Why Do Democrats Get To Mac On All The Good Musicians?

Brian Raftery | March 23, 2007 12:02 pm
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No wonder so many conservatives are trying to find the next Ted Nugent: When it comes to booking big-name musical guests for political events, Republicans just can’t get their acts together–at least according to an article in today’s L.A. Times:

It’s less a question of Republicans not knowing how to have fun than it is a matter of history. Democratic activists essentially invented what has become a staple of Hollywood politics, the concert-fundraiser hybrid. Think of it as the political equivalent of a Prius, without the moralizing.

Mall magnate Rick Caruso, who is hosting a cocktail party for [Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney] on Tuesday night, is unfazed by the lack of A-list entertainment at Republican events.

“We’re here to raise money,” he said, adding that he hopes to bring in more than $2 million for Romney.

He may get the money, but if the last few years of campaigning is any example, Saturday’s party for Hilary Clinton is going to be much more fun.

According to the Times article, Clinton is wooing Alicia Keys and James Blunt for tomorrow’s gig–and while those names may seem pretty snoozy to us, they’re still far more impressive than anybody the Republicans have managed to get on stage. For comparison, here’s a quick breakdown of the two parties’ most high-profile tub-thumpers from the last few years:

DEMOCRATS Red Hot Chili Peppers Sheryl Crow Bruce Springsteen Melissa Etheridge Paul Simon James Taylor Carole King Tony Bennett Lil’ Kim (rumored, seriously)

REPUBLICANS Roger Williams That girl who lost to Carrie Underwood on American Idol

Not exactly an even-keeled balance of power. But to be fair to the Republicans, it should be noted that Democrats have more pull with musicians because they better understand the hard-living rock n’ roll lifestyle: They know how to hide the weed in the carry-on bag, how to spot a freshman-year co-ed’s fake ID, and how to best roll up a body in a rug and drop it in the part of the Potomac that’s technically within Maryland’s jurisdiction.

GOP tone-deaf in music industry fundraising [LA Times]

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