"Don Draper in 15 Years"?!?

[Luftmensch067]

John Kerry took the stage last night at the New York Restoration Project's annual Hulaween Ball at the Waldorf Astoria dressed in a gray suit and tie. Addressing the at-capacity charity gala, a literally sparkling crowd decadent with intense costumes--from a fleet of giant flag waving Chilean miners to a Prescilla (sic) Queen of the Desert troupe--Kerry coolly explained his "costume": "I came as Don Draper in fifteen years."

Bette Midler, diva extraordinaire and the founder of NYRP, an organization at the forefront of greening New York City through various community driven intitiatives (sic) including planting one million trees in the next decade (it's ahead of schedule with more than 315,000 trees planted in two years), introduced Kerry on stage as "a senator who does not give up."

More here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrea-chalupa/john-kerry-paul-simon-bet_b_776512.html

Also covered here: http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_15th_Annual_Hulaween_Benefit_Gala_20000101

[karynnj]

1. His comment was cool

The comments by Bette Midler and Paul Simon are great. I loved the only comment there - "Senator Kerry would have made a fine, intelligent, classy and elegant president! (The second link has pictures of JK and Alexandra Kerry and Bette Midler. )

[MBS]

2. thanks so much for this find!

His commentary , including the quip about the witches was great, as were the photos of him and Alexandra (I wonder how/what she's doing these days. . ), and the event itself seemed great (as a "restore sanity" event it seemed to me more substantive, and more gratifyingly action-oriented, than the Jon Stewart thing. .). But best of all was the recognition of Sen. Kerry, both in the award he was given (SO richly deserved) and Bette Midler's spot-on characterization of Sen. Kerry as the "senator who does not give up." By, did she get THAT right! I'd like to see that meme "out there" in the media and local conversations more. Because that's exactly who he is, and exactly why I'm such a partisan.

later update: the New York Restoration Project is a really great cause, both in its intent and creativity, as well as its implementation (it's actually been successful!!) and so cool to see that Bette Midler started it all.
See? Yes, we can! and do! And one person does make a difference!! Plus the evening looked like a lot of fun.

Very heartening.

[karynnj]

5. Great post

This really is a great project - and it does seem like it had to be a lot of fun. (Here's another short write up - http://www.playbill.com/news/article/144513-PHOTO-CALL-Bette-Midlers-Star-Studded-Hulaween-Benefit )

[BlueIris]

3. Hee. Curiously, I made a prediction on a t.v. fan site recently

that someone from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce would wind up getting involved in politics.

[Democrafty]

4. Please let it be Peggy or Joan ;) n/t

[karynnj]

6. I agree

Most of the men would more likely be Republicans. (I think Boehner may be like them in alcohol consumption.)

Though it absolutely didn't seem the case in the first years, Peter might be the best of the guys.

[karynnj]

7. Well, it can;t be Draper who has more hidden in his pass than Joe Miller and Christine O'Donnell

combined - and that takes quite a bit.

[ObamaKerryDem]

8. He is so funny--what a clever retort! :)

As I've said before, those who find him "wooden", "boring", "aloof", "unfunny" or any of the other various put-downs/insults just.do.not.get.it. :)

Looks like an awesome--and effective--event. Love that introduction of JK, as "a senator who does not give up." So true! So glad he got that award--very well deserved!

Great to see Alexandra there as well. Man, she is beautiful (as is Vanessa). :)

[ObamaKerryDem]

9. Love that quip he made about O'Donnell..and "The Wind Beneath My Wings"..

..replacing "Hail to the Chief"..again what a great sense of humor! :)

Thanks so much for posting this!