CRITICS OF DEMOCRATS, GOP TO CAST 'SHADOW' OVER PARTIES' CONVENTIONS

Two gadfly gatherings will "shadow" the nominating conventions of the
Republicans in Philadelphia and the Democrats in Los Angeles to expose their
purported failure to discuss big money in politics, poverty and a humane
drug policy.

The "shadow conventions," to be held near the main conventions, will focus
for one day on each of three issues and draw policy experts, celebrity
speakers and Hollywood comedy writers to generate media attention.

"Ultimately, it's about reclaiming the power, returning the power to the
people," said L. Scott Harshbarger, president of Common Cause, which
yesterday hosted a news conference announcing the coalition effort.

Mr. Harshbarger, a former Democratic attorney general of Massachusetts,
said that the political parties are beholden to wealthy donors, and that the
public is likely to perceive that when the GOP meets July 30 through Aug. 4
and the Democrats, Aug. 13 through 17.

"This will not be a protest, but a forum," said the Rev. Jim Wallis,
organizer of Call to Renewal, a social-justice project with churches,
governments and businesses. "This is not being billed as anti-politician or
anti-party."

Several U.S. House members are slated to speak at each event; Sen. John
McCain, Arizona Republican, will address the Philadelphia "shadow" gathering
on campaign-finance reform, and Green Party presidential candidate Ralph
Nader also may appear.

Democratic Sens. Russell D. Feingold of Wisconsin and Paul Wellstone of
Minnesota, two advocates of campaign-finance reform, will also speak at the
"shadow" events in Los Angeles.

Television and movie personalities tapped include Warren Beatty, Ron Silver,
Al Franken and Bill Maher. Candidates running in state elections without
special-interest support will be feted.

Organizers of the event also include United for a Fair Economy, Public
Campaign, the Lindesmith Center and the National Campaign for Jobs and
Income Support.

They put the total cost for both events at $500,000, and said half of that
already has been raised from organizing groups, private individuals and
foundations.

For the first three days of each convention, the "shadow" gathering will
hold 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. forums with panels of experts, followed by workshops
for organizing and discussions.

Ethan Nadelmann, a leader in the drug policy reform movement, said that its
concern is to ease punishment of minor offenders and liberalize some drug
policies to avoid the spread of AIDS and rehabilitate users.

"You risk being labeled as pro-legalization or pro-drug use," said Mr.
Nadelmann, director of the Lindesmith Center. "We're hoping that's not the
message that comes out."

Syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington, author of "How to Overthrow the
Government," who called herself a "recovering Republican," has lined up a
daily "satirical look" at what she called the scripted party conventions.

"We are working on the assumption that our political system is broken," Mrs.
Huffington said.

Speeches by Republicans and Democrats will be piped in live at the "shadow"
events along with satirical comments - via voice-over or subtitles - by
comics who have written for David Letterman and Billy Crystal. Social and
economic facts that contradict each party's glowing claims also will be
posted.