Temporary AL-05 Congressman Parker Griffith and his new best friend, Congressman John Boehner, weren't the only attractions in Huntsville, AL on Monday.
The labor unions in North Alabama also held their promised monthly news conference demanding their money back from Griffith. Just a few minutes later, Griffith and Boehner held a "press availability."
The Griffith/Boehner event was pretty short - by design it appears. An LIA member was in the hotel lobby and watched as the Congressmen's "handlers" prepped them for the presser. If only we'd had a camera handly for that one! The Congressmen were told by a finger-waving staffer to "keep your answers short and non-committal" and "don't take many questions."
It's a great day for former supporters of Parker Griffith who have been frustrated by the refrain of "You contributed in 2008 and that money is just gone. Much as we'd like to, we can't give you a refund."
Griffith spokeswoman Heather Johnson said Tuesday evening that after the $2,000 donation from Rangel and $5,000 donation from Rangel's political action committee were brought to Griffith's attention, he decided to cut the check to the Madison County Veterans Memorial Foundation.
Griffith had to do this because a WAFF-48 reporter was sharp enough to ask him about Rangel's contributions yesterday and his non-answer was reflecting badly on John Boehner -- who was foolish enough to be standing next to PG as he fabricated a silly excuse about not having any idea where his money comes from.
Bur, hey! However it happened, it's a great day for 2008 donors disappointed with our Representative. If they can find Charlie Rangel's money, they can find mine.And the UAW's. And the Steelworkers'. Etc., etc. ...
And we're all proud liberals, so surely our money is just about as bad as Rangel's. I mean, what self-respecting Republican would stoop so low as to spend liberal-blogger, labor-union, tree-hugger, practically socialist dollars in a Republican primary? No genuine Republican, that's for sure.
Call 256-881-5059 (during business hours) to get on the refund list. Accept no excuses -- and the "that 2008 money is just gone" line was obviously just that, an excuse for Parker to welch on his rash promise of a refund to any disappointed supporters.
If he had a shred of honor or of sense, he'd refund the money to anyone who asked and put this whole story to bed. I'm betting he has neither.
Temporary Alabama Congressman (and noted political adulterer) Parker Griffith has been telling the media that "liberals" were behind yesterday's protest at his poorly-attended, low-dollar fundraiser with Congressman John Boehner:
h/t to Go Blue and the Decatur Daily:
“I am standing by my principles, and I will not be deterred by these liberal groups that are intent on ramming through a health-care reform package that is bad for our country and opposed by the vast majority of the American people,” he said.
He said he would work with Boehner to stop President Barrack Obama’s health care plan.
Perhaps if he hadn't chosen to huddle in the back of a vehicle and sneak into his own fundraiser, the good doctor would have noticed the plethora of TEA party activists, Mo Brooks supporters, and Les Phillips supporters. Surely, Congressman Boehner would liked to have seen the sign that - all things considered - asked him rather politely to leave town.
Perhaps if he took the time to read the press release or even watch a few minutes of news coverage, the doctor-turned-funeral-home-owner-turned-TURNCOAT-Congressman might have noticed that Ms. Christie Carden of the Huntsville TEA Party group was the principle organizer.
Note to Parker.... It's not wise to ignore or annoy these people. They're out for blood: yours. And not one Democrat in the 5th district would donate a drop to save you.
PASS THE POPCORN!
More photos on the flip. Ask yourself: do some of these people appear to be liberals to you?
Americans United for Change launched a series of robocalls targeting 10 potentially vulnerable House GOP lawmakers, as well as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
...
The group launched 250,000 robocalls in Arizona targeting McCain, and 400,000 robocalls in the districts of the following lawmakers: Reps. Parker Griffith (Ala.), Mary Bono (Calif.), Ken Calvert (Calif.), Daniel Lungren (Calif.). Mark Kirk (Ill.), Jim Gerlach (Pa.), Pat Tiberi (Ohio), Lee Terry (Neb.), Jean Schmidt (Ohio), and David Reichert (Wash.).
Here's the call script:
I’m calling from Americans United for Change.
Congressman Parker Griffith is happy to let the government pay for his health care, but last November, Congressman Griffith voted against requiring that ordinary Americans be eligible to buy the same health insurance as Members of Congress.
