Fannie And Freddie Play It Lowkey AtRNC

NEW YORK - (09/02/04) – In contrast to their ubiquitouspresence at the Democratic Convention last month, Fannie Mae andFreddie Mac have stayed in the background here at the RepublicanNational Convention. The two secondary mortgage market giants,under fire in Congress, continue to mine for congressionalgoodwill, with the two reported to have contributed as much as $1million to the Republican National Committee to help fund theconvention. But the Fannie and Freddie names are on far fewerinvitations, the major one being at a press-excluded party atRockefeller Center Tuesday, on top of the famed ice skating rink.The event, also sponsored by the Mortgage Bankers Association, theNational Association of Home Builders, National Association ofRealtors, and Independent Community Bankers of America, was inhonor of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee. Under thegiant gold statute of the Greek god Prometheus, party-goers wereinvited to play billiards, miniature basketball and other gameswhile dining on carved duck and dancing to the band, ‘InTouch.’