Ben Smith at Politico weighs in about the ever-shrinking gay fundraiser:
Two prominent gay figures, activist David Mixner and widely-read blogger Andy Towle, have pulled out of a Democratic National Committee fundraiser later this month amid growing calls to confront the administration at what was supposed to be its first large scale opportunity to bring in gay cash....The escalating tension sets the stage for an unusual conflict between the Vice President and what has traditionally been a core Democratic group -- and a wealthy one -- at the posh Mandarin Oriental on June 25.
Guess who's coming to dinner?
Pam Spaulding has published an email detailing just who's coming to the DNC's $1,000 (and up) a head gay fundraising dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC with VP Biden next week. I suspect those folks are going to be under a lot of pressure to pull out (Andy Towle and David Mixner have already said they're not attending). Pam is asking folks to contact our gay elected leadership in Congress, Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis, and ask them why they're still hosting this event.
The email includes the following, in bold:
Did I mention that the Mandarin Oriental has a 10,400-square-foot spa?
Did I mention that the attendees are going to need a 10,400 sq ft spa and a plane ticket out of the country after our community gets a hold of them.
Please call Barney, Tammy and Jared and politely ask them WTF? It's been 5 days and none of them have said anything about this travesty, let alone why they're hosting the inopportune fundraiser - literally asking you to give Obama and the Democrats your good money after they've abandoned us - no - knifed us. It's clear to me that the White House asked them not to say anything, perhaps promising something in return. And before anyone just assumes that Obama privately promised them to move forward on gay rights, the president could have just as easily promised them a new highway in their state or to do a fundraiser for their re-election, provided they shut up. Their silence is looking very bad.
Please call them.
Rep. Barney Frank:
2252 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
tel: (202) 225-5931
fax: (202) 225-0182
Rep. Tammy Baldwin
2446 Rayburn Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-6942
Fax (202) 225-2906
Rep. Jared Polis
Washington, DC Office
501 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
p. 202.225.2161
f. 202.226.7840
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