Parker Griffith may enjoy being an important member of Congress, but when it comes to his health care he should be no better than the rest of us.
Call Congressman Parker Griffith at 202-225-3121. Tell him to support health care reform now.
We know Parker Griffith is happy to let the government pay his bills -- not only health care, but postage and advertising, too. Let's hope PG doesn't get to enjoy being a member of Congress much longer.
Griffith had a bad Monday, what with the right and left ganging up on him at that fundraiser yesterday, and this ought to make his Tuesday a good deal livelier than he likes. Even if you didn't get the robocall, pitch in and call Griffith at 202-225-3121 and tell him to support health care reform now.
With a crowd of about 400 sign-waving, chanting protesters outside the Huntsville Marriott this evening, temporary Congressman Parker Griffith (R-Liar) and his new best friend, Congressman John Boehner, decided that discretion was required.
They pulled in quietly, snuggled together in the back of an SUV (they left the same way: incognito) and were whisked into a no-press-allowed "fundraiser" that can't have raised many funds. It was held in a room not much larger than my living room/kitchen. Let's just say that AL-05 citizens weren't exactly beating down the doors to get in...
A source on the inside says that our turncoat Congressman and Alabama's most famous political adulterer called the demonstration outside an "embarrassment." Once again, we see Parker twisting language - or perhaps being so damn stupid he just can't get it right.
An embarrassment? Not for the bi-partisan group of folks that I would never have believed could have even amicably stood on a street corner waiting for a traffic light to change - much less spent an entertaining hour or so snapping photos of each other, exchanging email addresses, and reminding each other that we're all best friends. At least until June 1st!
No, Parker: the protest crowd was not an "embarrassment" but rather "embarrassing" for a clueless Congressman who thought that all he had to do was announce his own Epiphany during the Advent season and be welcomed with open arms by the people who- just a year earlier - had called him a killer and lover of terrorists.
When this year's edition of the thesaurus comes out, no doubt the noun "Idiot" will have "Parker Griffith" listed as a synonym. As will a large number of other nouns: liar, con artist, and more.
Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comment thread and view a few photos on the flip. We have lots of video and pictures, but I need my dinner. I'm only posting a few tonight.
Update:Since it's the end of a long, long, satisfying day, I'm going to piggieback on countrycat's post with a few of my own observations, below. The photos at the end of the post that look like they were taken by a phone camera are mine, and they were. -- mooncat
1) The turnout was fantastic. I know it far exceeded my expectations and those of several other organizers. This morning Dale Jackson was telling his listeners that we needed at least 100 to 200 people there to make an impact -- and I'm not sure either Christie Carden or I were confident we could turn out a crowd like that. As it turns out, we had twice that many.
2) There was no trouble whatsoever between the Tea Party/Republicans and the more liberal elements of the crowd. Although labor officially just held a press conference and didn't participate in the protest, I saw several labor folks holding signs. It was a very good humored and genial crowd. For a while I was standing near a Republican woman who was surrounded by liberals (you could tell by the signs) but she was good natured about it. We agreed that this once we could stand side by side in pursuit of a better Congressman.
3) Speaking of labor participation, Alabama AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Al Henley really took a chunk off Parker Griffith. Al came prepared with all his facts and figures on Parker and laid into him good and proper. Unfortunately, my video of that went home with someone else tonight, but it's worth waiting for.
4) The AFL-CIO was generous enough to donate use of their conference area at the Marriott to the protest organizers for a presser of our own. They even stayed around to provide a cheering section. This truly was a consortium of groups on the left and on the right -- maybe even the middle -- who have found common cause against Griffith.
5) The Mo Brooks supporters were out in force. Mo worked the crowd himself and gave an interview or two. He stopped and had a nice chat with my family -- can't help but think he did himself some good with the activist right tonight.
6) There were some Les Philip supporters, as evidenced by buttons.
7) Democratic candidates did not attend the protest, although Mitchell Howie sat in on both press conferences.
8) This was a lot of fun. One foul-mouthed guy drove away from the hotel and yelled some ugly stuff out the window as he passed down the line of protesters. That was the only unpleasantness I saw. There were lots of chants of "No more Griffith" and even "Liar, liar, pants on fire." Liberals need to stop worrying so much about the possibility of looking silly and do more events like this one.
