Bruce Springsteen will be in DC next Monday playing at the Verizon Center, and at least four lawmakers are using the event for some fundraising, the Sunlight Foundation's Political Party Time reports.
The four are: Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Rep. John Hall, D-N.Y.
Sunlight notes that: "Last time, ordinary people had a tough time getting tickets, while the lobbyists attending the fundraisers got easy entre, if for a price higher than face value."
(Photo courtesy of Creative Commons)
In his Wall Street Journal column today, Thomas Frank strongly rebukes the Washington Post for its recent coverage of the lobbying industry.
"Now the Washington Post, that great barometer of the capital's consensus, has taken on what can only be described as a worshipful attitude toward the lobbyist set," Frank writes. "And as its journalistic leader ushers in a new era, the attitude of the capital changes: Let us give thanks that our lobbyists are prosperous."
Frank points to last Sunday's front page story about the popularity of Ristorante Tosca amongst lobbyists as proof that the Washington Post is not hitting influence-peddlers with enough investigative journalism.
"The capital's main journalistic watchdog seems perfectly content to see politics made into a kind of financial transaction," Frank concludes.
Following a successful charity clothing drive, the American League of Lobbyists is promoting Hoops for Hope, a lobbyist-versus-lawmaker basketball tournament from which all proceeds will go to the Hoops for Youth Foundation, a nonprofit that supports at-risk kids in DC.
The adult three-on-three tournament will take place on July 25th at the Georgetown Visitation center. The cost: $175 per team. See the details and registration form here: HoopsForHope.pdf
This will be the 12th annual Hoops for Hope event, for more information see the foundation's website.
-- Eliza Krigman
We told you in our post two weeks ago about lobbyist Dave Wenhold's charity effort, "Capitol PurSuit Drive," to be held today in the foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Now, Wenhold, partner at the firm Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies and president of the American League of Lobbyists, reports that as of today, the drive will have collected more than 50,000 items of business attire in 6 days, valued at over $2.1 million. The items will be given to local nonprofits that assist people in getting back on their feet and into the workforce.
"This is not giving a hand out, but a hand up," says Wenhold.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi will kick off a noon press conference at the event. "If you are on the Hill (on June 2) I urge you to stop by," says Wenhold. "It makes a wonderful 'good news' story about how lobbyists and members give back. In this economy this event is critical to those in need."
For more information contact Wenhold at 703-927-1453 or by email at dwenhold@mwcapitol.com
Go here for additional information and here to see a short video of the event.
Magnum Entertainment Group, co-founded by Washington lobbyist Jeffrey Kimbell, is sponsoring the first Annual Lobbyists for Speed Drag Race Series for Charity to be held June 20 at the Capitol Raceway in Crofton, Maryland.
"What better way to hash out your political views than on a race track?" says Ian Weston, Magnum Entertainment's CFO and director of government affairs at Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates. "We're aiming for a Democrat on one side of the raceway and a Republican on the other side."
The cost: $200 per racecar for lobbyists; $150 for federal government and military employees; $125 for Capital Club members; and $10 for spectators. Each driver will race for a particular charity with all money going to the race winner's charity.
The event comes on the heels of the group's lobbyists-versus-lawmakers' hockey game that raised approximately $25,000 for the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club, a program for underprivileged kids in the District.
To learn more go to: http://www.lobbyistsforspeed.com/about.htm
-- Eliza Krigman
You're going to like the way you look, David Wenhold hopes. Wenhold, president of the American Lobbying League, has teamed up with Men's Wearhouse and The Hill to promote a business clothing drive to help adults re-enter the workforce.
The event, branded the Capitol PurSuit Drive, will be held at the Rayburn House Office Building foyer on June 2 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Participants are encouraged to donate "gently used" male and female business attire. According to ALL, the drive has collected more than 44,000 pieces of business attire worth roughly $1.68 million.
Six years in the running, the charity is the brainchild of Wenhold. "The Capitol PurSuit Drive is a wonderful opportunity for the lobbying, Hill, and association communities to make a genuine difference in the lives of those in our local community who cannot afford to buy a new suit for their first interview," he said in a statement.
-- Eliza Krigman
The Washington Post last week reported several sightings of actor Harrison Ford and his wife Calista Flockhart and son Liam at local restaurants and the National Zoo.
In each story about Ford, the paper said it was unable to find out why the actor was in town. They speculated that perhaps it was for work he was doing with Conservation International, which is based in the DC area. Ford is on the group's board.
