In Philly, Old Rockers and Fat Cats Entertain GOP

By week’s end, George W. Bush’s face will have launched a thousand parties--apparently, a new record for social functions at Republican conventions.

Back when spirited political battles were still waged on the convention floor, Republicans had less time to bother with their social calendars. But this week, with the convention script as dramatic as a summer rerun, GOP members have more time to deliberate over which of the multitude of social functions to attend, and why.

Complicating decisions is that the bashes can vary greatly in shape, size and ambition. They can take the form of an early-morning golf game with big-name Republicans, a lunchtime NASCAR party at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, or a polite midafternoon cocktail reception with fellow delegates.

Oddly, the most sought-after gatherings have featured musical groups that haven’t had a hit in decades. But no matter, Republicans and lobbyists have turned out in droves to groove with Chubby Checker, the Temptations, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

One notable exception to the ancient hit-maker rule was country singer Hank Williams Jr. He unveiled a new song called “P.O.R.” at a huge General Motors-sponsored happening earlier in the week. The letters stand for “Pissed-Off Republican” and the tune was described by one delegate as another “Slick Willie done-us-wrong song.”

But there’s more than compassionate conservatism behind the convention party industrial-complex. Not surprisingly, it’s corporate America. The committee hosting the convention has received more than $50 million in products, services and cash from more than 200 sponsors--and that total doesn’t include the millions more spent to put on scores of lavish affairs, where the entertainment and free-flowing booze are often free.

Rep. J.C. Watts Jr. (Okla.) lashed out at critics of the heavy corporate spending at an afternoon affair staged to highlight DaimlerChrysler’s contribution of $25,000 to a Philadelphia charity. The automaker’s fund has kicked in $250,000 to both political conventions, and it also sponsored a popular Sunday night happening honoring Watts, who sang “My Girl” with the Temptations.

“If the press or anyone else in America wants to put me in ethics jail for trying to help poor people, then I’m guilty as charged. Come handcuff me,” said Watts, the only black Republican in Congress.

The lion’s share of corporate money here, however, has gone not to charity but for marketing and lobbying efforts. DaimlerChrysler officials, like most other donors, pointed out that bankrolling convention parties is simply good for business. “We were tremendously successful last convention, and I think we have been thus far at this one,” said Robert G. Liberatore, a spokesman for the corporation.

Of course, the party hosting is not only about money and politics. It can also be about ego and power. Reps. Michael G. Oxley of Ohio and W.J. “Billy” Tauzin of Louisiana threw competing bashes as part of their ongoing struggle over the chairmanship of the House Commerce Committee.

The party for Oxley, who reportedly asked sponsors for $75,000 each, featured the sounds of Frankie Avalon and Chubby Checker. Tauzin’s affair was a $400,000 Mardi Gras gala at the Navy Pier, where a host of sponsors like BellSouth and Comsat laid out $25,000 each.

Even smaller affairs are underwritten by corporations. The National Lumber Buyers Assn., for example, sponsored a low-key cocktail party for the Iowa delegation. “It’s some networking,” said Iowa delegate Keith Chiavetta, who tries to hit four or five parties a day. “But it’s also great just to be around like-minded people who agree with you on most things.”

On the humorous end of the party scale was Comedy Central’s well-attended, largely 20-something bash at Drexel University. The cable channel was out to promote its satirical program “The Daily Show,” which has used former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole as a convention commentator.

“I’ve been planning to come to this party for months,” said Jennifer Bonar, a Washington, D.C., tax attorney and part-time lobbyist for the accounting firm KMPG who was attending her third party of the day.

Shadow convention organizer and columnist Arianna Huffington liked the Comedy Central party so much that she went twice. First, she arrived around 10:30 p.m. to declare that the Republicans’ opening convention night reminded her of “the Home Shopping Network with music.” Huffington, who in 1996 provided convention commentary for the cable station with comedian Al Franken from bed, left in less than half an hour. But within 90 minutes, she returned--triumphantly. She immediately set about plotting Shadow Convention activities with commentator and Spinal Tap bass player Harry Shearer.

Like most convention parties, security was tight at the Comedy Central party. But the openness of a college campus allowed a few to register their opposition to all the Republican reveling. A convertible repeatedly drove by, which is not so unusual on a college campus. But in the back seat were two adults dressed as pigs holding placards reading, “Tax Meat.” Other cars carried drive-by screamers who shouted “Republicans go home!”

When “The Daily Show” anchor Jon Stewart was asked if he was lobbying Republicans for special treatment for comedians, he responded: “Hey, we’re trying to lobby them to just let us on the convention floor.”

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Times staff writer Nick Anderson contributed to this story.