Posted on 01/02/2009 7:24:08 AM PST by GOP_Lady
CLEVELAND - Though the recession is crimping the spending of most Americans, Ohio Democrats plan to live large in the New Year -- at least during this month's four-day inaugural celebration.
From elected officials to former office holders to proud volunteers, Ohio Democrats have purchased all of the state party's 150 allotted rooms at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, a historic luxury hotel not far from the White House. Only a handful of Ohio rooms are being held for last-minute VIPs.
The price tag for celebrating the election of Democrat Barack Obama rivals the extravagance of the bygone housing boom: A minimum of $4,000 for the four-night stay beginning Saturday, Jan. 17. For $6,000, Democrats can upgrade their rooms to suites.
But money doesn't buy access, at least not in this case. It only gets Ohioans on the "priority list" for tickets to official inaugural events, which are managed by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
Ohioans buying hotel rooms at the Mayflower get two tickets to Ohio's black-tie-optional gala on Sunday, Jan. 18, which includes a live band from the D.C. area and an appearance by Ohio State University's marching band.
Nearly 700 people have purchased tickets to the gala, which cost $300 apiece, according to Bill DeMora, of the special committee making arrangements for the Ohio activities.
Former U.S. Rep. Dennis Eckart, who was an adviser to Obama's Ohio campaign, said the price of the hotel package is a bargain.
"Although times are tough, there is some joy in just being together," said Eckart, who is also attending events with former colleagues and with other early Obama supporters. "And compared to other packages we saw, this had some value."
Eckart said that the morning after the election, he reserved hotel rooms that were not as nice as the Mayflower and cost much more. He canceled in favor of the package.
"My wife, Sandy, and I thought the package also gave us an opportunity to be with other Ohioans who share our joy of our friends' success," he said.
Obama, who will become America's first black president, will be sworn in on Tuesday, Jan. 20. That night, a series of inaugural balls will commence across D.C.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee is organizing 10 official balls, and Ohio will join other states at one of them. But not even state Democratic officials have received details about the cost or who will be invited.
The state party set up a nonprofit committee to organize its events. The committee, 2009 Ohio Celebration Inc., is selling corporate sponsorships -- ranging from $10,000 to $75,000 -- to help underwrite the cost of the ball and related activities.
DeMora, who would not disclose any names of sponsors, said money raised by the committee cannot be used by the party.
"The goal is cover the costs and nothing more," he said.
$750,000,000,000 blue collar (not union) taxpayers dollars can buy a lot of fun and festivities for the politcal and wall street enriched and they will enjoy every dime the stupid is as stupid does American taxpayer paid for in the ever escalating givaway to the children and women who control American monies.
Ohio Democrats - party hearty on taxpayer dole.
They have always been corrupt in Ohio. The level of waste at Ohio State University and the others make other universities look efficient. For example, there is a Student Union and a Black Student Union. [Can we call the Student Union the White Student Union? Of course not]. The business school has a Dean of Diversity (who is a lesbian, of course). They have a faculty member that made the news by making $400,000 per year and he is rarely in the USA and almost never teaches. Plus, they pay his useless wife another $250,000 a year. Amazing waste.
The party of the rich.
You know this won't be the last time we do this? Technically, Bill Clinton was "the first black President." Obama will be the first black President who is half black. We will eventually have the first black President that is fully black.
What are they worried about? The taxpayer is most likely footing the bill.
We are not even sure if the other half is black since he won’t present his birth certificate.
I think the black voters got a raw deal if it turns out he is not black.
He is also the first Kenyan-American President.
I ask because in 2004, we were told this by the MSM:
For Inauguration in Wartime, a Lingering Question of Tone (Published: January 16, 2005)
Some critics say spending so much on these parties seems ill-timed both because of the Iraq war and the tsunami catastrophe in Asia. Anthony D. Weiner, a Democratic congressman preparing to run for mayor of New York, sent President Bush a letter on Tuesday suggesting that the millions in inaugural funds be sent to the troops in Iraq.
He keeps going to Hawaii to beef up his tan whenever he’s got an important tv appearance to make (nomination, inauguraion...). The tan lines are visible where his shirt falls (and wristwatch in photos taken this past summer).
LOL. He also wants to make sure his birth certificate is well hidden.
Wait a minute!
Among blacks, there are light-skin and dark-skin. Light-skins look down their noses at dark-skins.
So, after Obama (a clear light-skin black because of his 50/50 mix), we will have to have a dark-skin black.
Just like the Latino community. You have EuroMex (Mexicans of European heritage or Anglo mix like Bill Richardson) and MexIndian (the short, fat Latinos). We will have to elect a EuroMex as President, then a MexIndian (particularly if he/she were born in Mexico and are here illegaly!!!!).
Take a look at Obambi’s admistration on display. You won’t find a darker black skin.
That’s racist. LOL
Wonder who’s got the room Monica stayed in?
They can’t wait another minute for free rock concerts and unicorn rides. (The rest of us will have to wait a day or two.)
And I betcha he or she will be a Republican! ;o)
Obama had to pay Broose and others to play those “support” concerts.
Just another con. If a musician was really “down with the struggle” he’d give his time for a candidate’s campaign. He wouldn’t bill the campaign for the appearance.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.