Story and photos by Jennifer Golle –
CLEAR LAKE – The ninth-annual Wing Ding fundraising event was held Thursday evening at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. This event was hosted by seven affiliated counties and is one of the Democrats’ top events of the year. It is the third largest Democratic fundraising event in the state of Iowa each year.
(PHOTO: Iowa Senator Tom Harkin poses with House of Representatives candidate Christie Vilsack with his Swarofski Crystal Beacon Award.)
In addition to fundraising and enjoying good food and fellowship, Wing Ding is an opportunity for candidates to rally support including for President Barack Obama who will be up for re-election come November.
This year’s Wing Ding had a prominent line-up of speakers including Congressman Bruce Braley, Attorney General Tom Miller, Representative John Wittneben, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky, and Senator Tom Harkin. The group was also honored by an appearance from a high-ranking official from Washington D.C., Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Christie Vilsack, who is in a crucial race against incumbent Republican Senator Steve King was also present and spoke regarding her ideals.
Senator Tom Harkin was honored with the 2012 Swarofski Crystal Beacon Award for outstanding Democratic leadership. Senator Harkin offered advice to the appreciative crowd, “Everything I needed to know about politics I learned in Driver’s Education; if you want to go backwards, you put it in “R” … but if you want to go forward, you put it in “D.”
Retiring Senate President, Jacke Kibbie was present, as was Representative John Wittneben.
Over 400 tickets were sold in advance for this event; tickets were also sold at the door. Next year’s Wing Ding is expected to be a collaboration of ten counties.
Mark Cottrell, a union member from Elkader, Iowa (pictured below), talked about the importance of unions and also stated, “it’s not that Obama didn’t do what he said he would during his term, it’s that the Republicans blocked him.”
Watchdog, if you will leave your real name & contact info here & you have a valid drivers license, can pass a drug test, show up every day & are willing to do hard physical work then I might be able to find you that job. Thanks.
Yeah, just like Obama did for the engineer???
Mark Cottrell is either stupid or lying when he said, “it’s not that Obama didn’t do what he said he would during his term, it’s that the Republicans blocked him.”
What a fool? President Obama and the Democrats had total control of the Government for 2 years.
That made it impossible for Republicans to block anything.
Hey Cottrell because they did have control American is now 5 trillion dollars more in debt with nothing to show for it.
Where are the jobs?
Well-written news article.
Factual and Objective Thank you.
Maybe they can stick around for the Bow Wow show.
This was the early opening act for Mr. Bow W. Wow.
The Bahamas have had representation in the US Senate courtesy of the people of Iowa in Bahama Tommy. He needs to go to his island home and stay there.
Steve King for President!
Headline should be “Wing Nuts, Ding Dongs and Ding Bats turn out for chicken”
NOT AN APPROPRIATE COMMENT. – NIT STAFF