Republican party
New York Observer - November 6, 2006
The Evening of Greed
The New York Young Republican Club hosted an 80’s-themed party last
week. Leaders described it as an attempt to reinvigorate members,
declaring that this is a time when it’s “frustrating” to be a
Republican in New York.
The Capitalist Ball was held at downtown’s premiere bridge-and-tunnel
hotspot, Culture Club, and offered an opportunity—according to the
press release—to “harken back to one of the greatest eras in American
culture, otherwise known as the ‘Reagan Years’ or the ‘Decade of
Greed’ by those who just didn’t get it.”
By 10 p.m., a group of fewer than 20 people—mostly men in their 30’s—
had gathered at the back of the club. Madonna and Duran Duran played
to an empty dance floor. Hardly a dent had been made in the cheese
platter.
“I would have liked to see 50 people here,” said the club’s executive
vice president, Ron Lewenberg. Theirs is the oldest Young Republican
club in the country, started in 1911, and boasts an estimated
membership of 350. “I can’t say that I’m disappointed, in that I know
there are two other events going on.”
Mr. Lewenberg added that Governor George Pataki and the Republican
Party in New York State had failed to give young Republicans at the
grassroots level a reason to go out and fight for them. “A lot of
Republicans are in hiding right now,” he said. “We need to get them
to come out of hiding.”
“People go out late on Thursdays,” said longtime member Mark
Kronenberg, 38, a math tutor by trade. “Things might still pick up.”
“If we’re young and I were in my 20’s and I came to this party, I’d
feel a little bit like, ‘What am I doing here?’” said Mary McNeal, a
fortysomething paralegal. “But there’s a lot more people in this club
than just these people. I’ve been to events at the Republican Club
where they have like Dick Morris speaking, and there are some really
hip young people at those events.”
She added, “You just missed a really cute girl, who was very thin
with blond hair—she was in her 20’s, maybe.”
William M. Horowitz had a more upbeat take on the party. He was
already handing out business cards announcing his candidacy for City
Council in the 23rd District in 2009. He was 28 and wore a gray suit
and a giddy smile. “I’m loving this—I think it’s great. We
Republicans throw the best parties.”
But there’s hardly anyone here?
“Well, you know, it was one of those parties where you had to RSVP,
and then if you didn’t RSVP in time, you know there’s only so much
you can do.” The Transom hadn’t RSVP’d.
The compact Mr. Horowitz continued, “You know, with the arrogance of
the liberal media, they make you think: ‘Oh well, it’s a bad year for
Republicans; Republicans are not going to win. You might as well stay
home.’ That’s not true.”
Two women seated on a couch brought up the party’s female-under-30
contingent.
Lynn Yan, 25, an investment banker, said that she’d only been to two
meetings. She wasn’t surprised that the party was a dud. “Oh my God,
New York is so Democratic. And the national mood right now kind of
puts a damper on things.”
Ms. Yan’s friend, Loraine Cormican, 28, a writer-comedian, agreed.
“Nobody’s here and people are dying in Iraq, so it kind of puts a
somber mood on things.”