You have a birthday party and charge partygoers up to $500,000 to attend… and nobody shows up.
That’s Bill Clinton’s dilemma.
From The Daily Mail:
When America’s liberal elite were offered the chance to pay up to $500,000 each (about £260,000) to attend Bill Clinton’s 60th birthday extravaganza tonight – with the added promise of a private Rolling Stones concert – a packed house was expected.
Wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea sent out about 10,000 invitations to Hollywood tycoons, movie stars, captains of industry and Wall Street – with all proceeds to go to the former President’s charitable foundation.
Those who pledged the top price were promised the ‘Birthday Chair Package’, with the best seating for the concert as well as a chance to have photographs taken with Mr Clinton during a round of golf and a three-day series of cocktail, brunch and dinner parties.
The minimum price, with inferior concert seats and no brunch, was set at $60,000 (£31,000). But with many rich Democrats sending their regrets, The Mail on Sunday can reveal that last Wednesday the Clintons drastically slashed prices to $12,500 (£6,500) for one reception and the concert, or $5,000 (£2,600) for just the Stones.
With the looming possibility of Bill and his long-suffering wife and daughter finding themselves amid a sea of empty chairs at the 2,900-seat Manhattan venue, tickets then went on sale to the public for as little as $1,710 (£900).
And there is a danger that the Clintons’ plans may end in a total fiasco, after the Stones cancelled Friday’s show in Atlantic City when Mick Jagger complained of a sore throat and was ordered to rest by a doctor.
…
A friend of the Clintons said last night: "It is all highly embarrassing for Bill and Hillary. When they created the idea, they thought it would go like wildfire. What’s not going to please some who did come up with $500,000 is finding regular Stones fans there who got last-minute tickets on the internet."
Mr Clinton’s Press spokesman declined to comment.
Of course the Washinton Post puts a completely different spin on this implying the party was a great success.
Truth is that Bill and his family is so yesterday.
From the Sydney Morning Herald:
The Washington Post reported that the New York birthday event was postponed to avoid criticism that Mr Clinton’s fund-raising efforts would drain money away from the Democratic Party, which stands a good chance of regaining control of at least the House of Representatives on Tuesday week.
One donor, however, complained to The New York Observer about Clinton "overload". " I’m not really wanting to do this. I’ve been tight with the Clintons for many years, but I’m beginning to feel used."
