American Dreamer: Newsom's party
Steven T. Jones and Kid Beyond are driving to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, stopping by Burning Man on the way there and back, reporting on the intersection of the counterculture and the national political culture.
By Steven T. Jones
Gavin Newsom threw a great party last night, drawing a mix of young hipsters, youngish politicos, and a smattering of corporate types in suit and tie. Even though he didn’t get a speaking slot at the convention, Newsom is widely seen as a rising star in the party, far cooler than most elected officials, maybe even too cool for his own good.
Comedian Sarah Silverman did a funny bit to open the program at the Manifest Hope Gallery (which featured a variety of artworks featuring Obama), then introduced Newsom by saying, “I’m honored to introduce a great public servant and a man I would like to discipline sexually, Gavin Newsom.”
Apparently Newsom liked it because he grabbed Silverman and started to grope and nuzzle into her like they were making out, then acted surprised to see the crowd there and took the microphone. It was a strange and uncomfortable moment for those who know about his past sex scandal and recent marriage to the former Jennifer Siebel, who watched the spectacle from the wings.
But it clearly shows that Newsom is his own biggest fan, someone who think he’s adorable and can do no wrong, which is a dangerous mindset in politics.
Another slightly shameless aspect of the event was how overtly Newsom is trying associate himself with Obama (the party was a salute to the “Obama Generation”) after strongly backing Hillary Clinton in the primaries. And then, of course, there’s the fact that his party was sponsored by PG&E (a corrupting influence in San Francisco politics) and AT&T (facilitators of Bush Administration warrantless wiretapping).
“Thanks to everyone who made this happen. We appreciate their largesse,” Newsom said after letting go of Silverman.
Earlier in the day, I ran into Newsom outside the Pepsi Center and he reluctantly stopped for a brief interview. I asked how his week was going and he said, “We’re here talking about public power, all week long, and you can tell Bruce that.” After he was done putting me on, he said that the highlight of his week has been the policy panels.
“It’s the chance to sit down and talk health care with national leaders on the issue. That’s the chance of a lifetime,” said Newsom, adding that he’s been collecting business cards and building relationships.
Of course, Newsom considers himself one of those national leaders on health care (despite belatedly backing the SF plan’s business mandate and letting Sup. Tom Ammiano do all the heavy lifting to make it a reality), as his consultant Eric Jaye confirmed when we spoke later at Newsom’s party. “It’s been a good opportunity to meet people from all over the country. We’ve been getting lots of questions about universal health care,” Jaye told me. “It’s because we’ve set up a successful model for universal health care.”
On the issue of Clinton and party unity, Newsom praised her speech and told me she’s done a great job at bring the party together after a divisive primary season. “People can criticize her, but I do think that you’ve never seen a runner up do so much to support the party’s nominee,” Newsom told me. “She’s done as much as she could do, privately as well as publicly.”
Later at the party, Newsom urged attendees to aggressively campaign for Obama, telling them, “It is one thing to talk about hope, but it’s another thing to manifest it.”
I also got a chance to chat with Newsom’s new wife, who said the highlights of her week have been seeing Michelle Obama on stage with her cute young daughters, and seeing Hillary Clinton speak at the Emily’s List event. “There is such energy here and so much enthusiasm. Change and hope are a big deal,” said Siebel (or is it now Mrs. Newsom?).
Between the Roll Call and running into Newsom, I also ran into SF District Attorney Kamala Harris, who is being staffed at the convention by her two teenaged nieces, who kept us moving as we spoke, asking me, “Is it possible to do this while we walk?”
Harris, an early Obama supporter who might be offered a spot in the administration, said this is an exciting moment in history: “We have a progressive agenda that we’re actually going to be able to implement this time.”
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Comments (1)
Steve,
What's with all the softball questions? Oh, that's right, you will still be endorsing him for Governor.
Posted by expatriate | August 29, 2008 01:01 AM