花31000美元與奧巴馬吃飯的人都是誰?
????你有興趣花上30800美元,購買一次與美國總統奧巴馬共進晚餐,并討論經濟問題和中東沖突問題的機會嗎? ????不過除非你是那些支持奧巴馬的超級富翁中的一位,否則你恐怕很難收到邀請。日前,大約50位金融家、商人和華盛頓精英歡聚一堂,在紐約市哈萊姆區的紅公雞餐廳(Red Rooster)參加了一場專門的盛宴。 ????美國民主黨全國委員會(Democratic National Committee)的一位發言人表示,奧巴馬將在這次活動上與客人們暢談各種話題,從經濟問題一直到當前的利比亞沖突和中東亂局,這次活動有望為民主黨全國委員會籌集到150萬美元的資金。雖然該委員會不愿透露與會者名單,不過有消息來源表示,許多在2007年到2008年總統大選期間支持了奧巴馬的富翁都有望參加這次宴會。 ????他們包括: ????切爾西碼頭有限合伙公司(Chelsea Piers LP)總裁兼聯合創始人湯姆?伯恩斯坦及和妻子安德莉亞。伯恩斯坦夫婦的出席的確有些小小的諷刺,因為切爾西碼頭公司的另一位創始人羅蘭?貝茨恰恰是前總統小布什的鐵哥們兒之一。貝茨和小布什曾經是同班同學,而且還是耶魯大學某個兄弟會的會友。小布什早年前曾購買德州游騎兵(Texas Rangers)棒球隊的一部分股份,而貝茨當時正是德州游騎兵隊的主要股東。貝茨在1995年與伯恩斯坦共同創立了切爾西碼頭公司。 ????Evercore Partners公司的總裁兼首席執行官拉夫?施洛斯特因也將攜妻子簡?哈特利出席這次宴會。簡?哈特利是經濟和政治咨詢公司了望臺集團(Observatory Group)的共同創始人。施洛斯特因在進軍私人領域以及在紐約運營投行之前,曾在公共部門效力多年。在20世紀70年代中期,他曾是美國國會聯合委員會(Congressional Joint Committee)的一名經濟學家,然后曾為卡特政府效力,一開始擔任過財政部部長助理的副手,后任白宮內政委員會副主任。 ????在卡特執政期間,施洛斯特因曾與金融家奧林?克雷默一起共事。克雷默也有望參加該宴會。克雷默是對沖基金Boston Provident LP公司的一般合伙人。 ????另一位有望出席的來賓名叫邁克爾?肯普納,他是白宮社區發展方案委員會的成員,該委員會的職責是為美國總統提供咨詢,提出最好的方法,讓公民、非營利機構、企業以及政府機構可以攜起手來,響應社區的需求。肯普納也是公關機構MWW集團的創始人、總裁兼首席執行官。 ????安迪?托比亞斯大概也在受邀之列,他是民主黨全國委員會的筆桿子兼財務主管。另外,多年以來,托比亞斯也一直在為《時尚先生》(Esquire)、《花花公子》(Playboe)和《時代周刊》(Time)等雜志撰寫專欄。 ????不過截止本文發表前,上述有望參加宴會者要么沒有回電話,要么就是拒絕對此事發表評論。 ????民主黨和奧巴馬把宴會地點選在紅公雞餐廳,可能出乎許多人的意料,而且這個地點甚至可謂低調。不過這家去年12月才開業的餐廳是由知名瑞典廚師馬庫斯?薩繆爾森共同建立的。薩繆爾森是個有來頭的大廚,他不僅是紐約市Aquavit餐廳的共同所有者,而且還在2009年奧巴馬迎接印度總理的國宴上掌勺。這次宴會是美國民主黨今年的第一個集資大會,民主黨全國委員會今年還將在全美范圍內舉辦好幾次類似的宴會。這次晚宴之前有一個更大一些的暖場活動,這個活動在哈萊姆區的Studio博物館舉行,屆時約有250名賓客參加。 ????譯者:樸成奎 |
????Any interest in paying $30,800 for dinner and a chance to chat with President Barack Obama about the economy and conflicts in the Middle East? ????Chances are you're not invited unless you're among Obama's uber rich supporters. Tonight, about 50 financiers, businesspeople and Washington elite will gather for an exclusive dinner in New York City's Red Rooster Harlem. ????A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee says the event, where Obama will chat with guests about everything from the economy to conflicts in Libya and the Middle East, is expected to raise about $1.5 million for the organization. Though the committee wouldn't divulge the relatively small guest list, a source says many of the President's supporters dating back from 2007 and 2008 are expected to attend. ????They include: ????President and co-founder of Chelsea Piers LP Tom Bernstein and wife Andrea. Indeed, there's a ring of irony to this, given that Roland Betts, who founded Chelsea Piers with Bernstein in 1995, is one of George W. Bush's best friends. The two were classmates and fraternity brothers at Yale University and Betts was the lead owner in Bush's Texas Rangers partnership. ????Also attending is Evercore Partners (EVR) President and CEO Ralph Schlosstein and wife Jane Hartley, co-founder of the Observatory Group, an economic and political advisory firm. Prior to entering the private sector and running the New York City-based investment bank, Schlosstein served in the public sector for many years. In the mid-1970s, he was an economist for the Congressional Joint Committee and then went on to work in the Carter Administration – first as deputy to the assistant secretary of the Treasury Department and later as associate director of the White House Domestic Policy staff. ????Under the Carter Administration, Schlosstein worked with financier Orin Kramer, also an expected guest. Kramer is a general partner of the hedge fund Boston Provident, LP. ????Another likely show is Michael Kempner, member of the White House Council for Community Solutions, an organization that advises the President on the best ways for citizens, nonprofits, businesses and governments to work together and respond to community needs. Kempner is also founder, president and CEO of MWW Group, a public relations firm. ????And then there's also Andy Tobias, author and treasurer of the Democratic National Committee. For several years, Tobias had a column in Esquire, Playboy and Time. ????All of the expected attendees either did not return a call before publication or declined to comment. ????Indeed, the Red Rooster might be an unexpected and even arguably understated location, but the Harlem restaurant (which opened December 2010) was co-founded by notable Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson, who co-owns Aquavit restaurant in New York City and cooked at the state dinner Obama hosted for the prime minister of India in 2009. Tonight's dinner is the first of several across the country this year to benefit the DNC. The dinner will follow a larger event of about 250 guests at the Studio Museum, also in Harlem. |