Hollywood Comes To Convention Town

.c The Associated Press

 By DAVID BAUDER

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Arnold Schwarzenegger playfully jabs at Muhammad
Ali, and Michael J. Fox steps in to ``separate'' the two.

Some Hollywood glamour - and plenty of Hollywood attitude - came to
convention city with a star-packed party that served as a fund-raiser
for Fox's Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

The week's hottest party ticket bought contributors the sight of Ali and
Fox, probably the two most identifiable celebrities who are suffering
from Parkinson's Disease.

Fox seemed genuinely touched by the former heavyweight champion's attendance.

``His being my hero predates my having Parkinson's,'' he said early
Thursday morning.

Actors William Baldwin, Delroy Lindo and Fox's former ``Spin City''
colleague, Richard Kind, mingled with politicians such as Sen. Orrin
Hatch of Utah and former New York Sen. Alfonse D'Amato among shoes and
handbags at a newly-opened Kenneth Cole store.

It was no coincidence the fund-raiser, sponsored by George magazine and
the Creative Coalition, was held in Philadelphia during the GOP convention.

``Given the nature of this problem, Parkinson's is a nonpartisan
problem, but it's going to take a bipartisan solution,'' Fox said.

A crush of hundreds of people outside the Cole store kept police
struggling to keep the street open, at least until a downpour drenched
those waiting in line. Anyone lucky enough to get inside barely caught
glimpses of the celebrities, who were hustled behind a curtain that
burly guards kept pulling shut to foil peeping toms.

George Stephanopoulos has seen a few arched eyebrows as he walked
through what was once enemy territory, but no tomatoes or profanities
aimed in his direction.

The former Clinton White House aide now works for ABC News, and is
assigned as a floor reporter at the GOP convention.

He wasn't frightened about how he'd be treated, but admitted to some apprehension.

``I am unbelievably grateful,'' he said. ``I have never been so
graciously received. Everyone says, `Welcome to our convention, it so
good to see you here.' There were a few (people saying) `Have you switched?'

``Maybe it goes with the tone of the convention,'' he said. ``Everyone
has taken their nice pills.''

Stephanopoulos said he went on a scavenger hunt to see if any delegates
were ignoring the directive not to go negative. He said he couldn't find
one anti-Clinton placard, or even a button attacking his ex-boss.

``As a former operative, I'm incredibly impressed with the political
discipline of these people,'' he said.

Maybe Jon Secada should put in for overtime.

The Miami-based singer was stalking a stage at the Philadelphia Museum
of Art Wednesday, trying to pump up a crowd of Republicans and reporters
there to see George W. Bush's first appearance in the convention city
this week.

He encouraged a singalong to his song, ``Just Another Day Without You,''
and received a meager response.

``Come on, y'all,'' Secada pleaded. ``It's my biggest hit.''

When the song was over, he was expecting to introduce the candidate's
nephew, George P. Bush. Instead, the signal came from offstage to
stretch. He sang two more songs.

``We could do three hours here,'' he said. ``We'll keep it going 'til we
got to stop.''

How was he rewarded for his efforts?

When George W. Bush thanked him at the beginning of his speech, he
pronounced the singer's name ``Seh-cay-dah.'' Secada pronounces it ``Seh-cah-dah.''

``Roll Call'' editor and TV commentator Morton Kondracke got the last
word on Florida Republican Rep. Mark Foley.

The two were participating in a panel sponsored by the Creative
Coalition Thursday. The organization was trying to use star power -
Steve Allen and actors Baldwin, Kind and Lindo - to attract delegates to
a discussion on violence in the media.

Foley was cautioning people against assuming violent movies lead to
violent acts.

``I watched `Bonnie & Clyde' seven or eight times as a kid and I never
thought about going out and robbing a bank,'' he said.

Replied Kondracke: ``You became a congressman, didn't you?''

AP-NY-08-03-00 0225EDT