The patron saint of the Iowa Democratic Party has a little bash every year, and invites his closest friends, i.e., Iowa Democrats, to spend a Sunday afternoon eating, drinking beer, and listening to speeches. Then he invites politicians to come make their case to their party. Besides Dems running in Iowa, the speakers usually include someone who is on the national stage, or wants to be. If a politician shows up at the Steak Fry and isn't from Iowa, the next question is whether he/she is going to run for President. The year before a presidential election usually sees a big turnout. This year's speakers, David Axelrod and David Plouffe, have Iowa connections.
photos and more below:
David Axelrod served as Senior Advisor to the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition and Senior Strategist to Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency. From 1989-2009, Axelrod served as Senior Partner at the consulting firm AKP&D Message and Media, based in Chicago. In that capacity, he managed media strategy and communications for more than 150 local, state, and national campaigns including Iowa Attorney General Bonnie Campbell and Governor Tom Vilsack.
David Plouffe was the campaign manager for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. After winning the election on November 4, President-elect Obama credited Plouffe in his acceptance speech, calling him "the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the . . . best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America." Plouffe began his political career when he went to work for Senator Tom Harkin's 1990 re-election campaign. He later served as a state field director for Harkin's 1992 presidential campaign.
My favorite year was 2007, when there were nearly enough candidates for a soccer team. (Tom and Ruth Harkin in the center.)
In years when there is going to be a big crowd, the Fry is held at the balloon field in Indianola. Tom has the biggest American flag I've ever see, which he used as the backdrop.
There are vast tents with tables and chairs for chowing down.
All sorts of groups show up to do a little politicking. The Alliance for retired Americans would like you to know that Steve King rates an F- on their issues.
CSPAN was there in 2007. I still have the T-Shirt they gave me when I thanked them for showing up and letting primary voters across the country see their choices.
All ages welcome. Needless to say, this T-shirt is from 2007.
You really never know what you're going to see at the Steak Fry.
The speeches start with the Iowa candidates, usually while everyone is still eating and wandering around--there are five congressional districts in Iowa but only three Democrats, plus the state-wide offices like Secretaries of State and Agriculture, Governor, and Attorney General. Our lieutenant governor, Patty Judge, likes to point out that Sarah Palin may know how to field dress a moose, but Patty knows how to castrate a calf. Tom introduces each speaker. The presidential candidates follow, in years that are leading up to the caucuses.
Senator Obama was the keynote speaker in 2006. People mobbed him. They did again in 2007 when he was part of the lineup and spoke to 12,000 sitting on the grassy hillside.
His speechwas, as always, terrific. Hillary Clinton was strong, too. But Joe Biden's blistering condemnation of President Bush's conduct of the Iraq war is the one that gave me goosebumps on that warm afternoon.
In 2008, the crowd was smaller, 1800 people, and it was freezing cold. Brian Schweitzer, Montana Governor, was the featured speaker. His speech left me with the indelible impression that he wants to run for President, although he didn't say so. His dog is beautifully behaved, and goes everywhere with him.
In 2009, Senator Al Franken spoke. (Thanks to Iowa political blogger John Deeth at John Deeth Blog for quote and permission to use photos.)
But as for the elected leaders of the GOP, Franken said, "President Obama could propose just about anything and some of these people would oppose it. They don't even think the president should be allowed to tell kids to stay in school. Their goal isn't to see how much we can do but to see how much THEY can Undo. They run for office telling people the government can't run things, they get elected, and then they prove it."
What he said.
So come on down and join Iowa Democrats on Sunday afternoon. If you are in Iowa, eastern Nebraska, western Illinois, or northern Missouri, you are within three or four hours' drive and can come eat and listen. The event will be at the Warren County Fairgrounds in Indianola, from 1 to 4. Directions and tickets here.
In the comments, let me know whether you're going, and suggest questions that Kossacks should ask Plouffe and Axelrod if there is an opportunity.
[I do not work for Tom Harkin. I have volunteered at the Steak Fry but am not doing it this year.]