Bill Clinton: Headline for a Sexagenarian

I believe in giving credit where credit is due.

The Washington Post gets credit for the funniest headline of the day:

Bill Clinton's 60th Birthday Benefit Blowout


I don't know about you, but it made me chuckle.

Anyway, the article, by Dan Balz, provides the details of Clinton's big 6-0 birthday bash. It's a series of events -- three days of receptions, dinners, and a concert including a performance by The Rolling Stones, legendary sexagenarians in their own right.

Baby boomer and former president Bill Clinton is laying plans to celebrate his 60th birthday in grand style with a charitable fundraising extravaganza in New York late next month that will include an invitation-only concert by the Rolling Stones and contributor packages that run to $500,000 and higher.

Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, who has generally avoided high-profile participation in her parents' political and philanthropic activities, is serving as co-host of the three-day party. She will host a Saturday brunch on a weekend that also features a golf tournament at the Bayonne (N.J.) Golf Club, multiple receptions and a dinner at the American Museum of Natural History with the former president, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Chelsea.

"My mother and I are planning a weekend of events to commemorate his [Clinton's] 60th birthday," Chelsea Clinton writes in the invitation. "I know that he would want you to share this milestone -- so I hope you can join us in New York City this October 27th through the 29th."

The 2,100 invitations began arriving this week. Weekend packages start at $60,000 (Hint: $1,000 for every year of Clinton's age). Next is the "Vice Chair Package," for those who contribute $100,000 or raise $250,000. Those who pledge $500,000 or more will receive the "Birthday Chair Package," which includes the "Backstage Pass" dinner and photo with Clinton and platinum seating at the Saturday dinner and the Stones concert.

The Rolling Stones will perform at the Beacon Theater, an art deco landmark on upper Broadway that seats about 3,000 people. According to the invitation, the concert will be taped for an upcoming Martin Scorsese movie about the band. Organizers of the event would not say whether the Stones will be paid for their appearance.

WOW! That's a pricey blowout!

Now, this is a charitable event, but some Dems have to be unhappy about the Clinton blowout.

According to The Post:

Clinton turned 60 in August but organizers delayed the birthday fundraising event until late October to avoid any complaints from other Democrats that solicitation of money for the former president's foundation would soak up money that could otherwise be used to try to win back the House and Senate in November.

Do these contributors budget their money?

What difference does it make that the Clinton birthday party is at the end of October rather than August?

If wealthy donors plan to hand over $500,000 to support the Clinton affair, that has to have an impact on their contributions to Dem candidates.

The proceeds will go to the William J. Clinton Foundation, the umbrella organization that oversees the Clinton HIV-AIDS initiative, the Clinton Global Initiative and several other programs launched by the former president since he left office almost six years ago.

I think that there should be careful oversight as to where the party profits actually go. None of these funds should "mistakenly" make their way into Hillary's presidential campaign coffers.

Russ Feingold, John Kerry, and other Dem presidential hopefuls beware!

One more thing: I am sick of Dems painting Republicans as the party of the rich.

The Clinton well-wishers planning on attending the birthday blowout aren't exactly wanting for cash.