Apparently, Arthur Delaney of the Huffington Post decided to find out for himself what a dinner party with a Senator and lobbyists looked like. Have you ever watched the movie, The Godfather? If you have, recall the scene near the beginning of the movie, in the driveway of Don Corleone’s estate, during his daughter’s wedding. Reporters are taking pictures of people entering and leaving, and one of the mob bosses grabs the camera from a photographer who had just snapped his photo. That boss then proceeds to tear the film out of the camera, leaving no record of his ever having been there.
Yeah, it was a lot like that. Senator Johnny Isakson was throwing a party for lobbyists, and Arthur Delaney decided to approach the door. From the Huffington Post:
This reporter arrived at the same time as John Greene of the National Association of Health Underwriters, which has a lobbying income of $250,000 so far in 2009, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. (Isakson is a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.)
Two young women from Polaris Government Relations, a lobbying firm, greeted us at the door and invited us both inside. After introductions, the Huffington Post was disinvited.
But wait, there’s more:
“I’d appreciate it if you’d go ahead and leave,” said one of the ladies.
John Greene accompanied the Huffington Post from the doorstep to the sidewalk. He declined to say how much he paid to attend the dinner. Guests typically drop $500 or $1,000 into a politician’s campaign coffers for the privilege of attending these types of events.
Greene said he was thinking about moving his car, but then he went back inside. Another man appeared from the basement door and admonished the Huffington Post to stay on the other side of the fence.
“Street, sidewalk. Private event,” said a man. “Private property.”
Is that not priceless?!
So…who are all those people, and what do they want, Senator? Arthur Delaney asked that same question of Senator Isakson:
“I haven’t seen the list,” he said.
What kind of people, then?
“It’s people interested in America and democracy and peace and the economy,” he said. “Thank you for your time.”
People interested in America, and Democracy, and Peace, and the economy. Sounds like a Nobel Prize warm-up. Thank God for these fervent patriots.
So, who was really there? Lobbyists, such as John Greene (like that’s his real name) of the National Association of Health Underwriters, Clint Robinson from R.I.M. (think Blackberry), and some guy named Bob. Oh yeah, and two young women from the lobbying firm Polaris Government Relations. Apparently, admittance to such a party costs anywhere from $500 to $1000. Also present was the lobby for Online Lending.
Yes, they are interested in America, Democracy, Peace, and the Economy. And they are willing to pay thousands to show the depth of their interest. You know, of course, that if they didn’t, Senator Isakson wouldn’t give them the time of day.
Would you like to find out how you, too, can crash one of these parties? Just click this link, and you can.
It’s really kind of cool. They tell you exactly how much it will cost to attend and everything! If you are a PAC, it will only cost $1000. But for an individual, rates are reduced to $500. What a bargain!
Just don’t ask the Senator (or Congressperson) why you have to pay them to talk to them. They won’t like that very much. In fact, they’re likely to tear the memory card from your digital camera just for asking.
POLITICAL PARTY POOPER 