Partying With the Political-Industrial Complex

August 27, 2008

It's often alleged that political journalists are too cozy with the powerful sources they cover. Events in Denver will do little to dispel that suspicion, with politicians, lobbyists and journalists schmoozing and boozing together. Sometimes they even sponsor the same parties. Case in point: the jam-packed Politico/Glover Park Group party last night.

Politico is an emerging media empire in Washington and Glover Park is a preeminent, primarily Democratic lobbying and PR firm founded by a crew of Clintonites that used to be known as the "White House in Exile." Its clients have included Rupert Murdoch, PhRMA, Verizon, the American Bankers Association and firms in Colombia and Dubai. Packed mostly with veterans of the Clinton White House, like Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart and deputy chief of staff Joel Johnson, the firm recently branched out by hiring former Mitt Romney spokesman Kevin Madden. A new Democratic Administration would assuredly be good for business, but Glover Park's not taking any chances.

The party drew a number of heavy-hitters, including former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, House Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel, former Bush counselor Dan Bartlett, Tom Delay spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty and recent HRC confidantes like Howard Wolfson, Bob Barnett and Mandy Grunwald, who were no doubt jubilant about Clinton's speech before the convention. By all indications, Mark Penn was not in attendance.

No Free Lunches (Unless You're A Corporate Sponsor)

August 26, 2008

In a forthcoming Nation video, former Nation editor and publisher (and longtime conventionista) Victor Navasky explains how everything used to be free at political conventions--food, drinks and entertainment.

Not anymore, at least inside the convention hall (outside, at numerous other events, free food and booze are plentiful, if you're crafty enough to get invited to the mostly invitation-only bashes). The Pepsi Center, home to the Democrats this week, features mostly standard issue burgers, hot dogs and pretzels, at the usually inflated prices. But a lucky few can sip microbrews and nibble sushi at exclusive hospitality suites, sponsored by the likes of Anheuser-Busch, the Roche Group and Invesco, to name a few of the corporate sponsors I observed last night. The party's largest fundraisers, known officially as the DNC's Finance Committee, can relax in special cordoned off areas, undisturbed by us regular folk (journalists included).

Talk of food may seem inconsequential, but it always struck me as a revealing example of how VIPs are seperated from the masses. In fact, how food is served can determine whether or not a political party complies with the law, as strange as that may sound. My favorite example is the "toothpick rule." The Washington Monthly explains:

The Most Powerful Man in Denver (You've Never Heard Of)

August 25, 2008

Steve Farber is arguably the most important man in Denver you've probably never heard of. Farber is the chief fundraiser for the Democratic Convention here and a partner with one of the fastest-growing lobbying firms in Washington and most-connected out West: Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, Schreck. A number of his clients happen to be sponsors of the convention, including UnitedHealth Group, Comcast and AT&T, the latter the ubiquitous "official wireless sponsor" of the Democratic convention.

The Obama campaign spurns money from federally registered lobbyists and political action committees, but these same entities are welcomed with open arms at the convention in Denver. In a reflection of the enduring power of big money and lobbying, Farber's firm will sponsor a ton of invite-only events this week for major Democratic donors, lawmakers, and movers and shakers. The Rocky Mountain News jested that Farber will attend 378 parties during convention week.

The Backlash to Bayh

August 13, 2008

Every four years, it seems, Evan Bayh's name is floated as a possible vice presidential prospect. We're reminded of his good looks, adorable twins, resume as Governor and Senator from Indiana (where his chief accomplishment was getting re-elected), centrist record and overall "seriousness."

But a backlash is brewing against Bayh among grassroots Obama supporters, who want their candidate to pick a running mate who didn't enthusiastically support the war in Iraq, hasn't positioned himself as a leading hawk on Iran and wasn't chairman of the pro-corporate Democratic Leadership Council.

