Cheney came down here to Alabama yesterday to speak at a
fundraiser for Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-4). The reception was less than overwhelming.
As Cheney spoke, occasional raindrops fell from rooftop vents. A partisan crowd cheered the mention of Bush's name and gave Cheney warm applause, but no-shows on a cold, wet day left dozens of empty seats for his speech.
Aderholt represents Alabama's Fourth District, which stretches east and west across north central Alabama between Huntsville and Birmingham. He has been the chief congressional apologist for Roy "Ten Commandments" Moore and voted for CAFTA even though his district produces more knit socks than any other in the nation.
Cheney came to Alabama on Monday and spoke at a $250-a-plate lunch with a $2K fee to have your picture made with the Dark Lord himself. Raised $200K for Aderholt, even though no Dem is running against him yet according to AP(Alabama doesn't open qualifying until March 4). I did notice that someone named Carl Cole is mentioned as a candidate but his
website is kind of strange.
Cheney spoke in the Priceville Arena, a leaky old horse barn that was used over the weekend for the state high school indoor track championships. It's in such bad shape that the state high sachool athletic association is thinking of canceling indoor track as a sport altogether if a new arena isn't built somewhere. Whoever picked this site for a Cheney fundraiser must have had shit for brains.
This fundraiser is no doubt payback for Aderholt's vote to approve CAFTA. It's just too bad that there probably won't be a competitive Dem running against him to make him spend all that cash. Aderholt has been pretty safe even though this is the most highly unionized district in Alabama. Bush carried that district by 10 points higher in 2004 than in 2000, although Democratic Gov. Don Siegelman carried the district in 1998.
The no-shows for Cheney may have been due to the wet weather or the crappy venue, or just a lack of enthusiasm.
Despite the lower-than-expected attendance, Aderholt aide Hood Harris said Cheney's appearance could raise $200,000 for the congressman.
Organizers sold 560 luncheon plates at $250 each, and donors who gave $2,000 could get a photograph with Cheney, said spokesman Brad Buck. People who gave or raised "considerably more" got to speak with the vice president briefly, he said.
Aderholt, of Haleyville, doesn't yet have opposition for a sixth term, but Buck said he still needed to raise money.