Cross representatives and raise money for its relief efforts.

Parties are a political tradition at the national conventions for both Democrats and Republicans (although pink boas may be unique to the GOP). In light of John McCain's efforts to scale down the festivities for fear of bad press in the wake of Gustav, some might question whether the parties should have been canceled. Not so for the GOP delegates who want to have their fun no matter what's happening on the Gulf Coast.

Many delegates at a party Saturday night for GOP convention CEO Maria Cino said they saw no reason to stop the good time because of events in New Orleans. "Everyone goes through hard times," said Wisconsin delegate Jeff Larson.

Jeff Larson: a model of GOP sensitivity.

Another Republican guest hid his face from cameras, wrapping a pink boa around his eyes and nose.

At least convention officials were forthright when speaking with ABC about the party atmosphere that so concerned John McCain:

Asked about the appropriateness of the gathering, Republican National Committeeman Tony Parker walked away from ABC News cameras, saying, "I don't want to talk with you."

That's tellin' 'em, Tony.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on September 01, 2008 (boomark / email).