9) Many thanks to Christie Carden, Linda Haynes, the Alabama A&M Democratic Club and all the others who made this protest a success. I really feel like Griffith and Boehner know they got their asses kicked today in terms of PR.
One of my major beefs with Parker Griffith's decision to switch parties midstream is that he automatically gave up his committee assignments, two of which were very important to the future of North Alabama. He sat on the Transportation Committee which influences road funding and the Science and Technology Committee which oversees NASA, among other things. Griffith had no committee assignments whatsoever for over 6 weeks.
Republicans finally made room for him on the Commerce committee and Griffith has spun that as a plum assignment -- virtually the best thing that could have happened for his constituents. In looking back at this video from Griffith's announcement in 2008, I noticed a reporter asked him what committee he hoped to serve on if elected. Surprisingly, Commerce is not mentioned at all. Listen, starting at about 20 seconds:
I would love, of course to be on Appropriations, I'd love to be on Intelligence, but there is a committee assignment that happens about every 5 years and that's Transportation. We need that desperately here.
The committee assignments this guy gave up were plums, Commerce is merely the best his new pals could do. Just another instance of Parker Griffith changing his tune, spinning things to his own advantage.
People who disagree -- even on really fundamental points - can still find some common ground and work together on that ground. This is a really intriguing idea, based on the number of media mentions Monday's bipartisan protest has garnered.
First things first, local Tea Party leader Christie Carden and I will be on the Dale Jackson show (770 am/92.5 fm) in the 8 to 9 am hour Monday. We also expect WAFF-48 to do something on this story during the day Monday. And I expect all the local outlets will cover the AFL-CIO presser at 3, the protest organizers' presser at 4:30 and the actual protest at the Space & Rocket Center Marriott, starting at 5 pm.
This is the sort of thing that political insiders on both sides of the spectrum absolutely HATE -- grassroots folks paying attention and bucking instructions from the top!
Here you have a national party (Republicans in this case) who ran a brutal campaign against Griffith just 18 months ago, essentially accusing him of killing people for profit, but they're now embracing the self same Parker Griffith and trying to convince their rank and file in the district to embrace him too. They are not buying it, nor should they. Parker Griffith had an incredible change of heart after he was elected. I could never again trust anything he says; his colleagues in the House can't trust anything he says; and I don't see how local Republicans can ever bring themselves to trust him either.
This is the kind of hypocrisy that gives politics and politicians a bad name.
As of last reporting, Parker Griffith has $714,835.63 in campaign cash. If he can't beat Mo Brooks and Les Philip with that warchest, is he worth your investment?
Make no mistake about it, giving money to Parker Griffith at this point is purely an investment. The only people* sending their dollars (hard-earned or otherwise) to Griffith are high rollers who want his ear on a special interest or pure political groupies who just want to be close to a Congressman, no matter how unfaithful he may be.
And he can be plenty unfaithful. Remember, Griffith sold out his Democratic donors (including Nancy Pelosi, Jim Clyburn, labor unionsand me) and he'll sell you out too, whenever opportunity presents itself.
People just naturally trust doctors* (and funeral home owners) so Republicans have asked nouveau GOPer Dr. Parker Griffith to deliver their response to President Obama's Weekly Address. The topic today is health care reform.
"The fact that a doctor who left the Democratic caucus is delivering the address this week is no coincidence," said a senior GOP aide. "This is a shot across the bow of any 'moderate' Democrat in the House who is considering voting for a health care bill loaded with tax hikes, Medicare cuts, and notorious backroom deals."
The Alabama AFL-CIO is getting in on the act, using John Boehner's fundraiser for Parker Griffith as an opportunity to remind voters that Griffith can't be truste
The Alabama AFL-CIO has scheduled our second press conference concerning Parker Griffith's re-election efforts in the 5th congressional district. Parker Griffith has scammed us out of $219,000 and that, my friends is a bitter pill to swallow. He used our volunteer base to advance is personal political goals and has done a terrible job of representing middle class working families the short time he has been a congressman. After using us and our money to get elected and create name recognition he has aligned himself totally with corporate America and the wealthiest 5% of our country's population. We intend to do all we can do to see that his political career ends ASAP and this scheduled press conference is another step towards reaching that goal.
