The GOP had the classier convention

The state Republican convention convened under chandeliers at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in midtown Manhattan and dined on an abundance of steak sandwiches. Meanwhile, the Democrats held their party convention under the bright lights and frigid air conditioning of Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex – and soon ran out of food at lunch.

State GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy speaks at the state Republican convention on Wednesday.

State GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy speaks at the state Republican convention on Wednesday. Jeff Coltin

Erie County Republican Committee Chairman Nick Langworthy spoke of a “tale of two New Yorks” in his speech at the state Republican Convention on Wednesday. There were “those who live in opulent apartments overlooking opulent parks ferried to and from work in their opulent limousines” and there were “the teeming masses below who must navigate their way through rat-infested, filthy, sweltering, smelly broken subways.” 

His party’s gathering was in line with the first part of the description. The GOP convened under chandeliers at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in midtown Manhattan and dined on an abundance of steak sandwiches (pre-packaged, as they were).

Meanwhile, the Democrats held their party convention under the bright lights and frigid air conditioning of Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex – and soon ran out of food at lunch, leaving attendees to cluster by the concession stands until somebody ordered Domino’s pizza.

Despite the differences, there was one point of agreement: the California rock band Journey, whose 1981 hit “Don’t Stop Believin’” was heard multiple times at both events. The Democrats were also partial to Queen, including the band’s “Somebody to Love” and “Don’t Stop Me Now,” while Republicans appealed to country music fans with the Zac Brown Band’s “Chicken Fried.”