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J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Ron Darling and other riggers load nets full of balloons for the Republican National Convention festivities inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Friday.
A "salute" to oil baron David Koch. A fete bankrolled by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. And gala bashes for GOP super PAC donors and bundlers featuring rock stars like Kid Rock and ex-Eagles guitarist Don Felder.
Those are only a handful of the big parties planned for Republican delegates, lawmakers and donors in Tampa starting this weekend. While some of the events are well advertised and open to the public, private schedules, prepared for GOP fundraisers and obtained by NBC News, show that this year's convention will once again provide a unique opportunity for lobbyists and big dollar donors to wine and dine lawmakers -- and press their agendas.
"It's a mega-fundraising, lobbying extravaganza. Everybody is in one place at one time," says Jack Abramoff, the onetime kingpin lobbyist whose 2006 conviction for corruption led to reforms aimed at cracking down on lobbyist influence peddling.
Abramoff, who was released from prison last year and will be attending this year's GOP convention as a commentator for "Inside Edition," said that, as far as he can see, lobbyists and their lawyers have merely figured out creative new ways to skirt the rules -- a point underscored by the dizzying array of parties all week in Tampa. "Nothing has really changed," he said.
Storm warnings notwithstanding, the action begins in earnest Sunday at 5:30 p.m. when one of Washington's biggest lobbying firms, Williams and Jensen (whose current clients include the American Bankers Association, Pfizer and Comcast, which owns NBC) hosts a kick-off reception and dinner for GOP delegates at a local eatery called Bern's Steakhouse.
Just a half hour later, another big D.C. lobbying powerhouse -- Fierce, Isakowitz and Blalock (current clients: the American Gaming Association, Ford Motor, J.P. Morgan and Time Warner Cable) -- hosts a dinner for the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee at the Tampa Museum of Art.
Then later in the evening, oil giant Chevron and Aflac, the insurance firm, are co-hosts of a "Two Step, Soul and Rock 'N Roll" party at the Historic Cuban Club; AT& T throws a competing party at Armani's Grand Hyatt; and the American Action Network, an "issues advocacy group" headed by former GOP Sen. Norm Coleman, teams up with Citizens United for a bash at Liberty Plaza.
But delegates may have to pace themselves. On Monday night, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce joins the Distilled Spirits Council for a "Celebrate the Spirit of Tampa" party at the Tampa Aquarium. On Tuesday, Barbour Griffith and Rogers, another of Washington's biggest lobbying firms (among its current clients: Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline and the country of Qatar) hosts the delegates at Stump's Supper Club with a party honoring its founding partner, Haley Barbour, who, after serving as governor of Mississippi and toying with the idea of running for president, has rejoined the firm.
The next morning, Restore Our Future, the Romney super PAC, offers a private briefing for its mega donors by Sen. Marco Rubio. And that afternoon, the Republican Jewish Coalition throws a "Salute to Pro-Israel Elected Officials at the Crowne Plaza, where the coalition's major bankroller, casino kingpin Adelson, is expected to make a grand appearance. (That's not the only Adelson presence at the convention. According to a report in Yahoo News on Friday, the YG Network -- named for House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor's Young Guns -- has named a "Woman Up!" pavilion for Miriam Adelson, the mogul's Israeli-born wife.)
Craig Holman, a lawyer for Public Citizen, a campaign watchdog group that plans to "bird dog" the parties , says that this year's convention is showcasing new ways that lobbyists are bypassing ethics rules. Those rules -- enacted in 2007 after the Abramoff scandal -- barred lobbyists from throwing parties honoring "a member of Congress." So this year's parties don't honor individual members; they honor groups of members such as "A Salute to the House and Senate Energy and Commerce Committees" being thrown by a new consulting firm called GOP Convention Strategies at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. ("It's a Home Run!" reads the invite.)
But perhaps the most conspicuous honoree is not any member or delegate: It's David Koch, the billionaire oil man who helps run energy giant Koch Industries. Along with his brother, Charles, Koch has emerged as one of the biggest and most controversial financiers of conservative advocacy groups that gave rise to the Tea Party and other GOP causes. On Thursday, Americans for Prosperity -- one of the Koch-backed groups that has announced it plans to spend $151 million on this year's campaign, including a new blitz of TV ads attacking President Barack Obama -- will sponsor "A Salute to Entrepreneurs Building America."
There will be two men honored at the event: Art Pope, the group's chairman, and Koch.
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The White collar MAFIA is working for the republicans I wonder when they will start shooting people who disagree with them
I love how once again the media singles out the Republican Convention as a party and makes no mention of the Democratic Convention. It is a fact that the majority of the news media is liberal biased.
The Democrats will get their turn. The Republican Convention is first. The country has serious economic problems, we still have troops "in the field" in Afghanistan, and public approval of Congress is at an all time low and yet both Parties think they have time to party. In celebration of what?
I have nothing against getting together, after a meeting of substance, for a drink or two. If I am not mistaken, the founding fathers did that during the Philadelphia Constitution Convention, in 1787. But lavish parties, thrown by the special interests they are supposedly regulating?
The Obamacane is heading to Tampa. Beware GOP a lot of Wind and Hot air. Change is a Coming again.
The stripper clubs expect to earn more than a years worth of revenue from the convention. Strippers who look like the former almost 1/2 turn governor will make more money from guys and ladies. Ditto for those who look like Eddie Munster/the vp candidate. It's great that conservatives are giving strippers a stimulus package, and receiving one of their own! :)
NBC is quick to point out the debauchery that will happen at the GOP Convention. Will they be so quick to report the same at the Dem one? Or will they try to convince us that the dems held quiet quilting bees?