Well we know at least one official event Ford attended. He had an unscheduled lunch with members of the private pilots group the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. The organization is launching a media campaign next week that will feature Ford, who himself is a private pilot and a member of the AOPA. The campaign is part of an effort to weigh in on legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration.
A source said that Ford and his family were in town "on vacation" and for no other reason, but made the time to dine with AOPA officials. No word yet on whether Ford will come to DC for the official launch of AOPA's campaign next week.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
--Bara Vaida
The Progress and Freedom Foundation is postponing its popular annual policy summit, which was to be held this August at Robert Redford's swanky Sundance Resort in Utah. PFF President Ken Ferree cited the nation's ongoing economic woes as the rationale for pulling the plug on the popular outside the Beltway event.
Read more of the story on TechDailyDose.
T. Boone Pickens is confident Congress will pass energy legislation this term. He's also confident his plan will be a part of it.
"Will it happen in this Congress? I think it will happen," Pickens said at a small, informal meeting with reporters on Thursday. "The change will come." The outspoken oilman was in town as part of a "virtual march" organized by his organization, the Pickens Plan, to bring pressure on lawmakers to pass new energy legislation. According to his Web site, around 4.5 million people have signed on for the march.
When not pushing his own plan, Pickens took time to promote several pieces of legislation, including a bill introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., one introduced by a bipartisan trio of congressmen and draft language of a climate and energy bill put forth by Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Edward Markey, D-Mass.
Pickens, who met recently with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, was frank about the clout he's held in Washington since first coming here three decades ago, saying that he's never had "any trouble getting in to see anybody." Pickens hopes that his virtual army of supporters will do more to turn those meetings into action. "With three or four million people, I'm a hell of a lot more important here in Washington than I am as a rich guy from Texas," Pickens said.
He also emphasized that his involvement with the Center for American Progress -- with whom he has been working on energy issues since July of last year -- has no political undertones, and he insisted that the country's dependence on foreign oil is an "American problem, totally away from politics." Pickens said he is "totally out of politics" and, lest there was any lingering speculation, added: "In 2012, I will not be a candidate for president. I knew you were going to ask that question, so I jumped ahead of you."
Fundraising is such a huge part of this city, and lawmakers are constantly bombarding lobbyists with fundraising invitations. So why are so many of them reluctant to talk about the fundraisers held in their honor? Are they embarassed?
Take a look at this video produced by the American News Project, a public interest news gathering site that sent reporter Harry Hanbury out to film a day at Washington D.C.'s fundraisers. While almost everyone either declined to talk to Hanbury or tried to shoo him off the premises, at least one lawmaker, Rep. Lynne Woolsey, D-Calif. was willing to have her staff talk to Hanbury with honesty. Kudos to Woolsey.
(Hat tip to Sunlight Foundation's Party Time)Tell me readers, what do you think? Send me an email.
--Bara Vaida
So, we were wondering whether BGR Group Chairman Ed Rogers had contacted his old buddy, Mississippi GOP Gov. Haley Barbour before Rogers and the BGR firm--which Barbour helped found--decided to host a fundraiser for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Terry McAuliffe. (See item directly below.)
Rogers cheerfully got back to us. "I didn't know that Terry was a Democrat," Rogers initially joked. He continued, "I did not check with Haley, but I think I can speak for Haley: He will be against Terry [in this year's race], but if Terry gets elected, he will be Haley's favorite Democratic governor."
Rogers, an Alabamian and Republican strategist, said that he and McAuliffe have long been friends who used to spend time together in cable TV "green rooms" before joint interviews. "But that friendship will be suspended if Terry ever runs for governor of Alabama or president of the United States," added Rogers playfully. (Both Rogers and McAuliffe currently reside in McLean, Virginia.)
"Terry is good, he remembers my kids' birthdays," noted Rogers. Indeed, McAuliffe's personal "touch" made him a legendary fund raiser for the Democratic Party, and especially for Bill and Hillary Clinton.
On a more mundane note, Rogers said that his lobby shop does not prowl the halls of the state capitol in Richmond. "There is not a business interest that I am aware of in the governor of Virginia," he said. And yes, the firm has already held a fundraiser for Bob McDonnell, the prospective Republican nominee for governor in the Old Dominion. But no, Rogers' own name was not attached to that event.
-- James A. Barnes
Bipartisanship has reached a new level in Washington, and this time it's coming from one of the most prominent lobby shops in town with a long GOP pedigree.
