RSVP : A Decade of Women Speaking Up

The program began with Holly Robinson’s rendition of “Amazing Grace” and concluded with a chorus of Hollywood Women’s Political Committee members, led by Melissa Manchester and Patti Austin, singing “America the Beautiful” against the backdrop of a giant Stars and Stripes.

In between, a multitude of voices spoke out loud and clear for all they believed in.

“A Decade of Voices” was the title of the dinner at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel to celebrate the HWPC’s 10th anniversary. Since 1984 the organization has contributed more than $5 million to support progressive candidates for state and federal office.

At the pre-dinner cocktail reception, such Hollywood leading ladies as Jill Eikenberry, Christine Lahti and Donna Mills mingled with their current favorite politicians, including Kathleen Brown, Democratic candidate for California governor; Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, who is running for Nevada governor, and Zoe Lofgren, Democratic candidate for California’s 16th congressional district.

“Thelma and Louise” screenwriter Callie Khouri said she joined the HWPC three years ago because “it’s a great umbrella under which I can learn more about many issues I care about. It’s so well-organized and it’s fun, fun, fun!”

The plethora of handshaking, social kissing and smile-wide greetings, at which politicians are even more skilled than movie stars, delayed dinner. Once started, the onstage program quickly turned minds away from whether the chicken entree was cooked with too much fat and cream.

“Ain’t this a time!” beamed Alfre Woodard, vibrant with the “joy and privilege” of having just returned from South African President Nelson Mandela’s inauguration. The rest of the evening lived up to her eloquent, feisty words of welcome.

“A Woman’s Voice,” a new song by Allen and Marilyn Bergman and Marvin Hamlisch, was sung by the choir, whose choice of all white or cream clothing ranged from Mills’ tailored pantsuit to Dana Delany’s mini-dress, worn with fishnet tights and a glitter sweater.

A video, produced by Susan B. Landau, Anthea Sylbert and Catherin Wyler, reflected on the accomplishments of the HWPC and pulled no punches in its ridicule of the conservative opposition.

The endorsed politicians spoke with passion and conviction. “It’s so important that we do not separate the lives we live from the words we speak,” said Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone.

Later, the 5-foot-5 1/2 Wellstone rushed back onstage to confirm the punch line of fellow Minnesota candidate Ann Wynia’s statement, “I know Paul Wellstone. Paul Wellstone is my friend. But I’m no Paul Wellstone. I’m taller!”

However, the evening’s best jokes came from M.C. Lily Tomlin, strikingly dressed in a green frock coat and trousers like a Regency highway woman. Her obliquely wicked attacks on the opposition, including a definition of “GOP” that Edith Ann would have found very naughty, were intercut with the constant aside “ . . . except for you, Mayor Riordan.” Genuinely amused, the mayor, present in the audience with best friend Nancy Daly, rushed up to hug Tomlin at the evening’s conclusion.

“If we just didn’t care about being happy, none of this would matter,” Tomlin said at one point, her voice speaking for all those HWPC members who have no attention of shutting up--over the next 10 years, either--on the issues that matter to them.