Monday, 3/8, 3PM at the Huntsville Marriott, 5 Tranquility Base Huntsville 35805 (exit 15 off Interstate 565) in the Enterprise room.
Griffith has invited ("the boner") John Boehner, Republican Minority Leader, US House of Representatives, himself, to Huntsville to support his re-election efforts even though the Madison county Rebulican Party has adopted a resolution to endorse anybody but Parker Griffith. So much for supporting the will of the people.
PLEASE make every effort to attend this event.
It's true, North Alabama doesn't love Parker anymore!
The full press release below the fold, but groups from across the political spectrum will be protesting at the $100 per couple fundraiser House Minority Leader John Boehner is hosting for Griffith Monday evening at the Space & Rocket Center Marriott in Huntsville. I strongly encourage you to make a sign and join us to express your displeasure with Griffith'sspecial brand of non-representation, for example:
Griffith is everybody's problem. Sure, I won't agree with everyone at this protest on every single thing -- maybe not on most things. But we all agree that Griffith has got to go, and for now that one common purpose will let us stand on the same sidewalk in near perfect harmony. Some of these folks may be less than perfectly tolerant, but the Alabama A&M Student Democrats will be there, so for an hour or so the Tea Party crowd will find common cause with young African Americans. And the increased tolerance may even flourish, because it's a good deal harder to villify someone after you've looked them in the eye and exchanged war stories with them.
Activists on both sides tend to be folks who are paying more than the average amount of attention to government; it's telling that, across the spectrum, people following politics agree that Parker Griffith is doing a terrible job for his constituents.
Details:
We have permission to protest on the sidewalks in front of the Marriott on Monday, March 8, between 4:30 and 6:30 pm Monday evening. Since the fundraiser starts at 5:30, I figure the "sweet spot" is from 5 to 6 pm or so, when donors will be arriving. Please try to make it during that time. We have permission to park in the lot at the US Space & Rocket Center, past the Marriott. Do not park at the hotel. Bring your signs (suggestions below). Wear your Griffith mask and pants on fire costume. Bring a bucket for contributions in case folks decide to help Parker refund those Democratic dollars he's been holding on to. Most of all, bring your activist spirit and willingness to literally stand up for what you believe, if only for a short time.
What sign will you carry?
Where's my refund?
Where's my effective representation?
Parker's a millionaire, he doesn't need your money!
Griffith sold out his old donors, he'll sell you out too!
Griffith has to GO!
Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!
Griffith, Go Home
Please, help spread the word about this protest. Email this link, share it with your friends on Facebook, tweet about the protest, call your friends, drag you relatives down there on Monday -- get involved and help us send a clear message to Parker Griffith: North Alabama doesn't love you anymore!
Congressman Parker Griffith's new best friend is probably the most polarizing member of the GOP. House Republican Leader John Boehner, "The Man with the Tan" will be the "special guest" at an upcoming $100 a couple fundraiser for the party-switcher Griffith.
While Griffith hopes his buddy Boehner will draw a crowd with open wallets, there's also word that another crowd will form to protest the former Democrat and the tan one. The Tea Party is getting out the word to gather too. According to one tea bagger, they've been flooding Boehner's office with phone calls telling the Republican from Ohio to stay out of Alabama business. Meanwhile, Democrats may take this opportunity to protest too.
Choose your corner. Come early for a ringside seat. It all goes down Monday, March 8, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Huntsville Marriott Ballroom.
It's gotten personal, Griffith says. "You have personalities who have bet the farm, bet their reputations, on shoving a health care bill through the Congress. It's no longer about health care reform. It's all about ego now. The president's ego. Nancy Pelosi's ego. This is about personalities, saving face, and it has very little to do with what's good for the American people."
This is called projection, boys and girls. Parker Griffith knows all about doing things for the sake of ego because he's been there, done that and got a drawer full of shirts with his name on them. He's also an expert at letting personal feelings get in the way of the public good.
Conflicts driven by personal feelings can lead to self-destructive outcomes. Ask Griffith whether Speaker Pelosi, his old leader, would accept losing Democratic control of the House as the price for passing the health care bill, and he answers quickly. "Oh yeah. This is a trophy for the speaker, it's a trophy for several committee chairs, and it's a trophy for the president."