On Thursday, March 24, the BGR Group plans to host a fundraiser for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Terry McAuliffe. That "B" in BGR, by the way, stands for Barbour, as in Haley, the Republican governor of Mississippi who also happens to be the vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association, which is aiming to take back the statehouse in the Old Dominion this year. The "R" in BGR stands for Bush 41 White House aide Ed Rogers, who is listed as one of several co-chairs of the
McAuliffe fundraiser.pdf. Recommended minimum contribution for the event is $1,000.Sure, BGR now includes Democrats, and Barbour is no longer with the firm. And, yes, BGR bills itself as a "premier bipartisan" shop. Still, we've put in a call to Rogers seeking comment. We're curious if he checked with Barbour before signing on for the fundraiser.
-- James A. Barnes
If the nation's governors find themselves tired after days of talking about the $789 billion stimulus package, they can stop by the Sphinx Club in downtown D.C. this evening where lobbying firms Dutko Worldwide and BGR Group are hosting a late-night party in honor of the National Governors Association. The NGA has been holding its winter meeting in D.C.
Other hosts of the party include Barrick North America, Corrections Corporation of America, Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Hook & Ladder Brewing Co., Maximus, and Vox Global, according to an invitation to the event. The party goes from 8:30- midnight with live music, dancing, and open bar. See invitation.
Separately, lobbying firm BGR was also the site of governor meetings today. The firm hosted a "meet and greet" for New Jersey Democrat Gov. Jon Corzine, according to David Di Martino, vice president of BGR Public Relations, an arm of the lobbying firm. Also stopping by for "meetings" at the firm were, Republican Govs. Haley Barbour of Mississippi (a co-founder of BGR) Rick Perry of Texas, Charlie Crist, of Florida, Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island and Sonny Perdue of Georgia, DiMartino said.
-- Bara Vaida
Lawmakers plan to face off against D.C. lobbyists in a March 6 ice hockey game to raise money for the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, and Rep. Brian Higgins, D-N.Y., are slated to play. Also on the lawmakers team will be a number of Hill staffers, including Jeff Burton from the Office of the Republican Whip, Stephen Kraly with the office of Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., and Tory Mazzola with Republican Sen. John Ensign of Nevada. Playing on behalf of the lobbyists will be Brad Card of the Dutko Group, Brooke Coburn of the Carlyle Group and John "Goody" Goodwin of the National Rifle Association.
"It's hard to believe it's been more than forty years since I took my first real cuts on the pond in Hew Hampshire playing in high school," said Kerry in a statement. "Then again, it's worth the risk for a chance to leave a few lobbyists on the ice."
The Fort DuPont Ice Hockey Club, a program to get inner-city youth on the ice, is soliciting support through corporate donations and will charge a $5.00 admission fee on the date of the event. The game will be played at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va.
--Winter Casey
Since the merger of AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association) and the Information Technology Association of America closed on Jan. 1, the two groups have been working on building a successful marriage.
As part of that effort, unsurprisingly, they have a new name: The Technology Association of America. They have also been "fleshing out a brand initiative," says spokesman Charlie Greenwald. He adds that the new group has been working on communicating the new brand to member companies.
In addition, the tech associations are celebrating their unity tonight with a Capitol Hill reception hosted by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. Intel CEO and President Paul Otellini will be a "special guest" at the event, says the invitation. (For more on Otellini's trip to Washington, check out Tech Daily Dose's story here.)
The new federal lobbying team for the Technology Association of America will be headed by Josh Lamel, who joined ITAA in May of 2008 as a vice president for Internet, telecom, technology policy, and the commercial sector. Lamel previously served as chief of staff to Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Fla., and legislative counsel to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. The group has 15 registered lobbyists working on federal issues. Roxanne Gould, who has been AeA's senior vice president for state government affairs, will be heading the group's extensive state lobbying operation, says Greenwald.
The combined staff of the Technology Association of America (nicknamed "TechAmerica") totals about 100, making it "the largest tech policy advocacy organization in the industry," says Greenwald.
The new group could become even bigger. TechAmerica has been in merger discussions with the Electronic Components Association, says a source. National Journal wrote about the possibility of more tech association mergers here.
(Photo of Eshoo by Liz Lynch)
-- Winter Casey
For decades, agricultural lobbyists of all types have banded together to throw a pre-inauguration party affectionately known as the Ag Ball, the Farm Prom, or the Piggy Party. But this time around there was no unity as some aggies were furious over the price of the tickets and how the event was handled. Instead, they decided to hold a much smaller party Monday night organized by the National Farmers Union, the farm group closest to President Obama.
