Gates lauds Moore’s film at Black Family Channel event

Suzanne Struglinski

Tuesday, July 27, 2004 | 9:22 a.m.

BOSTON -- Clark County Commission Yvonne Atkinson Gates shared the spotlight with controversial filmmaker Michael Moore at a award reception Monday at the Democratic National Convention.

Willie Gary, chairman of the Black Family Channel, said Gates "has only just begun, she's on her way to the top."

Gates is the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee's Black Caucus and has spoken at several receptions so far during the convention. She is running for re-election to the commission this year against former state Sen. Joe Neal, who spent 32 years in the Senate.

"I do it for my children and your children," Gates told a crowded reception room at the Sheraton Boston Hotel on her desire to be in public service. "Now let's go out there and win. We cannot do it if we sit on our laurels."

Gates has seen Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which she said gave her a lot of information that did not get out before.

"For the African American community that film really told a great story," Gates said. "What actually happened is important. I don't think John Kerry would deceive the American people. I am sure he will be open and honest."

The Black Family Channel and Siebert Brandford Shrank & Co. sponsored the reception for the Fannie Lou Hamer award, named for a woman who had to fight for a seat at the 1964 convention because she was black.

Special interest?

Before a lunch Monday honoring Senate Minority Whip Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., NBC Nightly News reporter Lisa Myers stopped Reid outside the restaurant and asked him if he knew who was paying for his lunch.

Reid told her he did -- the American Gaming Association and the Nevada Mining Association.

She asked if there was too much special interest presence in Boston at the convention.

Reid said if the state's two biggest industries couldn't hold a lunch for the Nevada delegation, there was a problem.

HEAD AND SHOULDERS: During the private lunch, the American Gaming Association and the National Mining Association thanked the lawmakers for their hard work and the state delegates for their support.

AGA president Frank Fahrenkopf and NMA President Jack Gerard presented Reid with a poster of a Leroy Neiman painting with his head and shoulders painted into the bottom.

BEANTOWN BUDDIES: Nevada's delegation has two volunteer "Beantown buddies" Judy Haggerty and Matt Black. The convention planning committee recruited local residents interested in helping delegations around the city. Black lived in Nevada for six years and requested to work with the state's delegation while Haggerty wanted to be assigned to any delegation "from far away."

The buddies helped pick up the state's convention organizers the airport, give directions, help them navigate the subway system, point out landmarks and whatever else they can do to help.

USE YOUR NOODLE: Delegates received Kraft Macaroni and Cheese boxes with the label: Democrats 2004. The box contains noodles in the shapes of donkeys.

CELEB SIGHTINGS: Former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, the tough, cunning competitor from TV's "The Apprentice," and comedian Janeane Garofalo.