Busy Schedule for GOP Delegates in the Twin Cities

Shareholders of AT&T should be concerned about the company’s profit levels. 

Fresh on the heels of co-sponsoring or sponsoring a plethora of events at the Democratic National Convention, the phone giant is back spreading money around at the Republican National Convention.

Quinn Gillespie & Associates LLC, the Washington D.C. public relations and lobbying firm which created a matrix of social events for the Democratic convention, also created a similar listing for the GOP convention, which revs up August 31. The Sunlight Foundation took the liberty of posting this Quinn Gillespie cataloging on the Internet on August 7. 

It is a hair over eight pages – far shorter than the near 15-page opus of events scheduled in Denver. 

The parties list for the Twin Cities is shorter but, doggone it, AT&T is well-represented. 

On the evening of August 31 alone, AT&T is one of the sponsors for two events: the two-hour Republican Main Street Partnership Reception and, from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am, the Salute to the Screen Actors Guild soirée. 

Quinn Gillespie says that September 1 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm AT&T is hosting a reception for California delegates. However, the California Delegation’s schedule shows no such event. 

The delegation’s schedule is printed in blue and green. Blue events are “Official California Delegation Events” while green ones are “Other Convention Events of Your Choice.” 

The delegation’s schedule shows no event with AT&T on September 1, listing only a green 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm Conservative Movement Leaders reception in the  atrium of the Hilton Garden Inn featuring McCain Campaign Senior Advisor Charlie Black.  

Maybe AT&T isn’t lavishing so much of its profits on the Republican National Convention as it would appear at first blush. 

Quinn Gillespie indicates AT&T is also hosting a reception for the MI delegates from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am September 1. 

Smash Mouth is performing at the Aqua Night Club from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am at an event hosted by the Coalition for a Conservative Majority and Citizens United. Big Head Todd is over at The Fine Line Music Café courtesy of Magnum Entertainment. 

“Red, Rhythm and Rimes – Late Night with LeAnn Rimes and the Bellamy Brothers” is happening at the Bar Fly. Red is the color the event wishes to keep Florida, according to Quinn Gillespie. 

September 2, AT&T has an afternoon reception for the Georgia delegation.  Later it is one of the sponsors of the Texas Honky Tonk featuring Gretchen Wilson, John Rich and Cowboy Troy at Trocaderos. Later, AT&T is also one of the sponsors of both the African American Voter reception and the Young Guns reception. 

Magnum Entertainment’s fare September 2 at The Fine Line is Jack Ingram and Robert Earl Keen. 

Attendance may well be spotty at the “Celebration of Free Speech” reception since it conflicts with “Pit Bulls & Pigs: A Reception Celebrating Efforts to Lower Taxes and End Government Waste.” The hosts, not surprisingly, are the National Taxpayers Union and the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste. 

On September 3, AT&T takes a much-deserved break during the day but resurfaces at 10:00 pm as one of the sponsors of the One Campaign & RIAA party which Quinn Gillespie assures will feature an “A-List musical guest.” 

RIAA and AT&T face some competition from Target which presents the Creative Coalition Gala Concert  featuring the Charlie Daniels Band and celebrities like Matthew Modine, Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dana Delany and Barry Levinson, according to Quinn Gillespie. 

The Creative Coalition had a higher profile at the Democratic convention. 

On September 4, the convention’s last day, AT&T roars back to form hosting a reception for the Texas delegation and acting as one of the sponsors of both the Hispanic Voters reception and the ACUF Tribute to the Reagan Revolution. 

The California Delegation schedule offers oodles of other entertainment options as well. 

From 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on August 30 there’s the “2008 Young Republican Alumni Reunion” at Gluek’s Restaurant & Bar. Special Guest: Congressman and former California Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy. That event is in green. 

In blue, making it an official delegation event, is “TIKI IN MINNESOTA” – emphasis is that of the state delegation – an evening reception, barbeque and boat excursion. Attire, the state delegation is informed shall be “Beach Tiki Casual.” 

The delegation’s schedule predicts a high of 77 and a low of 57 for Sunday August 31. There’s a green 2:00 pm Reception and Special Entertainment by Lee Greenwood prior to the screening of An American Carol at the Minneapolis Convention Center. 

