EURweb

AUDREY’S SOCIETY WHIRL: Rangel b'day bash

By Audrey J. Bernard, Lifestyles/Society Editor

(August 28, 2008)

Over 1,000 Revelers Present Congressman Charles B. Rangel With The Greatest Gift Of All At Annual Birthday Bash At New York’s Stately Fortress Tavern On The Green. The Annual Celebration Raised One Million Dollars To Benefit The Rangel Victory Fund

*As I neared that beautiful fortress in Central Park, Tavern on the Green, in addition to the verdant terrain, pristine foliage and sweet aroma of exotic flowers loftily hanging from larger than life trees, also wafting in the air was the sweet smell of another green substance. Not the leafy type. More like paper. Like One Million Dollars.

The money was the greatest gift of all and provided a happy ending to the annual birthday bash for Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Billed as the premier political party of the summer in New York City where leaders from the tri-state area come together to celebrate his birthday and Democratic priorities, the Rangel Birthday gala is always a fun event featuring the best of food, booze and politically correct people. Over 1,000 political powerhouses, celebrities, business leaders, community activists and supporters were in attendance.

In the past, funds raised from the summer’s biggest community celebration benefited Rangel’s political action committee. However this year’s annual birthday gala will benefit The Rangel Victory Fund -- a new joint committee dedicated to raise money for Rangel’s reelection committee as well as ten top tier Democratic candidates for Congress.

Chairman Rangel has been one of the most generous contributors to the effort to expand the Democratic Congressional majorities, contributing over $2.5 million directly to candidates and national party committees.

The ten candidates who will benefit are John Boccieri (OH-16), Debbie Halvorson (IL-11), Ashwin Madia (MN-03), Dan Maffei (NY-25), Eric Massa (NY-29), Michael McMahon (NY-13), Walt Minnick (ID-01), Jon Powers (NY-23), Dan Seals (IL-10) and Linda Stender (NJ-07).

Opera diva Jessye Norman led well-wishers in the Happy Birthday song as Congressman Rangel beamed exclaiming “She likes me, she really likes me,” to the roar of the crowd. Congressman Joe Crowley was a first time emcee taking over from Gov. Paterson and introduced Rangel’s special dais guests that included President William Jefferson Clinton, Congressman Jerry Nadler, Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, Governor David Paterson, DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Candidate John Powers, Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Jerry Nadler, Senator Hillary Clinton, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and NYC Comptroller William “Bill” Thompson. (Photos: Audrey J. Bernard and Gideon Manasseh)