The controversy started when the firm in Alexandria, Virginia hired to run the established big affair set a price of $750 per person, with each trade group required to buy a table of 10 seats - or spend $7,500 - to attend.
Here are K Street-related stories from this week's National Journal. Subscription is required.
With all the musical entertainment coming into town for President-elect Obama's inauguration, some members of Congress have decided to take advantage of the moment for a little partying of their own. Dozens of top Democratic fundraisers and donors from K Street as well as outside the Beltway have been invited to pre-inauguration lunches on January 19 -- one with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and another with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. At Pelosi's event, live performances by musical superstars Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi, and Lyle Lovett are expected, Peter Stone reports.
Although the slumping economy has many people forgoing vacations, the U.S. Travel Association hopes to change that. The group is doubling its spending on advocacy efforts in Washington to $6 million in 2009, President and CEO Roger Dow says. The association is also more than doubling its government relations staff to 15 people, Bara Vaida reports.
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and a leading conservative activist, is unhappy with President-elect Obama's tax-cut proposals but hopeful about a Republican comeback. He offered his thoughts on the path ahead for conservatives and who might lead the GOP out of the wilderness, John Maggs reports.
To get Norquist's take on lobbying, watch this video from his recent sit-down interview with NJ.
Here's an interesting story I missed last week. Lobbyist couple Heather and Tony Podesta are largely responsible for enabling the famous "Hope" portrait of President-elect Obama to hang in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.
The picture painted by Shepard Fairey inspired the creation of t-shirts, posters and other campaign material during the 2008 election. The Podestas, who are big art collectors, gave a donation to help the Smithsonian acquire the painting because it "seemed like a historic moment for the country, and a chance to do something for art and Democrats," Tony Podesta told the Washington Post in a Jan. 7 story. The painting was also given in honor of Podesta's late mother Mary K. Podesta.
A brunch is scheduled for Saturday Jan. 17 at the gallery to celebrate the gift. Hosting the brunch are the Congressional Black Caucus and the director of the National Portrait Gallery.
See portrait and invitation:
Presentation of Barack Obama Portrait invitation.pdf
--Bara Vaida
Who on K Street will be going to work on Wednesday, January 21?
As I wrote earlier in the week, the invitations for parties to inaugural events keep rolling in. One of the latest I received is a party hosted by the Poker Players Alliance, a lobbying group formed to oppose congressional efforts to stymie Internet gambling. The group is hosting a late-night party on Tuesday, January 20 at Shelly's Back Room. The bash starts at 11pm and goes to 3am.
Poker Players Alliance inaugural party invite.pdfIf you want to see a list of all the parties happening around town, ConklinScott, a Democratic D.C.-based political consulting company, has created a master list of inaugural events on its website. The Washingtonian magazine has its own list here. Qorvis Communications has compiled a list too.
I, of course, will be at work on the 21st.
--Bara Vaida
Here's a round-up of interesting lobbying stories while we were away.
--Bara Vaida
This is our last posting until Jan. 5, so we thought we'd ask a few folks about their plans for the holidays. Heather and Tony Podesta, lobbyists who each own their own firms, were heading to Australia. Jerry Howard, CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, said he was working, except for Christmas Day, when he has pledged to turn off his Blackberry. Others were heading as far away as Egypt or just staying close to home around Washington D.C. and taking a few deep breaths in anticipation of a very busy 2009.
Meanwhile, the folks at Columbia Books who publish the semi-annual "Washington Representatives" volume, produced a cute (or some may say cynical) e-mail titled, "The 12 Days of Lobbying." They link lobbying and advocacy groups to each refrain of "The 12 Days of Christmas." It goes to show, there is a lobbying group for everything.
Here's a little tidbit:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree: The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission may not be able to provide you with a partridge, but its members help in promoting research of pear trees. In fact, the commission will hold its Northwest Pear Review Research in February. The commission has hired an outside lobbyist for work on agriculture issues.
Two Turtle Doves: Doves represent the National Peace Foundation, an organization that promotes conflict resolution.
The rest you can find in the PDF here. _12 Days of Lobbying_ by Lobbyists.info.pdf
Happy Holidays everyone! See you in 2009.
-- Bara Vaida, Robert Gettlin, and the rest of the UndertheInfluence team
As we reported in this week's National Journal, it turns out that the most popular spots for D.C. political fundraisers are all helpfully located near the Capitol. The Sunlight Foundation and its Party Time project gathered 2,117 invitations to parties that helped finance campaign committees and leadership PACs in 2008 and sorted them by locale. No. 1 is the National Republican Club of Capitol Hill, which hosted 248 parties. Johnny's Half Shell comes in second, and third is the National Democratic Club. See the full list here.
