Only Clark showed up to the DNC fundraiser for the non-rich

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

Just telling it like it is. I assume they were all there for the $1500 per plate fundraiser, but for the party in the back open to us regular people (I paid $100, lots of students there paid $25) only Clark showed up to shake hands and give a little stump speech, along with Terry McAuliffe. I mean, all they had to do was walk across the hall. I'm frankly shocked that Dean didn't come over, it seemed to me most people there were Dean supporters. McAuliffe made a point that all the candidates were invited. McAuliffe introduced Al Franken as the "next Vice President", and Al did his bit about Rumsfeld asking himself questions and then answering them - "Are the terrorists going to attack our airports? Of course. Am I giving the terrorists ideas? You damned right!" This was the second time I had seen Franken, and he was funny as usual.

I had met Kucinich at his earlier get together around the corner from the Sheraton. His speech was way to midwest folksy preacher for the NYC crowd, but he got lots of applause. I shook his hand and thanked him for talking about Nafta. He look surprised, smiled and said "You're welcome!". Did he bother to show up at the $1500 dinner? I can't imagine any of his supporters showing up for that.

Democrats are amateurs - there was no security. There's more security getting into a B-rated Manhattan nightclub than walking up to the next president and shaking his hand. This is in NYC mind you just after Bush gave a speech to the UN. My so gave Terry an earful about that - don't get her started on Wellstone or RFK!

Clark gave a rather half-assed speech, but he did say "I am proud to be a Democrat" and "My wife is proud to be a Democrat too!" She was there, and honestly looked a little bemused at the whole spectacle. I can just imagine what kind of relationship someone has with a politician, couldn't do it myself. The crowd seemed to be a rather diverse ethnic mix of upper middle class and rich prep school and college kids, and the kids of DNC staff I assume. I don't think the crowd really got Clark and I don't think Clark really got the crowd, but anytime Clark or McAuliffe or Franken said something bad about Bush, they were riotously cheered, possibly having something to do with that open bar :)

[Brucey]

1. Thanks for the info. I love Al Franken.

I am surprised the other candidates didn't come back. Perhaps there is some good reason for it... let's not be hasty.

[EagleEye]

2. I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you...

..that Clark was featured at a DNC event. He probably felt more welcome than anyome else.

[bicentennial_baby]

3. DNC, not DLC

[EagleEye]

6. Yes, I know. D-N-C

They are some of the Dem insiders pushing Clark.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. I thought

they were the Democratic candidates for president....

If you pm me your address I'll send you "Reading Is Fundamental" for Christmas...

-:)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. Try

the book "Reading Is Fundamental"

[EagleEye]

12. Democratic National Committee is not the candidates ...

..even at my eighth grade reading level I can figure that out.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. The

Democratic National Committee represents the Democratic party...

You not might like one, all, or many of the committee members....

But to have a party without a committee would be like having a nation without a legislature...

The whole genesis of this conversation can be attributed to the fact that a poster started a thread to praise Clark and you took it as an opportunity to bash him....


So the faux innocence routine doesn't go very far with me...

<kisses>

Brian

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. duplicate.

NT

[returnable]

14. They were ALL featured

*sigh*

Even Dean, the so-called target of DNC/DLC spite, was at the big ticket fundraiser.

A typically hollow Clark bash.

So sad.

[MoonRiver]

29. Hollow indeed. As all the lies and distortions are debunked Clark bashers

here just become more and more desperate. So sad that this once mighty big tent Democratic board has become a haven for whiners :cry:

[wtmusic]

4. An open bar can work miracles

Maybe one day it will get Sharon and Arafat in the same room.

Thanks for the report--I've wondered about the security thing too. * is doing a little too poorly and there's a little too much at stake for the multimillionaire crowd.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

28. "I'd like to buy the world a drink"

:)

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. Speaking as someone...

Who has lived in Manhattan, and has worked there and has had a significent part of his life centered aroud it, I can say that I am not surprised that he had trouble connecing with some of the people.

