Democrats Shake Their Booty at Dream Fundraiser, Talking to a New Generation (Clinton alert)

WashComPost ^ | oct. 29, 2003 | Ann Gerhart

[mountaineer]

The Democrats have a dream, that politics can be hipped up. And that the disaffected young citizens of America will set aside their sense of abandonment and apathy and flash-mob the polls, pulling the Big D lever in '04.

The dream undulates into shape Monday night at Dream, the sleek, four-story dance club on New York Avenue NE, with a Democratic National Committee fundraiser that raises the roof and a quarter-million dollars, one $50 ticket at a time.

DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe looks out over the club's second floor, so packed it represents the sardines-in-a-can wing of the Democratic Party, and beams. "How great is this!" he yells over the blasting hip-hop, thrilled that 90 percent of those who bought tickets are first-time party donors.

The bass lines are so thumping that it defibrillates the hearts of all 4,500 people, lured to party with former president Bill Clinton. The aim is to make politics sexy for the 18-to-34 crowd, not in a "Sir, the girl is here with the pizza" way, but in a smart, leggy, sassy way. One person onstage will say that only one in five of this group voted in the last presidential election, and one will say only three out of 10, but why quibble about numbers? It's not enough. ...

[mountaineer]

gag

[martin_fierro]

Democrats Shake Their Booty at Dream Fundraiser

A visual I just did NOT need.

[mountaineer]

If only the Hildebeaste had been hip-hopping with the youthful Dems last night - who knows how much money she could have raised for Terry McAuliffe's noble cause?!?

[babyface00]

More proof that wisdom is not typical in today's youth.

[dwd1]

AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Admin Moderator]

Make your excerpts shorter next time. Thanks.

[hattend]

The aim is to make politics sexy for the 18-to-34 crowd, not in a "Sir, the girl is here with the pizza" way, but in a smart, leggy, sassy way.

I wonder if this person knows she just slammed Clinton?

[TontoKowalski]

I'm a little embarrassed to live in a huge country that gives me a huge tax cut...

Billy Jeff, let me clue you in: You can give yourself a tax-hike any time you want to. The income tax forms don't force you to take deductions, and you can donate any tax refund you may get back to the Federal govt. I bet there are any number of ways private citizens can voluntarily give the government money.

Now that you know this, I'm sure you'll stop deducting the used drawers you donate to the homeless. Freepers have LONG memories.

[mountaineer]

It was excerpted. How much is too much, I wonder?

[Admin Moderator]

Three or 4 paragraphs would be fine. Thanks.

[hattend]

Outside on the sidewalk, Richard Strauss, 34, a former Clinton staffer, reflects wistfully on Da Man. "I'm longing for him," he says. He sees President Bush as vulnerable, but doesn't see who right now in the Democratic field can generate the same excitement as the 42nd president.

"I don't think there's anyone else, period," says Justin Pascal, 29, the DNC staffer who directs McAuliffe's office and created the event. For young people, "he is their president. Most people came of age under Bill Clinton. They graduated when he was in office, got their first job when he was in office. He is their president."

Just "Ick!"

"Longing" for a politician, ugh.

[mountaineer]

I'm a little embarrassed to live in a huge country that gives me a huge tax cut...

Well, we're really embarrassed to live in a country that elected a piece of crap like Bill Clinton president, but there's not much we can do about it now.

[hattend]

He mentions his support for men and women serving in the military, then says, "We can't capture, kill or occupy everyone who doesn't like us -- we need to start making more friends."

Your "friends" killed 3000+ Americans, Bill. Mostly due to your failed foreign policy legacy.

We should first kill those who want to kill us.

[RippleFire]

Ow - My eyes!

[mountaineer]

Partying like it's 1999, and getting jiggy:

(photo actually taken in 1993, but I couldn't resist)

[Terry Mross]

I thought the same thing. Did she mean it the way I took it? She could have said "Not in a knee pads way." and made the same point.

[an amused spectator]

Rapenfuhrer bump.