Members can easily run "from a fundraising event where they're collecting checks from lobbyists with a stake in an issue straight to the House or Senate floor to vote about that very subject," said Nancy Watzman, director of the Party Time project. "It shows how blatant it all is." See the map of where the restaurants are located here.
-- Bara Vaida
Here's a handy 11-page schedule of inauguration-related parties and other events planned to take place from Jan. 15 through Barack Obama's Jan. 20 swearing in. It was sent to me by a source and is likely circulating throughout the K Street community. Schedules like these floated around during the political conventions and were pretty useful for getting a grasp on the wide number of events being planned. Take a look.
--Bara Vaida
Americans love lists and we in the media love to produce them. National Journal, for example, produces a list every March of top lobbying firms based on the amount of lobbying fees a firm reports to Congress.
Now here's a new list for lobbyists to chew on. The 2009 inauguration issue of the magazine Capitol File takes a deeper look at K Street and asks "scores of Washington insiders" to tell them, who is the best dressed? And who has the best Rolodex? And who will be most hurt by Democrats taking firm control of Washington's power levers?
Who the "insiders" are in the poll, the magazine doesn't say.
Highlights of those picked include Jeffrey Kimbell, a healthcare lobbyist who owns Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates, who was named "Smoothest Talker"; Jack Quinn, co-founder and chairman of Quinn Gillespie & Associates was named "Best Dressed"; Wayne Berman, managing director of Ogilvy Government Relations was named the person with the "Best Rolodex"; while the lobbying firm Winning Strategies was named "Most Likely to Take a Hit" with a Democratic administration and Congress in 2009.
Take a look at the list.
--Bara Vaida
UPDATE: Dec. 5 @ 3:10 p.m.
Quinn Gillespie spokeswoman Stacey Morton Bowlin sent National Journal a message wanting us to make clear that Ed Gillespie attended the party as a GUEST, not a host. She pointed out that Gillespie is no longer a member of the firm and had nothing to do with creating the guest list for the event.
QGA Vice Chairman Jeff Connaughton also sent this e-mail: "These people were NOT guests of Ed Gillespie. Jack and Ed did NOT jointly 'greet their many guests' and you need to correct your story as wrong."
-- Bara Vaida
Lobbying firm Quinn Gillespie & Associations returned to hosting its popular annual holiday party Wednesday evening, after taking a year off in 2007. On hand to greet their many guests were the firm's two founding partners, Democrat Jack Quinn and Republican Ed Gillespie, though Gillespie left the outfit last year to join the White House.
Gillespie, who is now a special assistant to President Bush, looked a little grayer after his year of working for the administration. Not a surprise given the long hours toiling for a president who has among the lowest public approval ratings on record. When I asked him what he has planned for 2009, Gillespie answered: "Frankly I'm enjoying not knowing what I'll do next."
Gillespie severed his financial ties to the lobbying firm when he joined the White House. [He left considerable money on the table, see my story from Dec. 2007.] But the firm that still bears Gillespie's name has continued to bring in revenue and he could return to K Street. For the first three quarters of the year, QGA reported $11.2 million in lobbying fees.
For anyone wondering how lobbying shops can throw holiday parties without running afoul of ethics rules, a firm can host a party and feed guests "nominal-value refreshments" under the reception exemption. That means the firm could serve only finger food, unlike years past when it offered a big buffet of goodies. Champagne, Bailey's Irish Cream, martinis, and other assorted drinks also met the exemption.
-- Bara Vaida
Update on Dec. 2: Click here for an even fuller list of parties and balls, both official and unofficial.
Where are the hot parties to honor Barack Obama's inauguration? Figuring out the answer reminds me of covering parties at the political conventions. There are plenty of events to keep track of, and most are invitation-only and reserved for top political donors.
The presidential inauguration committee, which puts on the inauguration and related events, has limited individual donations to $50,000 and won't accept donations from corporations, political action committees, and lobbyists. But there will be plenty of non-official balls where those limits won't apply. For example, the Illinois State Society is holding a ball on Jan. 19, which is likely to be attended by Obama, and it has accepted donations from American Airlines and Exelon. (see Politico's story here)
So what are the top parties? Here is a list (as of Dec. 1) compiled by the DC Convention Center Authority of events scheduled between Jan. 18 and Jan. 21. And here's a few more compiled by National Journal. (Please send me tips, readers, as you discover more.)
