Guest Post: Frank S. on Dancing with the Senators

The MOMocrats welcome Spouse-ocrat and frequent commenter, Frank S., who gives us a peek into a fundraiser for Democratic Senators in San Francisco.

My wife, MOMocrat Glennia, and I had the good luck to be in San Francisco for a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) event early in October. This was the last event coordinated by venture capitalist Mark Gorenberg to help Democrats secure a 60-seat, filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.  From the e-mail notice we got it looked like it would be a memorable event.

So, in the mid-afternoon, we dropped our son off at with a neighbor who has kids slightly older than ours. As we left, a board game (Life – one our son almost always wins) was unfolding, so we knew he’s be quite happy for quite a while. We climbed in our car and headed up the highway to San Francisco.

The event was in Cow Hollow, just north of Pacific Heights, in the lovely home of the founders of a software firm. After climbing up several steep blocks, our navigation system told us we were “near our destination” at about the same time that the valet approached to park the car. We climbed out and went inside, where we found a comfortable well dressed crowd, and a nonstop parade of wine and canapés offered by caterers in black and white. As we munched little salmon sandwiches and mini-kumquat skewers, we could see the breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the rear balcony. I guess a software success can buy quite a view in San Francisco.

The last San Francisco political event we attended was for Barack Obama’s last “informal” gathering, back in the Spring, and it happened to be the event of “San Francisco Fat Cats” where he made the comments that became infamously distorted as “Bittergate”. Here we were again, supposedly among the “Fat Cats”, and now, as then, that’s not the way it felt. Fat? Well, yeah, we could all shed a few pounds (and the nonstop catering didn’t help); Cats? We didn’t see any (and my wife is allergic, so we’d know right away). No, this was an event for folks like us – lucky enough to have some spare cash to donate to a political cause, earnest enough to care.

And earnestness seemed to be in abundance – we met technology innovators who have new ideas for green tech companies that they are trying to get off the ground; veterans of one software success looking to do it again; and some who just seemed to want to talk politics and policy, but with a passion that I find a little scary.  My wife, the attorney, can handle those conversations far better than I - just like she leaves the physics discussions to me.

And especially earnest were the special guests – when we arrived, Senator Barbara Boxer had already arrived, and we got the chance to meet her when she walked up to us and introduced herself.  My wife handed her a MOMocrats pin, and she said, "MOMocrats?  I love it! How wonderful!"

Laura Tyson, Professor at the Haas School of Business at Berkeley and Obama economics advisor, was there, as well as former Secretary of Defense, William Perry now at Stanford. 

After a while, we noticed Senator Dianne Feinstein had arrived, and Glennia got to give her a MOMocrats card.  It looked like both Senators had had a rough week – they had just returned from the torturous Bailout votes in Washington, and were glad to be back in California. We thanked them for what they had done for California in their time in government. Patrick Leahy, Senator from Vermont, (and one who has survived overt curses from Dick Cheney on the Senate floor), was also there. He had his camera, too, so we didn’t feel quite so out of place boldly taking snapshots.

And finally, Senator Charles Schumer of New York climbed up the stairs and addressed the group. He talked how great Barack Obama is, and Joe Biden, and praised their wives as well. He also told a story about watching Ed Koch, embattled mayor of New York, on the 11 o’clock news with his wife during a time when Koch was fanning the flames of racial division in the city. “You can tell he’s not married,” she said. “He has nobody to tell him that he's being a jerk.”

Schumer is the leader of the DSCC effort, the one to secure the 60-seat filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. At the beginning of the election cycle, it seemed like a long shot. But with the growing support of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and the registration drives all over the country, races that were toss-ups are now almost certain democratic victories. And, races that seemed like safe red territory are now toss-ups. This 60-seat goal is really within reach this year – if we keep up the good work, support the candidates, and get out the vote.

Sen. Schumer yielded the position on the stairs to Sen. Barbara Boxer, who reiterated the excitement about this goal being near. And how important is it? It’s what we need to give President Obama the Supreme Court justices he’ll nominate, if he's elected. It’s what is needed to craft and implement the Health Care Plan the country needs. It’s what is needed to change the direction of our energy policy. With 60 seats in the Senate to back him up, President Obama can make these changes rapidly and forcefully.

With that, Sen. Boxer had to leave. We had to go as well. Some were staying for dinner and other discussions, but we needed to get back down the Peninsula to make sure our boy had not tried the patience of our neighbors too much. He can have a lot of fun, but has yet to learn humility when he wins at board games, which can rub some the wrong way. But then again, after hearing all these rousing calls for victory in November, perhaps we should have brought him along. With his tenacity and desire to win, he might be a good fit for the Senate some day.

My verdict on the fundraiser:

Best Canape: Kumquats on a stick (if juicy and fresh)

Best overheard line regarding Sarah Palin: “We don’t need a Vice President who winks, we need one who thinks!”

Best view: North, to the Golden Gate Bridge

Best trivial surprise: Barbara Boxer drives a Prius.

Frank S. is a soccer dad, a scientist with a PhD in Applied Physics, and a proud Independent voting for Obama.  He's not a Democrat, he's just married to one. 

To help the DSCC on to a 60-seat, filibuster-proof majority, click here.

Comments

[Julie Pippert]

Awesome recap 9especially the details) and what an amazing event!