A Political Event or an Audition?
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has made it clear in the past that he is loathe to having big fund-raising galas like his predecessors. (Former Gov. Mike Leavitt took fund-raising to an art form.)
Huntsman has said he will just have swanky fund-raisers to pay off his campaign debt to himself from his 2004 run for governor and that's it. He won't worry about shaking down lobbyists for the 2008 campaign.
Given Huntsman's aptitude for fund-raisers, that attitude probably is a good thing.
> Leavitt was a pro at fund-raisers. He knew that most of the people who pay money to come to these things have their own agendas.
Lobbyists buying tables to secure influence with elected officials and to use these events to network with connected politicians, decision makers and other lobbyists are an important cog in any fund-raising event.
Politicians using the events to, well, politic, are another important group.
That means that for the people who fork over a couple grand per table, it's nice to have something worthwhile for them.
Leavitt always left time at his galas for the schmoozers to, well, schmooze.
Huntsman's "need-to-pay-off-my-debt" gala at the Salt Palace Friday night attracted about 1,000 wannabe insiders, so it seemed to be pretty successful. But the lobbyists grumbled that they never had a chance to talk. It appeared to some that Huntsman's gala seemed to be nothing more than to give him a chance to play in a band in public.
Huntsman, an accomplished musician, played with his band at the gala and the music began almost at once. Music glared through the event, almost non-stop, the rest of the way. How is a meaningful "I'll-scratch-your-back-if-you'll-scratch-my-back" conversation supposed to take place with all that racket.
Huntsman also made it a point to let everyone know that he probably is the only state governor in history to have played in public with REO Speedwagon.
Big whoop.
He didn't even get off the stage and go around to the table to shake everyone's hand, like Leavitt always did, to make them feel important.
Cheers,
Paul Rolly
Huntsman has said he will just have swanky fund-raisers to pay off his campaign debt to himself from his 2004 run for governor and that's it. He won't worry about shaking down lobbyists for the 2008 campaign.
Given Huntsman's aptitude for fund-raisers, that attitude probably is a good thing.
> Leavitt was a pro at fund-raisers. He knew that most of the people who pay money to come to these things have their own agendas.
Lobbyists buying tables to secure influence with elected officials and to use these events to network with connected politicians, decision makers and other lobbyists are an important cog in any fund-raising event.
Politicians using the events to, well, politic, are another important group.
That means that for the people who fork over a couple grand per table, it's nice to have something worthwhile for them.
Leavitt always left time at his galas for the schmoozers to, well, schmooze.
Huntsman's "need-to-pay-off-my-debt" gala at the Salt Palace Friday night attracted about 1,000 wannabe insiders, so it seemed to be pretty successful. But the lobbyists grumbled that they never had a chance to talk. It appeared to some that Huntsman's gala seemed to be nothing more than to give him a chance to play in a band in public.
Huntsman, an accomplished musician, played with his band at the gala and the music began almost at once. Music glared through the event, almost non-stop, the rest of the way. How is a meaningful "I'll-scratch-your-back-if-you'll-scratch-my-back" conversation supposed to take place with all that racket.
Huntsman also made it a point to let everyone know that he probably is the only state governor in history to have played in public with REO Speedwagon.
Big whoop.
He didn't even get off the stage and go around to the table to shake everyone's hand, like Leavitt always did, to make them feel important.
Cheers,
Paul Rolly
2:52 PM
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1 Comments:
Good for Huntsman. The last thing we need is more politicians influenced mostly by special interests. THAT has been an art form in Utah for the past several years.
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