Robbins, Sarandon Among Stars at Lobbyist Bashes Near Parade
By The Associated Press
This article was published January 21, 2009 at 9:26 a.m.
A few blocks from President Barack Obama's inaugural parade, actor Tim Robbins enjoyed the warmth - - and a scrambled egg burrito -- as he joined his companion Susan Sarandon and other celebrities at a luncheon at the offices of lobbying firm BGR Group.
At another gathering along the route on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, airline executives watched the parade over carved ham, salmon, seafood bisque and bottled water with a mock presidential seal.
Location, it turned out, was everything yesterday in the nation's capital.
Beyond the myriad inaugural balls, few other places than offices along and near the parade route played host to such a mix of top company executives, Hollywood stars, corporate sponsors, lawmakers and aides, all rubbing elbows.
"It's a huge perk," said John Stubbs, managing partner of Romulus Global Issues Management, an international policy consultancy. Stubbs scouted for office space overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue in 2007 with the inauguration in mind.
Trade groups, lobbyists and corporations, such as General Electric Co., cashed in on their proximity, offering a haven for invitees while aiming to build relationships that can be valuable in the future.
New congressional ethics rules banning most gifts and meals from lobbyists and the companies that employ them didn't deter firms along the route from taking advantage of the hoopla surrounding the historic inaugural.
Meeting and Mingling
BGR, whose clients include Eli Lilly & Co. and Verizon Communications Inc., held a star-studded inaugural brunch with celebrities such as Robbins, 50, and Sarandon, 62.
"Is this a lobbying firm?" Robbins chuckled. "I thought it was an investment firm. I wouldn't sanction or condone lobbying of any kind."
Also at the BGR bash was Del Bryant, the chief executive officer of BMI, a New York-based music-licensing organization. He wants to get to know the large crop of new members of Congress and inform them about copyright and intellectual property issues.
"There are so many new people in Washington, there's so many new people in Congress, and it's an opportunity to meet these people," Bryant said.
Flying High
The Air Transport Association of America, the trade group for U.S. airlines, took advantage of its address at 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. to invite lawmakers and other officials to mingle with executives such as Mark Dunkerley, CEO of Honolulu- based Hawaiian Holdings Inc., parent company of Hawaiian Airlines; and William Flynn, CEO of Purchase, New York-based Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc.
"We figured this is going to be an historic moment, and if we could make it available to select guests, we're going to do that," ATA spokesman David Castelveter said.
For Dunkerley, the inauguration was especially memorable because the new president spent part of his childhood in Honolulu. "Everybody from Hawaii has a connection to Obama now," he said.
Fairfield, Connecticut-based GE declined comment.
Many of Washington's quadrennial inaugural parties transcend partisan lines. The Washington-based National Association of Manufacturers, though headed by a former Republican governor, John Engler of Michigan, ended its three- day inaugural celebration with a parade-viewing party from its vantage point along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Cutting Back
In some cases, menus weren't as elaborate as in past years because of the ethics law, and heightened security and closed parking garages made it harder to bring in caterers, organizers said.
"It's just going to have to be scaled back," said lobbyist Wright Andrews, whose firm, Butera & Andrews, hosts an inaugural party every four years from its vantage point overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue's Freedom Square. Butera & Andrews was paid at least $1 million last year by such companies as Spring House, Pennsylvania-based Advanta Corp. and New Hyde Park, New York-based State Bancorp Inc.
Even after the crowds cleared out last night, the events were scheduled to continue. The Poker Players Alliance, pushing to repeal legislation banning online poker, was to host a late- night game -- no real betting -- featuring professional poker players Howard Lederer and Andy Bloch, well-known to viewers of the World Series of Poker on cable channel.
For more information see Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
