"Wine, dine and pocket-line"

“Wine, dine and pocket-line” is what might happen when a lobbyist meets up with a politician. The lobbyist is seeking political favors, and the politician is being given “wine, dine and pocket-line” favors.

The expression was possibly coined by Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe of the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, describing what drug companies do to politicians and doctors. “Wolfe said their purpose was the ‘wining, dining and pocket-lining’ of doctors” was printed in the Boston (MA) Globe on December 12, 1990. “These, along with all-expenses-paid junkets to medical conferences in cities with nearby beaches, are some of the more flagrant examples of ‘wining, dining and pocket-lining’ (Dr. Sidney—ed.) Wolfe has inveighed against over the years” was printed in the Hartford (CT) Courant on April 30, 1992.

American activist, radio talk show host and political candidate Curtis Sliwa has also used the saying. “‘WINE, DINE, AND POCKET LINE’ (...) CURTIS SLIWA IS TRULY THE POET LAUREATE OF AMERICA” was posted on the newsgroup alt.radio.talk on October 26, 2001. “‘Bob Capano will not be wined, dined, and pocket lined by the political elites and special interests.’ - @CurtisSliwa” was posted on Twitter by Bob Capano on June 5, 2017. “Watching this NYC mayoral debate on tape delay and I’m having a ‘Political Rundown’ flashback when I hear ‘wined, dined, and pocket-lined’” was posted on Twitter by Bob Hardt on October 26, 2021. Sliwa, the Republican and Liberal candidate for mayor of New York City, used the expression in a televised debate on this day.

“Wine, dine and sixty-nine” is a related saying.

Wikipedia: Sidney M. Wolfe
Sidney M. Wolfe is an American physician and the co-founder and director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, a consumer and health advocacy lobbying organization. He has publicly crusaded against many pharmaceutical drugs, which he and his organization believe to be a danger to public health.

Newspapers.com
12 December 1990, Boston (MA) Globe, “Drug-marketing probe” by Peter G. Gosselin, pg. 9, col. 3:
Wolfe said their purpose was the “wining, dining and pocket-lining” of doctors.
(Sidney M. Wolfe, director of the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, speaking about drug companies.—ed.)

Newspapers.com
30 April 1992, Hartford (CT) Courant, “Doctors, drug companies too cozy?” by Frank Spencer-Molloy, pg. E3, col. 1:
These, along with all-expenses-paid junkets to medical conferences in cities with nearby beaches, are some of the more flagrant examples of “wining, dining and pocket-lining” (Dr. Sidney—ed.) Wolfe has inveighed against over the years.

Newspapers.com
18 February 1993, Rockland Journal News (Nyack, NY), “Social Security is a poor investment” by Alex N. Umrichin, pg. A10, col. 5:
They (politicians—ed.) rather go on wining, dining and pocket-lining their way through “public” service than really taking stock of the needs of their constituents.

Newspapers.com
2 April 1993, The Capital Times (Madison, WI), “‘Medicine’ good but tainted” by Tom Shales, pg. 5D, col. 3:
A critic of the industry, meanwhile, complains about “the wining and dining and pocket-linging” done by drug firms lobbying Washington.

Newspapers.com
26 July 1999, Gaffney (SC) Ledger, “From the Right” by Diane Amantea, pg. 4, col. 4:
The George W. Bush juggernaut continues to roll merrily along. Recently, he was even wined and dined (and pockets lined) by some very important Hollywood glitterati, such as Terry Semel, head of Warner Bros., who hosted the event.

Google Groups: alt.radio.talk
“MOOLAH SCHMOOLA”...“WINE, DINE, AND POCKET LINE”...
Carroll1429
10/26/01
“SING AND RING”...“HUSH HUSH MUSH MUSH”...“MOBSTERS CHOKING ON THEIR LOBSTER”...CURTIS SLIWA IS TRULY THE POET LAUREATE OF AMERICA, CHALLENGED ONLY BY “FROM THE OUT HOUSE TO THE WHITE HOUSE” JESSE THE EXTORTIONIST JERKSON.

Google Groups: alt.games.microsoft.flight-sim
Meigs Field one year later
Dave Pitzer
Mar 31, 2004, 2:15:18 AM
(...)
FOLLOW THE MONEY. A bunch of Chicago politicians were wined, dined and pocket-lined!

Newspapers.com
16 April 2009, Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal, “Thwart crime, Sliwa urges businesses” by Sarah Bradshaw, pg. 6B, cols. 2-3:
Sliwa said politicians aren’t going to solve crime problems because they are full of excuses and because many are crooked, he said, adding they are “wined, dined and pocket-lined.”

Twitter
T
@SevenSeasGoonie
If you’re a blogger invited to an event to be wined, dined and pocket lined, you’re not really considered ‘press’... You’re a prop.
9:36 AM · May 1, 2014·TweetDeck

Twitter
David A Hughes
@Icandodave
Heard at a Toastmasters meeting last night. “Politicians are famous for wining, dining and pocket lining”. I like the comment.
9:03 AM · May 6, 2014·Twitter Web App

Twitter
Jorge Arias
@shilohcat7111
NO AMERICAN SHOULD TRUST OUR LYING MEDIA, THEY DON’T REPORT, THEY LIE FOR THEIR GAINS; TO WINE, DINE, AND POCKET LINE, AS CURTIS SLIWA SAYS!
5:16 PM · Oct 2, 2016 from Queens, NY·Twitter for Android

Twitter
Bob Capano
@BobCapano
“Bob Capano will not be wined, dined, and pocket lined by the political elites and special interests.” -
@CurtisSliwa
3:15 PM · Jun 5, 2017·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
John Healey
@JHealeyJr
Wednesday nights on @InsideCityHall won’t be the same without #PoliticalRundown. I enjoyed being “wined, dined and pocket-lined” with @GersonBorrero and @CurtisSliwa . Don’t understand all the changes on
@NY1 since the new ownership. SMH.
10:24 PM · Jun 15, 2018·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Mark Laytin
@MKMMAMLaytin
Replying to @seanhannity
Photo Op Chuck is only interested if you want to wine, dine, and pocket line him. Self-serving disgrace.
12:15 AM · Jan 20, 2019·Twitter Web App

Twitter
Matthew A Newgarden
@a_newgarden
Replying to @ZENINEWS
Now disgraced former New York state Assembly speaker Democratic Party politician Sheldon Silver wined, dined and pocket lined and got caught.
7:21 AM · Aug 28, 2020·Twitter Web App

Twitter
Glenn Cunningham
@GlennCu19201698
Replying to @CurtisSliwa and @sidetalknyc
That friends is what Curtis is about, while Eric Adams if elected would be the, wine, dine and pocket line mayor as aptly coined by Curtis. Glenn from Hillside.
2:45 PM · Aug 30, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
Johnny Bolony
@bolony
Replying to @CurtisSliwa
I proudly support the Yang Gang and Curtis Sliwa. Curtis has been making a difference in the lives of New Yorkers for decades. He never abandoned real New Yorkers in favor of the elite class. He’s not wined, dined and pocket-lined like his opponent.
11:35 AM · Oct 25, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
Bob Hardt
@bobhardt
Watching this NYC mayoral debate on tape delay and I’m having a “Political Rundown” flashback when I hear “wined, dined, and pocket-lined.”
8:57 PM · Oct 26, 2021·Twitter Web App