Back in August Griffith was publicly implying that Speaker Pelosi needed mental health counseling. How did that work out for North Alabama? Did Griffith's public disrespect for Pelosi help us hold onto federal funding for NASA and military programs in the Tennessee Valley? No, it did not ... because that confrontational style is not the way a congressman builds the very substantial bridges needed to keep his district on the receiving end of $6.8 billion federal dollars each year.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle was in Washington recently, meeting with Members of Congress (Huntsville already hired a surrogate Congressman because Griffith had burned so many bridges with the majority) trying to get funding for local programs restored to the federal budget.
I'm sure it's real helpful for temporary Congressman Parker Griffith to embark on another bridge buildingburning spree right about now. It's like he's set a goal of getting all our space, defense and transportation federal money zeroed out on his watch.
Maybe this is Griffith's secret plan to reduce the federal deficit -- cut out all funding for his district. Tea Partiers should love it!
Don't you know this just chaps the heck out of local Republicans who have stuck with their party through thick and thin (especially thin in congressional races) for decades, only to see party leaders like Boehner embrace this turncoat Democrat in AL-05?
This isn't about policy or ideology for Boehner, it's strictly tribal politics. Boehner orchestrated a recruiting campaign* that convinced a weak kneed Griffith to switch parties. Now, the local guys -- Mo Brooks and Les Philip -- were supposed to gracefully bow down and give Griffith a pass through the primary, but they didn't play ball. In order to protect his investment, Boehner has to go the extra mile and help Griffith beat his fellow Republicans, thus earning Griffith's gratitude, and presumably his vote, in perpetuity. In this way Boehner gains a loyal retainer and increased power. That's what it's all about.
At least Parker Griffith paid for these invitations instead of sticking the taxpayers with a bill. Does $100 per couple seem kind of low to y'all?
Florida Republican Jeff Miller also endorsed Griffith today. Wonder if he'll be opening his wallet for Griffith as well?
*Does anyone have photos of the birthday party Republicans threw for Griffith last year? I hear the ice sculptures were a sight.
(This should be talked about more. I would hope various Huntsville media (other than LiA) would pick up on Griffith's barely-disguised chicanery and cravenness. I know, I know, I too often expect too much from the dinosaur media. - promoted by BenGoshi)
Brian points out Griffith's irony at Flashpoint. When this hit our mailbox Saturday I knew it was mailed at taxpayer expense, but was astounded to discover that we taxpayers also paid for the snazzy color printing and extra-heavy glossy paper.
Read the franking regulations here. Parker Griffith had to do this now because he can't mail at taxpayer expense within 90 days of the June 1 primary. Here's page 1 of the slick ad:
All the union representatives who spoke Monday mentioned that Parker Griffith had professed support for the issues of working people while campaigning, but changed his tune once elected. I'll be posting all of them, but Greg England's remarks on behalf of the United Steelworkers were the impetus for the question I wanted to ask Parker Griffith on Wednesday.
We [United Steelworkers] put $10,000 in his campaign ... put a lot of people out to work in his campaign ...
We're still after him, we're going to get it if it's possible to get it back we will get it. Lot of hard work and a lot of money put into the campaign
Once he was elected, he did an about face. ... He wanted to get into our union halls, all the Steelworker union halls .. and speak to them and tell them what he was for ...
He said he would support men and women, working the same jobs, making the same salaries. Which the Lilly Ledbetter Act come up to support that and he voted against it. Three months prior to that said he'd vote for it.
He said he was for health care reform, him being a cancer doctor, that he thought that a lot of people doing without health care couldn't afford it, and we need affordable health care here in the United States. And he was going to Washington, DC to make sure that happened. ... As you know, he supported a public option, which would lower the cost of health care. Pre-existing conditions, with no discrimination, he was for that.... Taxing health care, he was not for taxing health care that run over $2000 a month for union or non union.
He went to every Steelworker hall in North Alabama ... to get the vote out and we supported him.
When EFCA come up, while he was in these halls talking to all these people, the EFCA was number 1 on his list to get it passed, in Washington, when he got there. That was his main objective.
We got to visit him in Washington 3 months after he was elected. First thing I asked him was "How about the Employee Free Choice Act, EFCA, you with us on it?" He said, "Oh no, Mr. England, I don't think I can vote on that. You need to get over to the United States Senate and get it passed over there before it comes over here, and I'm going to reconsider."
