Globe, News-Leader two months late on Billy Long Vegas fundraiser story

In the Joplin Globe's Monday print edition, Susan Redden's political column will note that Seventh District Congressman Billy Long will hold his Weekend in Vegas fundraiser next weekend.

Unfortunately, for the Globe, that story runs four days after the Springfield News-Leader revealed that the fundraiser, which also offers an opportunity for those attending to hear Celine Dion in concert, was going to take place. (And the Globe failed to mention Celine Dion.)

And unfortunately, for the News-Leader, readers of the Turner Report knew about Long's fundraiser more than two months ago.

In the July 8 Turner Report, a post titled "Billy Long plans Weekend in Vegas fundraiser," read this way:

No matter how inconvenient it must be for him, Seventh District Congressman Billy Long knows a politician's job is to keep raising money so he can continue to be re-elected.

So sometimes even in a Congressman in a relatively safe district needs to hold fundraising events in places that he would otherwise, of course, have no reason to visit.

So the invitations are out and Billy Long will hold a "Weekend in Las Vegas" September 30-October 3 at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel.

Any high rollers who want to contribute $2,500 to Long's campaign account can do so by sending their RSVP to Ali Schultz of White Birch Strategies, a recently-formed LLC that specializes in fundraising, event planning, and political finances.

And don't worry. The rooms have been secured and they only cost $305 a night.\

And the Wynn Las Vegas has shops, spas, salons, fitness centers, pools, and spas. Not that Billy Long or any of his contributors would ever have anything to do with it, but the Wynn Las Vegas also has gambling.

No word on when Long will schedule his Weekend in Branson fundraiser.

The Turner Report also was a couple of months ahead of the large daily newspapers in revealing that the Long campaign was advertising Celine Dion's presence at Weekend in Vegas.

From the July 27 Turner Report:

For those of you who haven't made up your minds about participating in Seventh District Congressman Billy Long's Weekend in Vegas fundraiser, the organizers have added another enticement that makes it a can't miss event.

Singer Celine Dion will perform during the event with a concert October 1 according to an invitation, which accompanies this post.

The event is scheduled September 30-October 3 at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel.


Any high rollers who want to contribute $2,500 to Long's campaign account can do so by sending their RSVP to Ali Schultz of White Birch Strategies, a recently-formed LLC that specializes in fundraising, event planning, and political finances..

For the most part, the Globe and News-Leader have ignored the incredible amount of time our Congressman spends in Sin City. The News-Leader had an article about it several months back, but it featured little digging and plenty of reasons (from the Long camp) about why it is so important for Long to hold fundraisers and take fact-finding trips to Vegas, though it is not an approach that any of his fellow Congress members appear to be taking.

Tomorrow's Globe appears to be the first time that Long and Vegas has been connected in the newspaper.

And this is what is written about in Redden's column:

Neosho resident Genevieve Williams, Democrat candidate for Congress from Missouri’s 7th District, will tour the 11 counties in the district starting Sept. 30. Specifics of the tour will be announced on the campaign website.

Williams pointed out the tour will take place at the same time that incumbent Rep. Billy Long will be holding a campaign fundraiser in Las Vegas. That event is set for the Wynn Las Vegas; suggested contributions to attend will start at $2,500.

“What I’ll be doing," Williams said, "is meeting with people in the district, talking with them and listening to them, which is what I think a member of Congress should be doing.”
She noted she and Benjamin Brixey, the Libertarian candidate, had accepted invitations for a candidate debate set for Oct. 26 at Missouri State University in Springfield.

If Genevieve Williams had not brought it to the Globe's attention, odds are nothing about the Long fundraiser would ever have been printed in this area's so-called newspaper of record.