Want Dinner With John McCain In Cincinnati? $50,000 Gets You A Seat At The Table

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Republican presidential candidate's June 26 fundraiser is co-chaired by former Cincinnati Reds owner Carl Lindner, one of Ohio's richest citizens. A ticket for the dinner goes for $50,000 per couple according to the invitation available on McCain's campaign Web site. A prominent Ohio lobbyist is on the host committee. Although McCain has tried to distance himself from the influence of lobbyists, a Lindner lobbyist with Republican ties is helping with the event. Just so the details don't get lost as time passes, here's what the McCain site shows:

"John McCain returns to Ohio for a finance reception and dinner in Cincinnati on Thursday, June 26, 2008.

"Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m.; a photo opportunity begins at 6:00 p.m.; and the main reception begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are available to individuals or couples who raise or contribute $50,000; Individuals or couples who raise or contribute $10,000 are invited to the photo opportunity and VIP reception. Tickets to the main reception are $2,300 per person. Business attire is requested."

There's another link available at the moment that shows the names of the host committee. The hosts include Bob Castellini, who owns the Reds, and Bill DeWitt, who owns the St. Louis Cardinals. Cincinnati Bell CEO Jack Cassidy is on the list, as is Charles H. Gearhardt III, the lobbyist:

"Cynthia & Edmund Adams, Bettye & Tom Arington, Eileen & John Barrett, Ruth Ann & Robert T. Bennett, Mary & Ron Beshear, Jack Cassidy, Susie & Bob Castellini, Jared Davis, Leslee & Lon Deckard, Kelle & Kevin DeWine, Kathy & Bill DeWitt, Nancy & Steve Donovan, Jim Evans, Joyce & Dick Farmer, Charles H. Gerhardt III, Margie & Mark Hauser, Louise & Joe Head, Sandy & Bob Heimann, Kevin Kabat"

OH-01 GOP Steve Chabot: Newt's Coming To Root

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- who's been blasting Democrat Barack Obama for consorting with "hard-left intellectuals" -- is headed to Cincinnati. He's scheduled for a Wednesday fundraiser at the downtown Hyatt Regency, an event that includes a $1,000 per person VIP reception. Newt never jumped into the 2008 presidential contest, dashing the hopes of many conservatives. Instead, he's been dashing around the nation raising money for House GOP veterans like Steve Chabot who are facing tough 2008 contests. Details about the Chabot event are available on the Hamilton County Republican Party web site.

Gingrich has his own online operation, where he hawks everything from autographed copies of his books to faux Speaker's gavels engraved with his name. He also has this slogan posted: "Real Change Requires Real Change." Chabot is running for a sixth term against Democrat Steve Driehaus, a state legislator whose been raising serious cash in a district targeted by the DCCC's red-to-blue campaign. Thus, any mention of the need for real change probably won't come up during Gingrich's stumping for the OH-01 Republican incumbent. Newt has been delivering red meat lately -- bashing Obama's pastor, whom he says is not a racist but an avowed leftist.

"First of all, nothing Pastor Wright said was racist. Pastor Wright was saying what all hard-left intellectuals, whether they're white or black or brown or Asian or whatever their background -- if you go out and read what the hard left says to itself, it is a consistent diatribe against the United States. It consistently condemns the United States.

"There are people -- I talked to somebody tonight who pointed out 10 years ago, they went to a college commencement in the north at a liberal college where a substantial number of people would not stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance or for 'The Star Spangled Banner.' I mean, this is nothing new. The fact that it happens to be African-American is irrelevent. This is a normal diatribe, a normal assault on America and it's common for a substantial number of hard-left people."