Beyond the velvet rope

Hobnobbing at the GOP convention, for a price

By Holly Bailey, Center for Responsive Politics, 08/01/00

PHILADELPHIA -- To hear Republicans tell it, an estimated 45,000 people have converged upon Philadelphia this week to officially crown Texas Gov. George W. Bush as the party's presidential pick. That's 6,000 state delegates and alternates, 15,000 reporters, 15,000 volunteers and several thousand guests.

The real story, however, is not the unsuspenseful coronation of a presumptive presidential nominee. It's the convention's social circuit, where lawmakers -- whether it's members of Congress, state legislators or prospective members of the next administration -- spend their time hobnobbing with each other and a slew of representatives from corporate America's finest.

It's here where scores of companies have shelled out tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars to underwrite receptions and dinners in honor of specific lawmakers.

It's here where a ticket price ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars can buy access to the lawmakers in charge of setting the rules that affect a company's bottom line.

Indeed, the parties started well before Monday's official opening of the Republican National Convention. Beginning Saturday, companies including UST (US Tobacco), which has contributed nearly $985,000 in soft money, PAC and individual contributions this election cycle (88 percent to Republicans), sponsored pre-convention fetes.

UST, which has signed on as a sponsor to several events in Philly this week, also will honor Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) at a dinner tomorrow. The company is lobbying the federal government on several matters, such as establishing permanent trade relations with China, increasing subsidies for tobacco farmers, and opposing a Justice Department lawsuit that has been filed against the tobacco industry.

UST also sponsored yesterday's "LottHop," an American Bandstand-themed party in honor of Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss) that featured ageless former AB host Dick Clark and the Shirelles.

Attendees were given yellow tote bags emblazoned with logos of the event's corporate sponsors, which also included AT&T ($3 million in soft money, PAC and individual contributions this election cycle, 60 percent to the GOP), Lockheed Martin ($1.3 million, 63 percent to the GOP), Southern Company ($706,000, 72 percent to the GOP) and International Paper ($608,000, 97 percent to the GOP).

Another of the weekend's hot tickets was a Sunday evening tribute to House Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts (R-Okla). More than 2,000 people, including Shadow Convention organizer Arianna Huffington, crowded into the Philadelphia Convention Center, where the Temptations provided entertainment alongside displays of sponsor DaimlerChrysler's latest inventory of snazzy automobiles.

Besides DaimlerChrysler ($588,000, 70 percent to the GOP), other sponsors included Coca Cola ($470,000, 51 percent to the GOP), the National Federation of Independent Business ($473,000, 96 percent to the GOP), and the American Association of Retired Persons, which has purchased several billboards in the Philadelphia region to lobby Republicans in favor of a Medicare prescription drug benefit. Meanwhile, sponsor Coors Brewing Company ($95,000, 90 percent to the GOP) stocked the bar.

But the parties are just getting started.

Dick Clark and the American Bandstand will make yet another appearance tonight along with Frankie Avalon and Chubby Checker at Rep. Michael Oxley's tribute to the House Commerce Committee.

Oxley (R-Ohio), who hopes to become the next Commerce chairman, has recruited more than a dozen companies to pick up the tab for the reported $400,000 event, including Philip Morris ($1.8 million, 84 percent to the GOP), Merrill Lynch ($1.1 million, 63 percent to the GOP), American Electric Power ($116,000, 66 percent to the GOP), the Edison Electric Institute ($486,000, 51 percent to the GOP) and several other utility companies.

Nearly every industry in America is affected by the Commerce Committee's decisions, but EEI and other electric utility interests have perhaps the most urgent need to mingle with members of the committee: A bill that would deregulate the nation's electricity market has been stuck before the committee for months.

In addition, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is treating its donors of $10,000 and above to "Fight Night," featuring boxing champs Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes and Joe Frazier.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert is taking big donors to the NRCC and his Keep Our Majority leadership PAC on a fly-fishing trip down the Delaware River, while at least two golf tournaments, one for NRCC donors and another for friends of House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas), also were scheduled for Monday.

To view this report, along with the Center's other convention materials, go to http://www.opensecrets.org/parties/dailies.asp?Cmte=RPC.