CUNA ‘Cracks The Whip’ At DNCReception

BOSTON - (07/29/04) – There was a man dressed in anIndiana Jones costume cracking an eight-foot leather whip as HouseMinority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland arrived Wednesday night tothe CUNA-sponsored reception for the Democratic ‘Whips’in the House and Senate. A man in an Egyptian-style red Fez handedout token ‘treasure’ as Democratic pols, their staff,and lobbyists climbed a red carpet into Boston’s Museum ofFine Arts to honor Hoyer and Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, bothresponsible for ‘whipping’ their colleagues into lineof legislative battles. Invited guests were given nametags attachedby miniature leather whips then offered chicken-mouse andpistachio-stuffed date canapĚs as they climbed the stairs tothe promenade where they were greeted by an 11-piece orchestra anda five-piece rock band. Later on in the reception, cosponsored byCUNA, Fannie mae, Sallie Mae, Ernst & Young, BellSouth , theNational Association of Homebuilders, attendees were treated toperformances by well-known music stars Natalie Merchant and MartinaMcBride while they munched on refreshments under masterpieces byVan Dyk, Rubens and Valasquez.