The current political landscape seems like a pretty inhospitable place for Democrats. Considering all three branches of government are controlled by the right, the Democratic governor of the nation’s largest state has been recalled, and the South, once a hotbed of left-leaning Dixiecrats, has turned into Karl Rove and company’s own political haven, who wouldn’t blame Democrats for walking around with their heads hung low and their tails tucked between their legs?

But if the Democrats are losing the fight for their political livelihood, one can’t measure it by the success of their fundraisers. Maybe it’s a different crowd, maybe its being apart of a different tax-bracket, maybe it’s a generational thing, but for some strange reason, attending a Democratic function is like going to an old friend’s birthday party. Conversely, going to a Republican get-together is like being on an elementary school field-trip to a museum you smile, you pretend you’re learning, but you don’t dare speak up and you definitely don’t touch anything.

For example, not so long ago, President George W. Bush paid a visit to Jacksonville, Fla. my home town. After a stop off at a local elementary school, he and his motorcade headed toward Alltel Stadium to join about 100 campaign contributors for lunch, a speech and some photos. An acquaintance of mine who attended the event said the president spoke about ‘family values’ and how he implores people to accept responsibility for themselves and not rely on federal government handouts. Key points for a Republican politician to make, but not exactly on par with Regan’s ‘evil empire’ speech.

The regular contributor to the Republican Party said that after the speech (and after a thorough search by the Secret Service), the right-wingers in attendance lined up in their blue blazers and overly starched shirts to have their picture taken with the president, the governor of Florida Jeb Bush and the newly-elected Republican mayor of Jacksonville. President Bush stood in a sectioned-off part of the reception area while the line of people eagerly awaited their turn with the commander-in-chief. The president, being a consummate politician, thanked my friend for coming, commented on what a great day this was for the Republican Party, smiled for the cameras and then told him what a lovely wife he had. President Bush may have several shortcomings, but he sure knows how to glad-hand his contributors.

Contrast this setting with a recent John Kerry for President event I attended at the Park Plaza Hotel here in Boston. The crowd, noticeably younger than the previously mentioned function, was treated to Moby doing his best rendition of several Boston rock n’ roll classics. Let’s just say if the crowd didn’t know the words to Aerosmith’s ‘Walk this Way’ before the event, they do now. In the back of the room, several middle-aged women with Heinekens in hand danced and strutted their stuff in front of the camera before the senator himself came out and accompanied his staffer’s band on guitar. As a musician, Kerry makes a great senator, but I give him credit for getting up on stage and trying.

Republicans, meanwhile, are treated to Sens. Orrin Hatch and Trent Lott performing in a congressional barbershop quartet and Attorney General John Ashcroft singing ‘Let the Eagles Soar.’ President Clinton’s saxophone performance on late night television almost a decade ago may not warrant his admission to the Berklee School of Music, but it was Grammy-worthy compared to the Hatch and Lott’s attempts at acoustics.

Last year I went to Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Robert Reich’s election night party. And that’s exactly what it was a party. People danced, people drank and Reich lost.

So maybe Democrats do want to have fun and maybe they are more hip if you’ll excuse the expression. They’re also losing. Maybe keeping a stiff upper lip and a powerful sense of cool is just the Democrats’ way of maintaining a positive attitude through these dog days of political life.

Kerry did manage to get in a few jabs at Bush’s foreign policy and tax cuts during his event, but unfortunately for the senator, such key political points were overshadowed by the musical antics. That’s the frustrating part: the points Kerry made at his fundraiser had more weight and more punch than the ‘family values’ speech Bush gave, but in Bush’s case, Garth Brooks wasn’t there to overshadow the president’s performance.

So while it is important for Democrats to up their cool factor in order to spread awareness about themselves, it is equally important that their message doesn’t get drowned out by whoever is accompanying them on bass.

Zach Miller, a senior in the College of Communication, is a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press.