Political Parties: Journalists, Power Players and Free Booze

Posted by Ari Berman, The Nation at 3:07 PM on August 27, 2008.

It's often alleged that political journalists are too cozy with the powerful sources they cover. Events in Denver will do little to dispel that suspicion, with politicians, lobbyists and journalists schmoozing and boozing together. Sometimes they even sponsor the same parties. Case in point: the jam-packed Politico/Glover Park Group party last night.




Politico is an emerging media empire in Washington and Glover Park is a preeminent, primarily Democratic lobbying and PR firm founded by a crew of Clintonites that used to be known as the "White House in Exile." Its clients have included Rupert Murdoch, PhRMA, Verizon, the American Bankers Association and firms in Colombia and Dubai. Packed mostly with veterans of the Clinton White House, like Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart and deputy chief of staff Joel Johnson, the firm recently branched out by hiring former Mitt Romney spokesman Kevin Madden. A new Democratic Administration would assuredly be good for business, but Glover Park's not taking any chances.

The party drew a number of heavy-hitters, including former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, House Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel, former Bush counselor Dan Bartlett, Tom Delay spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty and recent HRC confidantes like Howard Wolfson, Bob Barnett and Mandy Grunwald, who were no doubt jubilant about Clinton's speech before the convention. By all indications, Mark Penn was not in attendance.




While there are reportedly more parties then ever before at this convention, one veteran Democratic operative--who's attended six Democratic conventions--also told me that the mood is more subdued this year. Gone are the days of $5 million bashes. The guests lists are tight and the invites exclusive, but few members of Congress want to be photographed guzzling free Martinis and nibbling smoked salmon when the economy is in recession and the Democratic nominee is railing against the power of lobbyists and big business. I've been to a lot of parties since I got to Denver (excuse: that's my beat!), and I've only seen a few members of Congress out and about (except for the DNC's kickoff bash at the Denver Art Museum, which drew virtually every boldface name). Perhaps they're skipping out on the festivities. Or, more than likely, they're partying behind even more exclusive closed doors.

Tagged as: journalists, dnc, political parties, denver