Hey Dawn V - why don't you go there and watch - maybe one of your guys who stripped to swim in the Sea of Galilee will give an encore
Why not - and Paul Ryan can show his pecks
Big question why does Paul Ryan live rent free in his office? 25th most wealthy guy can't afford to rent an apartment -he owes the taxpayers big time - 14 years of rent free living in DC - @ at least $800 a month comes to about $45,000 give or take
Hey Pauley put the check in the mail!
Excessive money, extremist politics and nature's fury - seems like the Perfect Storm.
And for that money they will look for nothing in return?
The funny thing will be when Mr Romney loses, will these big money backers want a refund of all their millions? I'm sure they will find a way to write it off on their taxes.
Disgusting and shameful . . .
(Another political Parody song by Bruce-1628250, sung to the tune of "Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?")
OOOO YEa It Is Party Time For The Crooks, whoops I mean GOP..... The GOP does have some wonderfull bashesesssss...... I wonder whos pocket will get lined the most this year.....
"We could use a man like Herbert Hoover again...everybody pulled their weight. Those were the days!" Para-phrased from the theme of " All in the Family." "And all youse meat heads think that them Republicans are different than them Democrats." They are all of the same lot, my meat-headed slobs."
If it is anything like the 2008 goper hate fest it degenerates to bribery and money laundering mixed with drunken debauchery.
Right-wing societies throughout history have been the most depraved and corrupt imaginable. It isn't much different today than it was in Rome 1700 years ago.
Right-wing politicians - the worst government money can buy.
The real problem is that many of the same lobbyist at the Republican convention will be at the Democrat convention. These are the ones that have no philosophy or point of view, only greed.
This article tells the story quite succinctly.
Big oil billionaires are behind the teaparty/right wing. It is these billionaires who want to gut all social programs that help the poor and the middle class.
These are the same people who want to destroy our environment.
That so many people are falling for their propaganda is what surprises and shocks me.
I have knowledge of one multi-millionaire family who has been contributing heavily to the birther movement since President Obama began running for the presidency.
It is critical that we defeat the right wingers who have been promulgated into office by these billionaires. These right wingers and monied people have taken over the Republican party in its entirety.
If we care about our country, we must vote Democrat for every elected office.
It is the democrats who stand between us and total devastation of our country and democracy as we know it. The Democrats have somehow, for the most part, withstood the assault by the billionaire right wing.
Vote democrat. Register early. Be sure that you have an up-to-date drivers' license or state I.D.
WORSE government money can buy. meanwhile poverty rising, middle class shrinking. WAKEUPAMERICA.
The real corruption is those lobbyists who will be at both conventions. They have no firm political beliefs, only greed.
you'realoser perfect name right beside the Romney/Ryan cartoon button! Good choice you'realoser in the placement of your name! And, you really are a loser! How do you know there are no strip clubs in Tampa? I would bet there are more than one! This fiasco is like a mafia movie - a very bad B movie! Romney has not family values. Just a bunch of kids - future elitists - who will learn how to lie and cheat their way to the top on the backs of the middle class, minorities, the elderly and the poor! Biden was right when he gaffed about putting you in chains - but, he meant ALL of us if this bunch of crooks, criminals, liars and cheats should somehow win - I am not anticipating this - I cannot believe that the stars would align for such evil! Not even in a horror movie would that scene be written!
Maggie - You've heard of Karma - evil gets evil - goodness rewards goodness
My money is on "The Nuns on the Bus" who have more of a direct line to God than these pretenders - go for it Sisters keep Isaac on track - and ironically Bush who isn't going to be there - is sending George behind Isaac
Don't you love it?
The big difference between a GOP party and Lib party is very clear.
Obama holds a fundraiser party in Newport Beach and gets a bill from the city for police, fire and other city employees who had to work so he could have his event. He dosnt pay and the city warned they will send the camp to collections.
Romney had similar event, bill was sent, bill was paid within 30 days.
That in a nut shell is the big difference between a Lib and a Conservative.
The good ole boys pac meet up to reassure each other a sure win, but speaking in theory only. We have to think that the super rich outsourced the jobs to other countries just to make a point the country isn't running right the plans that was made by dems is a disaster, when elected I'm sure they can bring some of the jobs back just to prove themselves right a sad thought but possible. Hate is powerful enough for these things to take place. IMAGINATION IS SOMETHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously... not one mention of the middle class who have suffered dearly because of the actions taken by these lobbyists! These people are in a world of their own and are using the convention to fill their pockets... again at the expense of the middle class!
Folks, think twice before you cast a vote for the GOP party of greed... Let's support Obama with a huge mandate... a vote for Obama and the down ballot will be a vote to continue moving our country forward... have the rich pay a little more in taxes so that the middle class doesn't have to... preserve our Medicare and Social Security... keep our safety net in place for those who really need it, AND most importantly, a vote for Obama is a vote for every American no matter what you look like or who you are!
ALSO, remember to contact your congressman to make sure you have the proper voting ID... let's not let the party of NO and the party of "we don't have a plan except tax breaks" to surpress our vote!
OBAMA 2012... We WILL be heard no matter how much the GOP spends!
Yes the GOP wants to destroy jobs! T
hat way when there are no more middle class jobs, the greedy rich will have to dip deep into their pockets and pay more taxes to support the VERY people they destroyed jobs too.
Every job will come with life time benefits, 40 acres and a mule and everyone will have a beach house in Malibu in pursuit of social justice.
Only a Lib could think this way.....The rest of the people are not buying it and the wide eyes Lib hysteria like Disco needs to come to a end.