It's Ralph Reed's Fundraiser, and He'll Cry If John McCain Wants Him To

You would cry too if it happened to you!

Imagine the humiliation of poor Ralph Reed, former leader of the Christian Coalition, on Monday night. He worked his butt off putting together a big fundraiser for John McCain.

He made all the arrangements in his hometown of Atlanta, asked thousands of his friends to come, and made a huge bowl of his famous seven-layer dip. And then… he wasn't even invited…

Ralph Reed, once one of the leading strategists in the Republican Party, found himself Monday night persona non grata at a fundraiser hosted by his party's presumptive presidential nominee.

Reed had sent an e-mail last week encouraging allies to join him at fundraiser for John McCain here, but by the time the senator from Arizona arrived in Atlanta, it was clear Reed was not attending the event. The Democratic National Committee had spent several days blasting McCain for allowing Reed to be involved in the fundraiser because of Reed's connections to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

McCain aides said Reed had never been involved in putting together the fundraiser, but they would not say if they told Reed not to attend the event.

It must hurt being snubbed like that.

McCain was last seen walking out of the Atlanta venue surrounded by his new friends and flaunting his $1.75 million take. And Reed, well, he got to read all about it in the newspaper.

And cry.