Pa. politicans and wannabes flock to Democrat picnic

Small-town Smithmill, smack in the middle of Pennsylvania, is hardly the typical setting for one of the must-attend parties for powerful state Democrats.

Instead of tables with linens and polished silverware, there are lawn chairs and plastic forks and knives. And instead of a catered meal, the culinary offerings are barbecue, baked beans, and vanilla ice cream in a cup.

But yesterday, politicians - those in office and those who want to be - flocked to this out-of-the-way corner of Clearfield County for the annual Bud George Day picnic.

The picnic, in a community park once contaminated by mine drainage, is meant to pay homage to one of the legislature's longest-serving Democrats, known for his amusing ability to distill policy and politics into straight talk for real people: Rep. Camille "Bud" George, 80, who this year is running for his 18th term.

Over the last two decades, the August gathering - really a fund-raiser hosted by George (tickets are $6) - has morphed into a political schmooze-fest that attracts everyone from governors to ordinary citizens from his legislative district.

Gov. Rendell was there yesterday, as were Democrats Rob McCord, who is running for state treasurer, and John Morganelli, the Northampton district attorney running for state attorney general.

Rendell said that even Sen. Barack Obama had penciled in the picnic as a campaign stop before he decided to vacation in Hawaii.

"I've always believed elected officials should be seen, and this is a great way to" do it, said Rendell, who later read a letter from Obama to the crowd.

Abe Amoros, spokesman for the state Democratic Party, put it this way: "It's the place to be seen. You come to see old friends and meet new friends."

This year, several hundred people attended - although in years past, the crowd exceeded 1,000 people.

For many politicians, particularly those running for reelection, the picnic has become a traditional stop on the campaign trail.

Morganelli, who is running against Attorney General Tom Corbett, was overheard yesterday telling an aide as he walked toward the picnic: "Let's go start campaigning."

In many ways, George's Clearfield County district offers a snapshot into the attitudes and beliefs shared by many residents of smaller towns between the state's two big-city anchors of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

And based on voter-registration numbers, it appears to be a county that isn't solidly for one party or the other - which means politicians have to work for every vote there.

For the last decade, voter registration in the district has been almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. People there frequently divide their loyalties between the two parties: In 2006, for instance, Clearfield County residents voted for Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey over former Sen. Rick Santorum. But both in 2004 and in 2000, they cast their votes for President Bush.

Politics aside, though, many elected officials say the real reason they come to the picnic is George himself.

Over the years, George has become an icon of sorts among fellow Democrats. As the chair of the House's Committee on Environmental Resources and Energy, he is all-important to Rendell, particularly when it comes to pushing the governor's environmental agenda.

On the House floor, he speaks his mind and often shares his homespun wisdom on the issue of the day. His ruminations are called, simply, "Georgisms."

Fellow lawmakers aren't always sure what he is getting at - but they are always entertained.

Some examples:

"I wouldn't slam an outhouse door as hard as they slam people in this General Assembly," he once said.

Commenting on his athletic ability in another instance, he said: "I couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a banjo."

Earlier this year on the House floor, he uttered this pearl: "Talk is cheap. It takes money to buy whiskey."

And in a letter to Gov. Rendell, George once wrote, "I wish I were born as smart as you instead of better looking."

Rendell yesterday said he respected George because "he doesn't mince words. . . . He says the things that many of us in politics would love to be able to say."

He added: "Bud is one of the last of the old-time politicians who knows how to have fun."

Asked how he felt that people show up every year to pay homage to him, George said: "I don't think it's homage, but I'd like to think some people are a little grateful."