MoJo Video: Party-Crashing The Democratic National Convention's Private Back Rooms
| Tue Aug. 26, 2008 6:11 PM PDT
Like the flow of the Mississippi or the winds of the Sahara, the pursuit of free alcohol, free finger food, and access to power is an unstoppable force. No puny ethics legislation shall stand in its way.
The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, passed after the Democrats took control of Congress, limited the ways in which lawmakers can hobnob with lobbyists, corporate officials, and special interests. But if Denver is any example, hobnobbing is a game and flexible beast, able to squirm over or around any obstacles placed in its way.
For example, there is a rule against lawmakers and their aides accepting meals from lobbyists. That means that every time a lobbying firm throws a party here in Denver, it has to follow the "toothpick rule." Hors d'oeuvres only. If it fits on a stick, put it on one. This leads to odd scenes, like a woman at a party on Monday night eating a slice of pizza on a toothpick.
Hosts can play the music in the background, instead of throwing a concert, so lawmakers can't be said to be accepting free music. They can take away chairs, because a standing-only reception is apparently less ethically questionable than an event where power players can schmooze while putting their feet up. Party throwers can distribute literature that advocates for a cause, making the event "educational." Slate reported that the Distilled Spirits Council got away with hosting a bash for lobbyists and politicians on Monday by handing out literature on the dangers of underage drinking.
And of course there is the farce known as the "widely attended event," a party that can have a high-roller host and an exclusive, undisclosed guest list as long as it makes a point of inviting 25 people who are not lawmakers. The rules may be shown the door, but you and I certainly aren't getting in, as my video above illustrates.
Nancy Watzman of the Sunlight Foundation, a government oversight group, is trying to illustrate the ineffectiveness of current ethics restrictions by attempting to get into as many fancy receptions as she can, knowing she'll be rejected time and time again. While it is not shocking that a party-crasher would get turned away at the door of a high-end party, it nicely illustrates that the infamous smoke-filled backroom is still alive and well, at least in a figurative sense, and that oversight has a long way to go.
I spent an afternoon with Nancy as she sought a lobbying firm's reception, Democratic top-dollar donors, and a party thrown by the CEO of a telecom company. Not surprisingly, we ended the day without a single cucumber sandwich. [To see her try, watch the video above.] —Jonathan Stein
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Comments
One wonders why Mother Jones is so Democratically focussed. I don't see a difference between the Democrats and Republicans. Yeah, the Repubs are worse, but it is only a matter of shading.
Why not cover progressive policy issues rather than act as if the Dems were MJ's official party?
I find it disappointing that you chose a Qwest party for an illustration. They were the ONLY major telecom company to refuse to submit to Bush's request for customers' phone records and subsequently suffered for it.
Much more to the point, and more indicative of the barriers to entry, it seems to me, is Glenn Greenwald and Jane Hamsher's video of their failed attempts to enter (or even interview folks arriving for) AT&T's bash for Blue Democrats who voted in favor of the the recent FISA bill. You can find the video at Glenn's blog on Salon.
Try this thought experiment:
Try to imagine your elected representatives, (state congressional delegation for instance) waking up one morning to an avalanche of input focused on one critical issue, from We The People. It is a truly spectacular avalanche, swamping all other input and concerns. Imagine that rep recoiling in amazement and realizing that her/his political future truly depended on the quality of her/his action to achieve the objectives of that citizen input.
The answer to your question is implicit in the question: Get alarmed about an issue, get smart on it, and GET ACTIVE! (in that order, of course)
There are enough of us to create those avalanches on every single Root Cause Issue.
Submitted by campbell dalglish (not verified) on Thu Aug. 28, 2008 5:19 AM PDT.
As a film maker let me make a suggestion to Nancy. First let me say I really admire your intention here. But in order to get a true picture of what goes on at these private functions, you need to enter as a guest. I suggest you raise the money through Mother Jones to get into these parties and get a true POV from inside. The POV you are getting now is one of a gate crasher (not inspiring), and it is very limited, even though it raises your question. You won't get an answer until you attend as a guest with camera in hand with permission to go around and interview people inside. I believe you would get some really astounding responses this way, closer to the truth, and very revealing. If you want to know what's going on in these beds, climb in with them, camera in hand. I'd help pay to see that. I would even volunteer to help shoot that as a filmmaker. Check out my website, www.darcproductions.org. Call me. I'll join you, camera in hand. At the very least a floating camera could have a way of keeping everyone self-conscious enough to maybe, just maybe keep them honest.
WHO HAS THE GUTS TO EXPOSE THE TRUTH?
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By Dwight Baker essay TWO
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THE GREAT AND ONLY GOD OF CREATION
IS WATCHING TO SEE
WHO CARES
AND WHO JUST MUMBLES WORDS OF
DESPAIR
WITH NO CLUE OF WHAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD DO
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