HARLEM — Take two sips whenever Ben Carson closes his eyes during Tuesday night’s Republican Presidential debate.
Republican strategists are hosting a viewing party at Lenox Saphire, at 341 Lenox Ave., that includes $3 beer specials and a drinking game in which people take sips every time someone says “Obamacare,” “Benghazi,” “American Dream,” or “Unemployment.”
“There are going to be 100 people there tonight and at least 60 percent of them are going to be Democrats,” said event organizer John Burnett. “They are coming to enjoy mingling and networking across the aisle, to hear what Republicans have to say, and to engage in dialogue.”
Burnett, a Republican strategist who ran for Comptroller in 2013, is hosting the viewing party to have an informal place were people on all sides of the political spectrum can engage each other.
Rules include, “no political teasing or taunting, but excessive laughter and high-fives are permitted,” according to the event page.
This is the first viewing party hosted by Burnett and the Black Republican Coalition, which operates under the New York GOP. They were also responsible for Ben Carson’s visit to Harlem in August.
They hope to have similar events as the campaign continues in order to make communities more politically diverse.
“It’s important that in the Republican districts that we have more Democratic representation and in the Democratic districts we have more Republican representation,” Burnett said.
“It wouldn’t be in anyone’s best interest to be predominantly one party when we have a two party system. This is to help the community figure out who is the best option on the right and left and know that they have options across the political spectrum."