He had told us, sitting in meeting after meeting, hall after hall that he would support the Employee Free Choice Act, which he did not
People in the Tennessee Valley, up here in District 5, a man or woman's handshake is his bond and his trust ... Now you be the judge how much you can trust or believe Parker Griffith and his bond to you.
These people have no reason to misrepresent Griffith's position. He used them to gain access to their money and their members and then he turned coat as soon as he got to Washington. We all need to ask Parker Griffith:
How can the people in North Alabama trust in what you tell them today, when you told so many members of labor organizations you would support EFCA and health care, but changed your tune after they helped you win the election?
Temporary turncoat Congressman Parker Griffith has had little good to say about Democrats or the Democratic Party since he took office.
In fact, from the way he talked about President Obama at the Madison Republican Women's meeting in Huntsville on Wednesday, I got the feeling he thinks he's actually running against Obama on June 1st. Talk about delusions of grandeur...
That's why it was interesting to hear him paraphrasing Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks' stump speech while answering a question on education. Parker may be dumb about politics, but he was smart enough to pick up on of Sparks' most effective lines: "Our students are competing against students in China and India" for jobs.
Sparks needs to send Parker a bill. After all, Parker has so few ideas that he can afford to pay for some good ones - just use some of that union money you're refusing to refund!
More fun video from our temporary turncoat Congressman. Parker Griffith declined the opportunity to explain to Mooncat why voters should trust him.
She cited his repeated promises to North Alabama union members that he was a "100% vote" on the Employee Free Choice Act, health care reform, and other issues.
As usual, the actual use of facts grates on Griffith's nerves. He much prefers his poll-tested talking points - this time about NASA. But, once again, is found lacking in his pitiful rationalization of why his getting kicked off the Science and Technology subcommittee is actually better for the district. He was sure happy about that assignment just a year ago. Odd that it's unimportant now...
Note how his efforts to intimidate Mooncat with interruptions and aggressive body language have no effect. She's one tough cat and more than a match for turncoat Parker.
Countrycat and I dropped by the AL-05 Republican candidate forum Wednesday. The Republican Women of Madison hosted the event and they had a great turnout. When we arrived there was a crowd around Les Philip and a line of folks waiting to talk to Mo Brooks, but Parker Griffith and his wife were standing alone ...
The emcee couldn't bring herself to introduce Parker Griffith as "Congressman" or even "The Honorable," but made do with plain "Dr. Parker Griffith." It was definitely a sign of things to come.
This was the first time Griffith has appeared with Brooks and Philip. When Mo Brooks said (to thunderous applause) he would never switch parties, no matter what the polls said, Griffith turned beet red and made a face like he'd bit into an underripe persimmon. Since our spare backup camera was sitting idle, I began filming Griffith instead of the speaker.
Brooks and Philip made pointed references to Nancy Pelosi's need for mental health care, reaching across the aisle, having an "R" or "D" after your name, consistency, and questions about Griffith's voting record, often accompanied by eye rolls and grimaces from Griffith. Even more interesting, PG didn't look any too keen on some of the conservative ideas floated by Philip, such as eliminating TVA and the Department of Energy. Griffith really liked the idea of axing the IRS, though -- maybe he's had trouble with them. Reckon his "conservative values" will be any more permanent than his liberal ones were?
Even if you never watch our videos, please watch this one of Griffith's reactions. You'll laugh, I promise.
No question, this is going to be an extremely long, unpleasant and perhaps humbling primary for north Alabama's new Republican in Congress, Dr. Parker Griffith.
Make that OUR 2008 money!
Surely, Congressman Boehner would liked to have seen the sign that - all things considered - asked him rather politely to leave town. 
They pulled in quietly, snuggled together in the back of an SUV (they left the same way: incognito) and were whisked into a no-press-allowed "fundraiser" that can't have raised many funds. It was held in a room not much larger than my living room/kitchen. Let's just say that AL-05 citizens weren't exactly beating down the doors to get in... 
According to Roll Call, Parker Griffith has over 
Congressman Parker Griffith's new best friend is probably the most polarizing member of the GOP. House Republican Leader John Boehner, "The Man with the Tan" will be the "special guest" at an upcoming $100 a couple fundraiser for the party-switcher Griffith.
By which I mean, 