An American Carol is billed as the “politically incorrect comedy of the year!” in the delegation’s schedule. It stars Kevin Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Leslie Nielsen, Trace Adkins, Dennis Hopper, James Woods, Robert Davi, Bill O’Reilly and Jon Voight. 

Also in green at the same time is the “Catholic Working Group” tour, mass and reception at the Cathedral of St. Paul with Archbishop Neinstadt. 

A toss-up. 

In blue – Attire: Dressy Casual – is Union Pacific Railroad’s “WHISTLESTOP ’08.” By invitation only, though. All aboard! 

Delegates who would rather dress “Nice Casual, no jeans” can take a GOP Express shuttle to the RNC 2008 Delegate party at the Minneapolis Convention Center. 

At 9 pm, in green, is the premier of Rediscovering God in America at the Shubert Theater. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his bride are hosting.

September 1 the delegation can “Walk the RED Carpet” at lunch with Mary Matalin and Events of the Heart in support of Women and Heart Disease. But at 2:30 pm delegates need to don their business attire and head to the afternoon convention session. 

During the evening session, delegates are supposed to hear from First Lady Laura Bush and her husband as well as Vice President Dick Cheney and California’s own Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He might have to bail though because the state doesn’t have a budget yet, two months after there was supposed to be one. 

Rounding out the evening, in blue, is the “MEDTRONIC CORPRORATION ULTRA CHIC LOUNGE UNDER THE LIGHTS featuring a Hot on Broadway Production of the Music of Jersey boys and an Era that Defined Rock and Roll.” 

Rock out in business attire. 

Early on the morning of September 2, in green, is “The Obesity Society” Health Care Forum moderated by Leslie Stahl of 60 Minutes. The forum features Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former Gov. Mike Huckabee. 

Potentially more appealing – and in blue — is the 11:00 am Bloody Mary Brunch hosted by the Morongo Mission Band of Indians. At the no-doubt swanky Lafayette Club on the banks of Lake Minnetonka. 

The afternoon, in green, includes a salute to GOP governors by the Republican Jewish Coalition, a noon screening of “Advise and Dissent” by the Catholic Working Group, a salute to American Veterans and a late-afternoon cocktail reception hosted by the Republican National Coalition for Life. 

Following the Coalition for Life’s event is the “Republican Majority for Choice Big Tent Celebration.” 

California’s own Rosario Marin, former U.S. Treasurer and now Gov. Schwarzenegger’s cabinet secretary for Consumer Affairs, addresses the convention that evening. Her official state bio says she is a “compassionate mother, dedicated public official and consummate advocate for the disadvantaged.” 

Former New York City Mayor and failed presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani is the keynote speaker. 

If a delegate wants to blow off blue and go green there’s “Late Night at the RNC Convention” at the modestly named Best Bar in America. In blue, however, at the conclusion of that evening’s conventioneering, is the “Island Fever Reception” at Nicollet Island Pavilion. 

“Shuttles have staggered departures as they fill up back to the hotels.” 

Prayer, Praise and Pastries with former Congressman J.C. Watts, Jr. on the morning of September 3. In green. 

In blue, the official caucus brunch begins at 9:00 am. There’s a day trip to the Mall of America at 12:30 pm or a screening of “Blocking the Path to 9/11”. 

The day trip ends at 3:00 pm leaving just enough time to freshen up for “HYPE: The Obama Effect” at 3:30 pm. 

At 8:00 am September 4, it’s tee-time at the National Convention Cup – by invitation only — at the Tournament Players Course. 

Or from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm non-golfers can avail themselves of three different day trips: A return to the Mall of America, a visit to the Walker At Museum or a stroll around the Minneapolis Zoo. 

That would mean missing the luncheon and tribute to Cindy McCain but it doesn’t conflict with the Republican Jewish Coalition reception honoring pro-Israel elected officials. 

Aptly in green is a late afternoon cocktail reception for “Republicans for Environmental Protection” with featured guest, Theodore Roosevelt IV. 

September 4 is the big final convention night capped off by Sen. John McCain’s speech. After that it’s “Minnesota Rocks.”  It’s the final California delegation wing-ding. Montgomery Gentry and Kansas perform. 

Dress: Casual.

Phew. 

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