What Happened to Iowa Nice? ‘Political Junkies’ Confuse Good Company, Bad Manners

[Commentary] Has there ever been a time that you stopped yourself from writing or saying something because you knew someone was not going to like it? This has almost been one of those times for me.

Back when I chaired my very first major political event in Iowa, a person I adore and trust told me to quit being so nervous. “When it’s all said and done, everyone pats each other on the back and says ‘good job’ regardless of how the event really went,” he told me. He was right. Democratic political events are just as much a celebration of the doing as they are of the finished product.

It is that particular knowledge that has me hesitating when this column has been on the tip of my fingers since Saturday night’s Democratic Hall of Fame in Cedar Rapids. On one hand, I have valid points to make about those who attended. On the other hand, I have no desire to trample on those who put their hearts and souls into planning this event. On this, the third day of my internal deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that saying what needs to be said outweighs the potential offense to the organizers.

I sat in the room Saturday night and, for the first time since attending political functions, was embarrassed to be there. It had nothing to do with the signs that plastered every inch of wall space. It had nothing to do with meal or the vast diversity of the crowd. The press had nothing to do with it. I didn’t mind paying for my own drinks, and I was able to move past the sheer lunacy of the marching bands, coordinated cheers and staff approaches. So let me be clear with exactly who and in what my disappointment lies: a banquet room full of kindergarten students would have been more respectful.

This event was billed as the Iowa Democratic Party’s 2007 Hall of Fame. It was a time, according to the program, when the party would celebrate and honor the achievements of our own members. Awards were presented to Gov. Bob Fulton, Roxanne Colin, Ed Campbell, Phyllis Thede, Ken Sagar, Cheryll Jones, Dori Rammelsberg-Dvorak, Warren Yaple and Megan Simpson. All of these people, as evidenced by their nomination and appointment, went above and beyond for the Democratic Party in Iowa.

Knowing this, why did many of those in attendance treat these individuals in such a disrespectful manner?

When Sen. Tom Harkin spoke, the audience calmed and listened. As each of the presidential hopefuls took the podium — people most of those in the audience had already heard speak half a dozen times — members of the audience quieted and listened. But when the very people we had come to honor were called to the front of the room, those in attendance seemed to think it was social hour. Many clamored around a presidential hopeful as he or she attempted to exit the main banquet room. Some called for autographs or requested photographs be taken of them with a candidate. Still others turned to their table mates and began to discuss the news of the day. It became a time when people in the audience felt they could get up and move about the room.

It was the most disrespectful display I have ever witnessed.

Former Gov. Fulton, who arguably had the best message of the night as he explained how government and bureaucrats are undeserving of the bad reputation they’ve been given, was difficult to hear as conversations sprang up throughout the room and as those in attendance clamored for photographs and autographs from Sen. Chris Dodd as he made his way from the room. Campaign staffers for Sen. Hillary Clinton, anticipating their candidate’s upcoming entrance, made their way to supporter tables to offer last-minute instructions. Wait staff continued to spirit away salads, salad dressings and roll baskets to make way for smothered chicken and veggies. Only people at the front few tables stood to applaud when Fulton completed his acceptance speech as 2007 Hall of Fame Outstanding Elected Official.

I was hoping the dinners and clanking silverware were the distraction, but the circumstance replayed itself with Sen. Clinton and Outstanding Supporter Roxanne Conlin, then with Sen. Edwards and Outstanding Supporter Ed Campbell, then with Gov. Bill Richardson and all the Democratic Achievement Awards, and finally with Sen. Joe Biden and the scholarship recipients.

This is not a complaint against the IDP or the staff members who organized this event. This is a complaint against those who attended not to celebrate our state party and honor our volunteers, but to get another glimpse, handshake, autograph or photograph with a national political figure.

Here in Iowa, political junkies are fortunate to have many opportunities to behave as teenagers at their first Stones concert. This should not have been one of them.