N.Y. Spreads Its Welcome Mat for Democrats

From lavish fund-raisers amid pink marble in Grand Central Station to protests in the streets and parties in the parks, New York played host to thousands of Democrats streaming into the city Saturday for their national convention.

With all the props of politics--flags, balloons, patriotic-colored flowers--local officials greeted the visitors with an all-out effort to counter the image that the nation’s largest city is cold and uncaring.

Meanwhile, police easily kept about a dozen anti-abortion demonstrators under control during a morning protest at a clinic near Madison Square Garden. About 300 supporters of abortion rights guarded the clinic to ensure it stayed open.

Saturday night, members of the militant AIDS group ACT-UP interrupted a pre-convention party for thousands of journalists in Bryant Park, behind the main branch of the New York City Public Library. The 60 or so demonstrators sounded sirens and unrolled a huge banner as they marched to the front of the party and lay down, covering themselves with newspapers stained in red.

“Your reporting is killing us. Tell the truth about AIDS,” the banner proclaimed. After a few minutes the protesters got up, marched past a row of food and beverage stands and left. Police made no attempt to arrest anyone and the party continued.

The scenes served as a small preview of street demonstrations planned once the convention begins on Monday. But Democratic Party Chairman Ronald H. Brown expressed optimism that such distractions would prove minor matters.

“I am happy the way the convention has come together,” Brown said. “I think we are going to have a good, first-class convention. New York has worked real hard. There will be demonstrations as there are at every convention, but if you ask me if I am concerned, I am not concerned.”

Police planned elaborate security, dispatching 2,400 officers to guard the Madison Square Garden area to ensure that none of the dreaded things that could happen to the newcomers did happen.

Inside the Garden, network anchors and floor reporters conducted last minute rehearsals. The giant Teleprompter in front of the gray-colored podium decorated with red, white and blue trim was tested. So was the touch-screen electronic voting system, whose result is a foregone conclusion.

Chairman Brown and some 700 influential Democrats were among the first to arrive Saturday, traveling aboard the “Victory Train ‘92” from Washington. They were greeted by Mayor David N. Dinkins and a brass band.

Aside from convention business, today marks the beginning of what promises to be a social season unto itself: five days of nonstop parties--about 400 altogether--so that people who love politics can talk and be seen and talk more.

The toughest wrangling for invitations focused on events honoring Texas Gov. Ann Richards, the convention chair. There are two parties for her, one tonight hosted by her state’s delegation at the Supper Club, and another Tuesday night at the Russian Tea Room, thrown by gossip columnist Liz Smith and fellow Texan and media maven Joe Armstrong.

Saturday night’s big event was for the biggest convention delegation of all. Not the Californians. Not the Texans. But the media. Some 15,000 reporters, producers, cameramen and other varieties of journalists were feted at the Bryant Park gathering.

Meantime, 800 of the biggest Democratic donors were welcomed at Grand Central Station’s waiting room with its pink marble walls newly buffed and its oak benches refurbished.

The journalists were served Nathan’s hot dogs; the donors ate caviar.

The heavy party schedule begins today. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., there are wall-to-wall events. Each of the convention’s 56 delegations will be feted at different locations. For instance, Arkansans will go to the Brooklyn Museum/Botantic Garden, Californians to Macy’s.

The smallest party today is for 12 delegates from American Samoa and another dozen from Guam. They’re invited to the brownstone of writer/producer Christopher Cerf; he plans to serve Guam drops, Samoas (the Girl Scout variety) and lox sculpted into palm trees.

Ann Richards aside, presumptive nominee Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, will be the biggest draws at any of these events, but their schedule is being closely guarded.

Oh, and don’t forget the sea lions.

After traveling across the country, the delegates from Washington state will be “hosted” today at a party next to the sea lions at the Central Park Zoo.