ARDEN GROVE, Calif. - Bowing to pressure from party leaders, Representative Loretta Sanchez agreed yesterday to move a Democratic National Convention-week fund-raiser from the Playboy Mansion to a less controversial location.
In exchange, party officials restored the California lawmaker's speaking slot at the convention, which opens Monday.
The fund-raising flap caused controversy in advance of the party convention at a time when Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore was hoping to stress the issue of moral values.
''To continue to dwell on where our event is held, and whether my role as a DNC officer conflicts with my role at a party for a good cause, frankly makes no sense,'' Sanchez said in a statement. ''The only real party I am interested in is a party that represents real people, with real needs ... the Democratic Party.''
The Democratic National Committee had withdrawn her speaking assignment and threatened to remove her as party co-chair. ''I'm glad that by working together we were able to come up with a suitable location for her fund-raiser,'' party chairman Joe Andrew said.
The fund-raiser will now be held at Universal Studios. Gore said yesterday he supported the party's decision to distance itself from the event - and from Sanchez, a staunch supporter - despite his own acceptance of campaign money from Playboy magazine executives, including Hugh Hefner.
''It's apples and oranges,'' Gore said. He said the symbolism of Democrats' holding an event at the mansion doesn't compare with his own acceptance of the checks.
Gore's campaign has derived some support from the Playboy officers. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner donated $1,000 on March 17, 1999. His daughter, Christie, gave $500 in April of this year, Federal Election Commission records show.
Democratic leaders feared that the event, though not sanctioned by the party, could have undermined attempts to portray Gore and running mate Joseph I. Lieberman as pro-family - and given Republicans an easy target.
''We think an event at the Playboy mansion is not the right image and does not represent the values of our party,'' Andrew said.
The sold-out party is billed as a fund-raiser for Hispanic Unity, USA.