Reports my colleague Ari Melber over at the Washington Independent:

Republicans for Obama (And Against McCain)

August 12, 2008

In June the McCain campaign released a list of "prominent Democrats and Independents" supporting John McCain. Few of the names were prominent, and a review by the Huffington Post found that more than half of the list had "either obvious ties to the Republican Party or are regularly touted by GOP politicians as Democratic defectors."

The newly announced group of "Republicans for Obama" hope to have a more lasting impact. They certainly have a higher profile than McCain's Democratic defectors (other than top surrogate and possible veep Joe Lieberman). Organizers on a conference call this morning included former Iowa Congressman Jim Leach, former Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee and Rita Hauser, a member of President Bush's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. The Republican Mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska also endorsed Obama today. (There's an already existing Republicans for Obama website founded by John Martin, a Navy reservist who served in Afghanistan and lives in The Bronx.)

These so-called "Obamicans"--throwbacks to the days of traditional Republicanism--are disgusted by the Bush Administration's militant foreign policy, reckless spending and cronyism at home, and America's plummeting reputation in the world. In John McCain, they no longer see a maverick, but a continuation of the Bush-Cheney era.

It's Still the Economy, Stupid

August 6, 2008

Three-fourths of voters believe the economy is in a recession. High gas prices, rising healthcare costs, the collapse of the housing industry, a tumbling stock market and the price of food at the supermarket now dominates the news.

Today the Campaign for America's Future announced a new economic war room, to document how conservatism ran our economy into the gutter and detail how smart progressivism can turn things around.

The economy is the top concern for voters in the presidential election, especially among key swing groups like independent, blue-collar and women voters. Yet according to Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, 47 percent of voters believe the economy is not being talked about enough on the campaign trail.

Where Obama Stands

August 5, 2008

There's been a lot of chatter in recent days about Barack Obama's standing in the polls and whether he's slipping against John McCain.

Pollster Nate Silver had a good analysis in the Los Angeles Times yesterday about "Why McCain is still in it." The gist: swing voters still perceive that McCain is a moderate, and thus he's been able to distance himself somewhat from the tarnished Republican brand. The challenge for Obama in the next three months will be to paint McCain as a Bush Republican who's out of touch with the problems facing millions of Americans.

Thus far, Obama's only half-succeeded. A detailed new study by the Democratic polling outfit Democracy Corps shows Obama leading McCain by a slim four points and underperforming among some key groups compared to John Kerry in '04 and Congressional Democrats in '06.

Panning McCain's "Childish" Ad

July 31, 2008

John McCain's frivolous and "childish" new attack ad against Barack Obama is the now the talk of the punditocracy, proving how low our political discourse has fallen.

But McCain's "celeb" ad quickly drew a sharp response from both the Obama campaign and his supporters, where it was dismantled as factually inaccurate and in very poor taste. A new spot from the Obama campaign, "Low Road," accused McCain of "practicing the politics of the past."

McCain Pledged To Run "Respectful Campaign Focused on Issues"

July 30, 2008

Mark Nickolas dug up a strategy memo from McCain campaign manager Rick Davis after McCain captured the GOP nomination in March.

It's a fascinating trip down memory lane.

"It is critical, as we prepare to face off with whomever the Democrats select as their nominee, that we all follow John's lead and run a respectful campaign focused on the issues and values that are important to the American people," Davis wrote. "Throughout the primary election we saw John McCain reject the type of politics that degrade our civics, and this will not change as he prepares to run head-to-head against the Democratic nominee."

Alaska Senator Latest Victim of Culture of Corruption

July 29, 2008

Alaska's senior Republican Senator, Ted Stevens, has just been indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington for lying to federal investigators.

The story is relatively complicated, but basically Stevens failed to disclose an array of gifts he received from an Alaska oil executive who's pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska lawmakers.

Talking Points Memo has done the most thorough reporting on the case, and Josh Marshall summarizes the charges against Stevens, the longest serving Republican senator ever, in this video.