(The following article by Lynn Sweet was posted on the Chicago Sun-Times website on July 12.)
WASHINGTON — Special interests — corporations, labor unions and causes — are bankrolling lush parties at the Democratic National Convention in order to buy access to public officials who gather in Boston in late July to nominate John Kerry for president.
At the same time, the very top fund-raisers for the party will be stroked with a series of perks, including access to rooms at the best hotels in Boston, VIP passes to the convention and special after-hours receptions and briefings by party big shots.
The Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Governors Association, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee all have packages for their best contributors.
The Republicans will reward the most generous GOP donors in New York at their late August convention, which will also be a magnet for special interests who will lavishly entertain government officials.
One of the favorite venues for parties at the Democratic convention is Boston’s Fenway Park, the 92-year-old historic home of the Red Sox.
The governors association will salute donors at a Fenway gathering. Also, Fox Entertainment Group and News Corp. are inviting members of Congress for “an afternoon of fun and games” at Fenway before the convention is gaveled to order July 26.
Later that week, Norfolk Southern and Burlington Northern Santa Fe will throw a reception at Fenway to honor Rep. William Lipinski (D-Ill.), a ranking member on the House Transportation Committee. He is a driving force behind a $1.5 billion plan pending in Congress to improve the Chicago area rail system.
On the state level, business and labor interests have been solicited to help underwrite meal and entertainment costs for the Illinois delegation.
Many of the 266 delegates or alternates plus others in the Illinois entourage (which could swell to some 400) have ties to state or local governments in Illinois.
None of this socializing is illegal. But critics say it’s questionable to have special interests wine and dine politicians who have life-and-death control over laws, regulations and contracts that matter to the party hosts.
The La Salle Street exchanges are paying for a delegation party hosted by Mayor Daley and for a luncheon to honor Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Democratic Party of Illinois chief Michael J. Madigan, the state House speaker, is also soliciting sponsors to pay for his events. Gov. Blagojevich is using his campaign fund to pay for a giant opening night party.
There will be hundreds of meals, receptions and post-convention parties, fund-raisers, forums and panels by the time the convention closes on July 29, with the list of invitation-only gatherings closely guarded.
However, the Chicago Sun-Times learned about a variety of the events targeted at elected officials.
Though the convention is about nominating a president, almost every Democratic member of Congress will attend the political trade show of shows. Here are some more events designed with lawmakers in mind:
*The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States is throwing a post-convention party at a club near the Fleet Center, where the convention is being held, to honor Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.)
*General Motors Acceptance Corp. is hosting a brunch for lawmakers to honor Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.).
*JP Morgan Chase and the Goldman Sachs Group have invited all the members of the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee to an “afternoon of seafood, jazz and fun.”
*Another financial firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, is throwing a reception honoring House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and the whip team with “cocktails and a delicious summer menu.”
*Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) who is an influential member when it comes to postal service issues, is being feted by Deutsche Post, the company with a controlling interest in DHL International, which competes with the U.S. Postal Service.
Davis said “there was not really anything” he had to vote on that was directly Deutsche Post-related and he agreed to front the function because the company wanted “to make sure” it had a presence at the convention.
*House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is being honored at a reception sponsored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
*The Congressional Black Caucus has a stream of corporate-sponsored events, including the American Gaming Association sponsoring a hospitality suite open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. at Boston’s Sheraton Hotel. Norfolk Southern and Burlington Northern Santa Fe is paying for a lunch to honor the black caucus. An ecumenical prayer service is being underwritten by Constellation Energy.
Other events for the caucus are on the tab of the Edison Electric Institute, Johnson & Johnson (with a Boston Harbor cruise) and Lockheed Martin.
*A major lobbying firm, Patton Boggs, is teaming up with MassMutual financial group to throw a late-night cocktail and buffet supper in honor of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation.
*Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for poor people, is staging a build during the convention and asking lawmakers to help — in an event sponsored by Dow Chemical Company, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Mortgage Bankers Association.