Friday, July 23, 1999
Neophytes join political pros at fund-raiser
BY PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Sandra Russell had never been to a political fund-raiser before, let alone one with a $1,000 price tag.
But Thursday she walked into the Omni Netherland Plaza Hotel's swanky Hall of Mirrors. In the crowd were the city's power brokers, glaring television cameras, and a lot of first-timers like herself.
They are helping fuel a massive presidential campaign for Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
“It's fun to be excited about a candidate for once,” the Newtown woman said. After the scandal-plagued terms of President Clinton, Mr. Bush is the one candidate she says can bring a new atmosphere and respect to political office and the presidency.
Like Mrs. Russell, Mary and Ron Beshear of Montgomery are novices when it comes to fund-raisers.
But on Thursday they opened their checkbooks and joined the estimated 400 others gathered to hear Mr. Bush speak.
The loudest applause came when Mr. Bush vowed to uphold the dignity of the presidential office if elected.
After watching Mr. Clinton wade his way through the Lewinsky scandal, the Paula Jones case and his impeachment, the vow from Mr. Bush is exactly what the Beshears wanted to hear.
“We know for a fact, that he is an honorable man,” Mr. Beshear said of Mr. Bush.
Why get involved now?
Because politics has become too much of a show and politicians have become showmen, Mr. Beshear said. He says Mr. Bush is a public servant.
“He brings the right attitude and morals to be a good leader,” said June Cole of Batavia, another first-timer. She and her husband, Thomas Cole, a Cincinnati architect, have not been big contributors in the past to political causes.
They were driven to support Mr. Bush's campaign for two major reasons. They like what they see in Mr. Bush, Mrs. Cole said. And they are tired of what they have heard about Mr. Clinton.
The political newcomers are sparking a new enthusiasm, said Margaret Rorie of Indian Hill and a veteran of Republican political galas.
Mr. Bush “is saying things we can all relate to,” she said. “and he is someone we can trust.”
Before the fund-raiser, four leaders in the local Democratic Party challenged Mr. Bush on his voting record on gun control.
“Where's your compassion?” asked Jane Anderson, a Democratic candidate for Cincinnati City Council.
She says Mr. Bush signed legislation that allows Texans and non-Texans to carry concealed weapons.
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