"ARE THERE really any Republicans here?"
"Yeah, all the tall skinny blondes."
So it went among fidgety guests at the bipartisan Election Night party hosted by film mogul Harvey Weinstein, society's Georgette Mosbacher, Cindi Leive of Glamour magazine and GQ's Jim Nelson. It happened at the spacious Public House restaurant on East 41st Street in New York City.
The weather was downright sultry, and though the invite said 9 p.m., guests were pouring in at 8:30. The invite also said "casual attire" but many ignored this admonition. It was jackets, ties and quite a few "little black dresses." (Maybe they were the Republicans!) Harvey himself, who can be sartorially challenged, looked spiffy in a suit. But his gorgeous wife, Georgina Chapman, eclipsed him, which is as it should be. She was wearing a short, tight, intricately baubled, bangled and beaded number. It was one of her designs. "This is not fair!" said a dressed-down woman chatting up Mrs. Weinstein. "The invite said 'casual.' You look like you're going to a movie premiere, or about to star in a movie!"
Georgina laughed huskily -- like a movie star. "Oh, I'm sorry. But there's no such thing as 'casual' when you're a designer. I kind of feel the responsibility to show my work. I'm really not the casual type anyway. Well, when I'm all alone at home. Then, maybe."
The other bombshell of note was Ms. Mosbacher, one of the hosts. Though conservative politically -- a veteran of the early Bush the Elder years -- she "put on the dog" in case her guy won. She wore something black and snug and upon her generous bosom rested a fantastic gold necklace. It looked like an opulent space satellite. Well, it could certainly be seen from space. At one point, Georgette was overheard saying, "It's my last gold. The last gold I can afford." Now we know the financial crisis is for real.
SPOTTED JAMMED against each other, or squeezed into booths were such as Gina Gershon, Jessica Alba, Governor Pataki, Charlie Rose, James Lipton, Ed Rollins, Walter Isaacson, Robert Morgenthau, Salman Rushdie, Allen Grubman, Michael Imperioli and the super-smart, ubiquitous columnist Roger Friedman. Also James Franco, who caused many hearts to flutter on both sides of the aisle, and Matthew Hiltzik, who used to toil brilliantly for Harvey back in the old Miramax days. He now has his own company, Hiltzik Strategies.
The crowd was not jubilant, right off. Even Harvey said, "I'm worried." He glanced at one of the many big TV screens, which were not reporting any good Obama news yet and said, "Really worried." Then he went off with his usual gusto to greet his guests as they arrived.
To lessen the tension, perhaps, the place was soothingly lit by hundreds of small votive candles. Whatever happened, everybody would look great, even as they wept. On each table, and all along the bar were big bowls of white jellybeans, though they looked more like capsules.
"Are you sure these are jellybeans? I bet it's cyanide in case Obama loses," said one Democrat. "Why don't you bite into it and find out," quipped a tall, thin blonde nearby. Drinks flowed freely, and trays of delicious bite-sized goodies were passed around. But I really doubt that many people had the stomach to dine before arriving. They should have been serving cheeseburgers. People waiting for election results need fuel!
As the guests continued to pour in, and the noise level increased, it became harder to hear what was going on, with the looming TV screens, each broadcasting a different channel. The numbers were up there, but many were straining to hear the anchors and pundits comment. "Look, look. Keith Olbermann hasn't made one funny face. He's totally deadpan. This can't be good news!" said a frantic Obama supporter.
But of course, the tide turned. "Brit Hume looks like the world's most depressed basset hound." At one point, the din diminished enough for the mob to hear Wolf Blitzer say, "Things are looking increasingly grim for John McCain." The room erupted into cheers. Shortly after, the all-important news from Ohio arrived. It belonged to Barack. Harvey Weinstein emerged from the crush. He was beaming. "I'm not worried. Everybody can get drunk."
By 10:55 p.m. some people were checking their watches. It was a school night after all, and maybe it wouldn't be called for hours. Some were opting to see it through the night at home. But just as the weather and the star alignments had worked out, so did the timing. At 11 p.m. CNN announced, "Barack Obama has been elected president of the United States." The tumult at the restaurant, I'm sure, was heard even at Times Square, where thousands had gathered -- like New Year's Eve, only better.
And here was an interesting observation from author Gloria Feldt on how Obama will manage surly Republicans, smug revengeful Democrats and world issues in general. "I think it's going to be like a marriage, where the man is recalcitrant and never wants to talk, except in big, one-sided bursts, and the woman is always saying, 'let's discuss our relationship." Barack is going to deal from the more female point of view; he's going to discuss his relationships and make the people involved listen."
P.S. Apparently, and no surprise at all, the two most partisan cable news networks, MSNBC and FOX did not get the memo of bipartisanship conveyed in John McCain's wonderful concession speech. (It was especially fine and genuine.) Twenty-four hours after the final tally, it was bashing business as usual and it was a little depressing.
But on CNN, Campbell Brown introduced a segment on gifted African American schoolchildren, celebrating Obama's victory. These youngsters, none older than 13, were so beautiful and beaming, most speaking with more intelligence and clarity than many clueless pundits! And then one boy stood up in class and tried to articulate his feelings on Obama's win. Now, he too, could say, "I want to be president." He could barely get the words out and finally sat in his chair, and put his face in his hands, overcome.
This child's hope -- that is Barack Obama's achievement.
(E-mail Liz Smith at MES3838@aol.com, or write to her c/o Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207.)