CONTINUE READING...
We wish you a safe and happy holiday and will be back on Monday Dec. 1. Happy eating!
Since I was one of the judges, I thought I'd post the names of the flaks (and one CEO) who won this year's "flak jacket" awards honoring press secretaries a panel of journalist/judges deemed are the best at their game.
The awards ceremony, which included plenty of food and booze, was held Wednesday evening in the "Gold" room in the Rayburn House Office Building and was sponsored by lobbying and public relations firm Quinn Gillespie & Associates. The firm's co-founder Ed Gillespie (who left the firm last year to become special advisor to President Bush) came up with the "flak" jacket awards back in 1998 to honor the Republican press secretary who had taken the most "flak" from reporters with grace.
This year's winners (among the hundreds nominated) were:
Political Campaign
Republican: Ken Spain, NRCC
Democrat: Jennifer Crider, DCCC
Captiol Hill Press Secretary
Republican: Don Stewart, Sen. Mitch McConnell
Democrat: Brendan Daly, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Industry
Business man: T. Boone Pickens (for getting his message out in a year crowded with political news)
The judges, besides myself, were Jeff Birnbaum, The Washington Times; Eleanor Clift, Newsweek; Bob Cusack, The Hill; Eve Fairbanks, The New Republic; Arianna Huffington, The Huffington Post; Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review Online; Bob Merry, Congressional Quarterly; Charlie Mitchell, Roll Call; Brody Mullins, Wall Street Journal; and Jim VandeHei, Politico.
-- Bara Vaida
Who's to say? But do browse our photos from last night's bash celebrating the launch of National Journal's new blog, "Under the Influence." We feature reporting on the lobbying and advocacy industries from our team of experienced scribes, Bara Vaida, Peter Stone and Julie Kosterlitz and edited by Managing Editor Bob Gettlin. We welcome your tips and tidbits. In the meantime, here's a look at the festivities from our soiree at Peacock Grand Café located where else? On K Street.
-- Bara Vaida
Update: Here's the official press release announcing the blog.
All Photos by National Journal photographer Liz Lynch
Want to get a movie star to your presidential inauguration party?
Well, the Creative Coalition can help. The group, which describes itself as the advocacy arm of Hollywood, is planning to throw a Jan. 20 inaugural ball at downtown D.C.'s Harman Center for the Arts (also known as the Shakespeare Theatre), and is inviting sponsors to help pay for it.
For a mere $100,000, (the Platinum Package) a sponsor gets 50 VIP admissions to its inaugural ball and 20 admissions to a pre-ball dinner. (See the offerings here: Creative Coalition.pdf) Presumably, that means that sponsors and their guests get to rub shoulders with the stars -- Tim Daly, Susan Sarandon, Kerry Washington, Spike Lee, Matthew Modine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard and others -- listed on the offer.
The Creative Coalition had similar sponsorship events at both political conventions this summer. In exchange for money, the group offered its stars at various lunches, parties and concerts. Executive Director Robin Bronk has told me these events help the stars promote their policy issues. "Our whole mission is to use the power and the spotlight of the entertainment industry to promote issues of social welfare and importance," she said.
My question is: Will Barack and Michelle Obama show up? Stars are fun, but my bet is anyone who is anyone will be heading to the Illinois -- Obama's home state -- inagural ball.
-- Bara Vaida
Barack Obama said he was getting a puppy for his daughters as promised, but is that really the reason he's getting a pet for the family? Everyone knows, the old D.C. adage: If you need a friend in Washington, get a dog.
So what breed will the Obama's choose? Animal Rescue group Best Friends is lobbying the new president-elect to consider a rescue dog. Click here.
-- Bara Vaida
Davis Guggenheim (View image), the filmmaker who shot the footage for Barack Obama's 30-minute campaign commercial -- and who won an Oscar for directing Al Gore's 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth -- has a familial affinity for celebrating Democratic presidential candidates.
Guggenheim, 44, credits his late father, Washington-based biographical filmmaker Charles Guggenheim, for his first brush with the art of political ad-making: "My father woke me up in the middle of the night. I was five," he explained in an interview posted on the Academy Awards Web site. "`You want to come to work with me?'" We boarded a plane -- it was Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign -- he was doing a political film. Weeks later [Kennedy] was assassinated. And my father made the Academy Award-winning film, Robert F. Kennedy Remembered, from the footage he shot on the campaign. I was hooked forever."
-- Alexis Simendinger
