Dean Trantalis greets former President Bill Clinton on Sunday, March 16, with Trantalis’ partner, Richard Smith, standing next to him. Clinton spent about an hour and a half at the event, which was closed to the press. (Photo by Dennis Dean)
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By PHIL LaPADULA
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Former President Bill Clinton spoke at a fund-raiser for his wife’s campaign on Sunday, March 16, at the home of Dean Trantalis, a gay attorney and former Fort Lauderdale city commissioner.
The event, which was closed to the press, drew about 75 people and raised more than $50,000 for Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, according to Trantalis. The former president arrived at about 7:15 p.m. and spent about an hour and a half at Trantalis’ Fort Lauderdale home, which he shares with his partner Richard Smith.
Guests, who each donated a minimum of $1,000, stood in a receiving line to have their picture taken with Clinton. The former president then moved to the back porch of the house where he gave a speech. Clinton did not mingle with guests at the event, which Trantalis described as “strictly choreographed” by the Secret Service and the former president’s handlers.
Trantalis said Clinton gave a “very informative and riveting speech.”
“He talked about how he left the government in good shape with a surplus and that now the economy is in shambles and we’ve lost our respect in the world,” Trantalis said. He said Clinton also shared some election strategy and explained why he thinks his wife will still win the Democratic nomination.
The event, which was advertised in the Express, drew many of the “movers and shakers” of the South Florida gay community, including former Wilton Manors Mayor Jim Stork, Metropolitan Community Church pastor Rev. Grant Ford and Michael Albetta, president of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus. Albetta said the former president greeted him in the receiving line with the words “Hi handsome” and signed his tie, which had a picture of Clinton and a donkey on it.
Outside the house, the South Florida Wind Ensemble, formerly the Flamingo Freedom Band, played big band tunes as guests arrived for the event. A small group of people congregated across the street from the house, including a couple of families with young children. A woman in sandals had painted her toenails green for St. Patrick’s Day and said she was going to show them to the president.
When the president drove up in an SUV, onlookers caught a quick glimpse of Clinton’s gray mane through the window. But the small group was somewhat disappointed that the former president didn’t wave or turn to acknowledge them as he was quickly escorted into the house by the Secret Service.
“We’re voters over here,” said the woman with green toenails.
Trantalis said the Secret Service was meticulous in controlling every aspect of the event. He said they told him that he couldn’t serve the president the bottled water he had bought for the event because it wasn’t produced in the United States. He had to go out and buy bottled water produced by an American company. The Secret Service also had to approve the placement of any furniture in the house in case the president needed to escape, Trantalis said.
This reporter and other media people were denied entry to the event despite being invited by Trantalis. This reporter was told that he could only enter if he made a $1,000 donation.
Trantalis apologized to the people who were turned away. He said it was the first time he had hosted such an event and he didn’t realize that no press people would be allowed. Press people were told to stand across the street.
A spokesperson for the Barack Obama campaign said the senator’s fund-raisers are also closed to the press.
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