California's Rep. David Dreier Operates Behind The Scenes, As Usual
PHILADELPHIA - California's top official at the Republican National Convention has a simple mandate:
Keep the event uneventful.
Rep. David Dreier of San Dimas is the convention's parliamentarian - the guy who interprets the rules for
what happens when.
He got the backstage post by virtue of chairing the House Rules Committee, where he serves as a
congressional traffic cop negotiating green or red lights for all legislation.
As parliamentarian, he met his first challenge before the convention even began, defusing threats to derail the
innovative move to hold the nominating roll call over three nights rather than a single, lengthy session.
He also got much help from the man who will accept the party's presidential nomination on Thursday when
George W. Bush successfully blocked floor fights over such contentious issues as abortion and changing the
primary system to move California to the end of the line.
"We have, I think, very few tough questions," said Dreier, who sits at a tiered desk to the left of the podium
as viewed on television. "I know a lot of people are critical that major decisions aren't made at conventions,
but it's an opportunity to convey our message of inclusion."
The 10-term congressman, who was first elected the year Ronald Reagan became president, was
co-chairman of Bush's primary campaign in California earlier this year. As the most powerful member of the
state's House delegation, he has the most riding on electing Bush and a Republican majority in Congress.
He and New York Gov. George Pataki spoke Tuesday at a breakfast the Republican National Committee
sponsored to describe the convention's theme of national security to delegates from Delaware and North
Carolina.
The pair were to take their RNC road show to the Michigan delegation Wednesday for a speech about
prosperity.
But the week isn't all business. The dapper bachelor hosted a cigar and "Dreier" martinis party Sunday night
that attracted hundreds more people than a bar could hold, leaving even some lawmakers waiting on the curb.
Looking forward to the fall elections, Dreier is building a farm team for congressional races by training state
and local candidates under the political group GOPAC. He and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge taped lessons
for candidates to improve their campaigning. Some 47,000 copies were distributed.
"His frequent flier miles would put him in another galaxy," said Ridge, a friend from when they served together
on the House Banking Committee.
