THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 18, 1996 TAG: 9608160074
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ANN G. SJOERDSMA
LENGTH: 83 lines
LAST WEEK the Republicans bashed him, tonight he bashes himself.
I speak of Elvis, Bubba, the man in the White House. Our Bill. He's turning 50 tomorrow, and it's PAR-TEE time. On an opulent scale. As usual, Hillary has invited just the hippest, coolest cats in town to help Bill celebrate.
And to sing to him.
In Radio City Music Hall.
I kid you not.
Just when you think politics can't get any worse, any more comical - well, great balls of fire, they sure can. Live from Radio City Music Hall tonight - and beamed by satellite to 100 U.S. cities - it's ``Bill's Birthday Bash,'' an unprecedented fund-raising extravaganza orchestrated by Jeff Margolin, producer of the Academy Awards show.
What a life: One week Clinton repeals welfare; the next week former welfare mom-turned-star extraordinaire Whoopi Goldberg hosts his birthday party.
Poet Maya Angelou will be there, too, lending ``tone.''
I kid you not.
No Rockettes, though. Too many distractions.
Can you hear the presidential timber falling?
The bash, a kickoff to the Aug. 28 opening of the Democratic convention, is expected to raise $10 million for the Democratic National Committee. But it just raises my hackles.
Every now and then I like my president to act like one. To show some dignity and humility. To stop the self-indulgence and pandering to voters. And tell the beautiful people to hit the road.
But adept image-maker Hillary Clinton doesn't agree. She thought it would be a smashing idea for Margolin - who also produces the ``Miss America Pageant,'' but, sssh, the first lady doesn't want to talk about that - to stage yet another ostentatious baby-boomer-turns-50 party to end all ostentatious baby-boomer-turns-50 parties.
For the president of the United States.
That's our Bill, you see.
Did I mention that he's the president?
No double-fudge cake and a quiet night at home with Chelsea and a boxed set of Elvis' greatest hits for President Bill. Not this music man. Instead, Margolin is giving the birthday boy his own hit parade. To mark each decade of his long and venerable life.
Each decade.
One by one.
I kid you not.
Though the singers - Bill's favorites - have been selected, the songs are a secret. If the program has leaked, I haven't heard.
Tony Bennett is scheduled to represent the 1940s, leaving his heart yet again in Hope, Ark. Rocker Jon Bon Jovi will capture the '50s, no doubt doing a mean Elvis. (He can.) Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson will combine for a soulful duet from the 1960s; and Carly ``You're So Vain'' Simon will deliver the '70s and the ``New Democrat'' profile straight.
Kenny Rogers, who could tell Bill when to hold those cards and when to fold them, will team with Jennifer Holliday for a 1980s musical reminder. (Bubba, don't take your love to town?) And popular Canadian country singer Shania Twain will woo Bill with her '90s contribution.
No one with any depth of character could sit still for such a glitzy, yet maudlin display of premature adoration. But in this era of image-is-everything-and-so-image-is-nothing politics, I have no doubt that the prez will be partying the night away.
And picking up votes because of it.
There is no top anymore to being ``over the top.''
Among the musical-number presenters will be Billary pal and actress Mary Steenburgen and actor Nathan Lane of ``The Bird Cage,'' appealing to gay voters. (``Bird Cage'' co-star Robin Williams is slated to perform - yes, perform - at the Democratic Convention.)
But who, the paparazzi are clamoring, will be our Bill's Marilyn? Who will breathlessly satirize the breathless rendition of ``Happy Birthday, Mr. President'' that la Monroe gave JFK?
Ah, politics. The confounding questions never end.
What a stage the world of American politics has become. From pro-lifers to life-of-the-partiers. Actors to actors. Bash to bash.
All I can say is Happy Birthday, Elvis. You can have your cake, but remember, the cholesterol will get you in the end. MEMO: Ann G. Sjoerdsma is a lawyer and book editor of The
Virginian-Pilot. ILLUSTRATION: FILE photo
But seriously, folks. . . : Clinton's star-studded, fund-raising
birthday bash is demeaning for a president. by CNB