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Pig Roast Rally Protests Young, Stevens and Murkowski
The Anchorage Daily News made it out to Rep. Don Young's (R-AK) pig roast fund-raiser last night, where a boisterous crowd of 70 to 80 protesters shouted from the street.
Outside Don Young’s annual pig roast fundraiser on Wednesday night, a raucous crowd of all ages and political persuasions taunted the guests with shouts of “oink, oink,” waved signs against corruption and big money in politics, and generally protested anything Young was for.
Protesters also voiced their opposition to special guests Sens. Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) who made an appearance.
It might seem from a national perspective that an assembly of 70 to 80 people is a low turnout, but the Daily News calls it "remarkable." When I spoke with protest-organizer John Farleigh yesterday he said he hoped a dozen people would join him, and if 15 showed up he'd consider it a success.
The crowd had some great exchanges with party guests, like political consultant Art Hackney.
“I find this outrageous,” Hackney said. “To me, the story is these guys who are stirring this up. Go look into them, because they have a helluva worse history than the people serving Alaska in the United States Congress.”As he spoke, the crowd closed in.
“Shame, shame, shame!” they roared at Hackney.
“Two wrongs make a right?” one man asked.
Alaska’s congressional delegation “built Alaska,” Hackney said.
“Take Alaska back!” people in the crowd began shouting.
It sounds like everyone had a good time. Even Young, who left smiling, given that more people (200) attended his fundraiser than the protest.
Comments (14)
Anonymous wrote on August 9, 2007 2:59 PM:"Remarkable" that ADN and KTUU covered it, for 30 years they have been covering up for these peoples actions. Local media is a joke, they only went because the did not want TPM to kick their ass AGAIN
drational wrote on August 9, 2007 3:07 PM:TPM is singlehandedly gutting the GOP in Alaska.
Nelly Bly wrote on August 9, 2007 3:12 PM:My question is which State is next?
"Among those spotted walking into the fundraiser were Diane Kaplan, president of the Rasmuson Foundation, and former legislator and oil industry lobbyist Mark Hanley."
I checked the 990s filed by the Rasmuson Foundation and the Foundation's 2005 990 appears to have been removed.
According to the 2004 990, the Foundation has half a billion dollars in net assets, about half of which are held in places like the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg.
I noticed yesterday that the Foundation provides additional funding on Denali Commission projects and, in fact, someone named Denali appears to have ties to the Foundation.
Can any of the Alaskans who have been dropping in here lately on a regular basis provide some info about the Rasmuson Foundation and the Rasmuson family?
Just Asking wrote on August 9, 2007 3:17 PM:Explain to my why no one has filed a grievance or complaint against Gonzales with the Texas Bar, for violating the Bar's own rules of conduct regarding honesty, ethics, obstruction of justice, etc...
Miers, too, for that matter.
Spitzer wrote on August 9, 2007 3:40 PM:Well just asking-a simple wikipedia search outa give you some info into the respected Rasmuson Family. Origins of the family wealth go back to the founding of The Bank of Alaska and finally to its sale to Wells Fargo. A family name thats pretty close to the top of the business ladder in Alaska. Mr. Rasmuson wouldn't care to hear that one of his Board members might've used some inside info and made a ton of money for one of the larger ANSCA corp's in Anchorage. It sorta begs the question, that if he made money for said unnamed entity did he also cross the line again and enrich himself with this knowledge?
Molly Ivans wrote on August 9, 2007 3:42 PM:Raise Hell!!
Spitzer wrote on August 9, 2007 3:47 PM:Pardon my using your name in vain Just Asking. My posting was directed to Nelly Bly.
newbie wrote on August 9, 2007 4:18 PM:Looks like Young didn't only help to 'build Alaska' but with the latest earmark-for-fund-raising flap he is also helping to 'build Florida' (or at least that I-75 inter-change).
newbie wrote on August 9, 2007 4:20 PM:Looks like Young didn't only help to 'build Alaska' but with the latest earmark-for-fund-raising flap he is also helping to 'build Florida' (or at least that I-75 inter-change).
Scott L wrote on August 9, 2007 4:20 PM:Good for you 70 people. It doesen't matter what party does wrong we must make our public servents accountable for their actions. The nations underpinnings are rooted in sand and all the ideals that the Republic stands for are under attack for the comfort of the 1%. These people don't understand or care that you milk the cow not kill the cow. Profit is fine but not at the expence of the country.P.S. It dosen't matter what party you belong to there is right and wrong.
Ed*ard Teller wrote on August 9, 2007 5:14 PM:Just got word from a person active in Diane Benson's campaign that photos were taken of all attendees at old-school, corrupt Democrat Bill Sheffield's pig roast for that crony of old-school Democrats, Don Young. Nobody from Ray Metcalfe's fledgeling campaign organization was there to protest, but Benson had about 50 or more supporters, organized by Benson volunteer, Andrea Lang and others.
Re the Rasmuson Foundation, it is a very powerful philanthropic organization, but is very, very conservative in its approach to disbursement. By conservative, I mean they shy away from funding arts or social projects which might be considered as too risky in terms of offending conservative segments of the community. Diane Kaplan is highly regarded as one of the most effective administrators in the Pacific Northwest, and most assessments of her handling of the foundation have been quite positive.
cp wrote on August 10, 2007 4:19 AM:The protest I was at had Ray Metcalfe supporters with signs on the street in front of democrat? Sheffields house. I talked to Diane Benson and voted for her last go around. I have some decent video of the event. The fundraisers had to be suprised at the amount of protesters because they could have easily put sheets over the backyard fence. Now for some former Alaska Gov. Sheffield dirt. Trips to his Palm Springs home with dancers. He liked the strippers. I don't care but his holier than thou guests probably do. There was a fundraiser at his house in about 1998 with guest Newt Gindrich. His date?, a local dancer. 2nd hand rumor? nope. fact, fact, fact. Take it to the bank.
Ed*ard Teller wrote on August 10, 2007 2:01 PM:In yesterday's post, I stated Ray Metcalfe, but meant Jake Metcalfe. Sorry, Ray.
It would have been nice to see both gentlemen represented there. Ray is a true Alaska hero, who was out there investigating questionable dealings of Alaska politicians for years, and quite successfully. Jake is more of an opportunist, finally lurching into a campaign against Young after people like Ray Metcalfe and Diane Benson showed how vulnerable Young is.
Mr. Flood wrote on August 16, 2007 6:47 PM:Jake Metcalfe is "finally lurching into a campaign"? Thank God he filed for office, and thank God Diane isn't our only choice. If ever there's an opportunist, it's Diane "I'm a Victim" Benson. Who hasn't victimized poor Diane? She was a victim of the University when she didn't want free speech extended to her poetry professor. She tried to get Linda McCarriston fired for a poem Diane didn't like. She was a victim of the 2-Party system when she ran for Governor as a member of the Green Party in 2002 (and didn't mind wounding the viable candidate, Fran Ulmer, who ultimately lost to the infamous Frank Murkowski). Then she was a victim of the Democratic Party when they didn't do enough for her in 2006 when she ran as a Democrat against Young (she's been whining that they didn't help her enough when she wouldn't help herself fundraise). Now she's a victim of another Democrat, Jake Metcalfe, because he had the temerity to file for the same seat as she did. People are thanking Mr. Metcalfe because they were afraid Diane would be the only candidate against a very vulnerable Don Young. Diane looks like a great candidate. But once you've been around her for awhile, the victim act (and as you can see from her bio, she's an actress) wears you out. So Ed*ard, go Teller on the Mountain. And leave us alone.