Here at Yearly Kos, Mark Warner just threw an incredibly lavish bash for our conference. He rented the observation desk of the Stratosphere, one thousand feet above Las Vegas, and he provided free martini's, sushi, and Blues Brothers impersonators. It was a grand affair. However, I couldn't help leaving with the sneaking suspicion that Warner was trying to butter us up.
Don't get me wrong, none of us is gullible enough to have Warner's party affect our decision in the ballot box, but will Warner's largess affect our perception of him as a candidate? Throwing such a bash would seem to indicate that he respects us. By spending thousands of dollars on the Netroots, Warner is legitimizing us. However, this was not about addressing any of our political concerns. Warner didn't even give a speech. What Warner accomplished tonight was a perception of likability, and it was a brilliant move. Tomorrow, when Warner gives his lunchtime keynote address, he will receive thunderous approval, not because he proved that he really cares about the Netroots, rather because he has the money to make us feel important.
I asked Warner why he decided to throw such a lavish party. He responded, "Well, you all are working so hard on the front lines and we have been doing so well with our fundraising that we wanted to show some support." Call me a cynic, but I find it hard to believe that any politician would be so generous without expecting something in return.
I'm not trying to bash Warner here. I just found the whole situation unsettling and am wondering if I am alone.