There are more than a few people there who rarely, if ever, connect to anyone. Just like everywhere else, but a bit more concentrated.

[VolcanoJen]

7. Great report, but most interesting to me is the lack of security.

What happens at this point in a campaign when it comes to security? Do candidates hire and pay their own security staff? Only the nominee is awarded Secret Service protection, correct?

Increasingly concerned, given the lingering vigilante attitude in America these days,
Jennifer

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

21. Security was non-existent

I guess white guys in suits aren't considered a potential threat. The candidates had their personal security, very noticable was Clark's three burly guys surrounding him as he walked through the crowd, but pretty much anyone could have just walked into the Sheraton and gotten into the event. No IDs were checked, no packages were checked, I guess I was a bit surprised.

[tabasco]

10. Good for Clark

I'm disappointed that the others didn't come out to visit the "little people", but maybe there's an explanation. After watching the debate, I am damn proud to be a Democrat. Every one of those people would make a good President.

[robbedvoter]

11. It was a fundraiser for the DNC - Young professionals night

I wasn't there (too rich for my blood) but someone who was posted this:
. Also, all 10 Presidential candidates were
> invited to speak at the event and only ONE, our
> General Wes Clark, did so. I think this (and the fact
> that some other candidates had personal fundraisiers
> tonight instead of attending the Young Professionals
> Late Night Party) shows what type of person our
> candidate is. It also has to be reported that when he
> was done at the dinner and before he went into the
> After Party he walked (without press coverage) through
> the kitchen thanking and greeting the waiters and
> kitchen staff.
>

[EagleEye]

13. Without press? How then do you know?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. "How Do You Know"

The Clark supporters are degenerate liars and the Dean supporters are virtuous truth tellers...

Why don't you quit when you're behind...

<kisses>

Brian

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

15. This was billed as a "meet the candidates" event - not a young anything

even though it was mostly people from 25-35 I'd say. I figured it was strictly for people who would have liked to go to the dinner but couldn't afford $1500. I admit I'm a littled miffed that no one else was there. Only the open bar saved me from renouncing my Democratic party membership!

[clar]

16. I heard that Dean

left for Vermont right after the debate. It's great that Clark was there, but all the other candidates have been in numerous forums meeting with people either for a small donation or for free.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

20. This was supposed to be a "team" event

If we're all serious about "anybody but Bush" this event is the perfect way not just to stump for a candidate but to build the party in general - it was a fundraiser for the DNC not a specific candidate.

Dean really should have been there, I saw more Dean buttons than anything else. Actually they all should have been there, why weren't they?

[Rose Siding]

22. He rallied with them before the debate

and went home to VT for the evening- probably for the only time in this last 2 wks of the quarter.

[tjdee]

23. I think Clark is a good guy.

It puzzles me when people say he is fake, or whatever.

He seems to me to be a straightforward, good guy--even if he did vote for Reagan.

Edwards was meeting with other folks over at LIGHT. I was at neither event. :(

[DoveTurnedHawk]

24. GOOD FOR CLARK!

He has always cared about the "ordinary folks" because that's where he came from, he was raised by a single mother for a while, he didn't have enough money for other colleges, which was one of the factors which led him to West Point. He worked his way up the ladder the hard way, through talent and grit.

He cared for all of the men under his command, and this is one telling story, this and the thanking of the service staff. I have to think that will also go over well with the SEIU.

DTH

[sangh0]

25. How dare they not show?

DOn't they know the fate of the nation hangs on whether or not they show up at the DNC fundraiser for the non-rich?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

27. Yes, screw the cheap seats

Just hang out with the high rollers, that's the Democratic way!

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

30. The crowd wasn't Clark's crowd

is all I mean. They were supportive and cheered, but I think many things he said they couldn't relate to - like military service for one, and his part about supporting our troops. There were "we want Clark" chants though :)