Democratic Donors Buy White House Perks

by Hugh Askew | October 28, 2009 at 08:29 am

144 views | 42 Recommendations | 8 comments

The Obama administration appears to be peddling access to the iconic White House by rewarding big ticket donors with lavish receptions and private meetings. St. Paddy's Day saw the fountains on the north and south lawns of the White House lawns dyed green to please the "paying" guests. Privileges not accorded to Joe or Jane America, are within easy reach for those with enough money.

During his first nine months in office, President Obama has quietly rewarded scores of top Democratic donors with VIP access to the White House, private briefings with administration advisers and invitations to important speeches and town-hall meetings.

High-dollar fundraisers have been promised access to senior White House officials in exchange for pledges to donate $30,400 personally or to bundle $300,000 in contributions ahead of the 2010 midterm elections, according to internal Democratic National Committee documents obtained by The Washington Times.

One top donor described in an interview with The Times being given a birthday visit to the Oval Office. Another was allowed use of a White House-complex bowling alley for his family. Bundlers closest to the president were invited to watch a movie in the red-walled theater in the basement of the presidential mansion.

Mr. Obama invited his top New York bundler, UBS Americas CEO Robert Wolf, to golf with him during the president's Martha's Vineyard vacation in August. At least 39 donors and fundraisers also were treated to a lavish White House reception on St. Patrick's Day, where the fountains on the North and South Lawns were dyed green, photos and video reviewed by The Times and CBS News also show.

Presidential aides said there has been no systematic effort to use the White House complex to aid fundraising, though they acknowledge the DNC has paid for some events at the presidential mansion.

"Contributing does not guarantee a ticket to the White House, nor does it prohibit the contributor from visiting," said Dan Pfeiffer, deputy White House communications director.

UBS recently settled a long-running dispute with U.S. tax authorities, under which UBS agreed to hand over details of thousands of customers.

On his first day in office, Obama spoke and said, "The old rules said that if there was a defensible argument for not disclosing something to the American people, then it should not be disclosed. That era is now over."

Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said at the time, "You know there's a new sheriff in town." We had meeting after meeting with Obama's transition team, and I told them, in my dream world, Obama would get up there on Inauguration Day and say, 'Transparency will be the watchword of this administration,'" Dalglish said. "I'm speechless. I am dreaming, right?"

Transparency? Openness? "defensible argument"?

New sheriff or not, the much condemned practice of selling access lives on.

Meanwhile, RNC Chairman Michael Steele said that the White House had effectively become a "full-service resort" during Obama's tenure, likening the alleged access to the benefits former President Bill Clinton had offered to some friends and top donors during his time in office.

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albertacowpoke

at 09:40 on October 28th, 2009

This was adressed at the White House Press Conference this morning. Robert Gibbs basically denied that this was going on.

Apparently the White House will now publish a list every quarter stating who visited, for how long and who they saw duirng the visit.

Gibbs maintains that this is the most transparent Administration in U.S. history. You be the judge.

Hugh Askew

at 10:01 on October 28th, 2009

I'll be more impressed if they include donation amounts next to the name of the visitor.

Interesting, thru last night, and early this morning, the only places i could find any info on this was Fox & the Washington Times.

Used the news rag so folks couldn't use the "FOX" bilge.

Evidently the WH thought it had better get a handle on it, quickly.

politisite

at 11:58 on October 28th, 2009

Reminds me of the Clinton White House.

rng

at 12:27 on October 28th, 2009

Reminds me of Catholic indulgences. Most institutions are corrupt. It is only a matter of debating the degree.

a211423

at 13:46 on October 28th, 2009

http://prairiepundit.blogspot.com/2009/10/selling-white-house-access-again.html

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/pol/1441000500.html

Here is one of the most colorful comments.

http://www.ioterran.com/?p=27802

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/07/hbc-90003233

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/10/for_sale_white_house_perks.html

Hugh Askew

at 14:28 on October 28th, 2009

from a comment at: http://minx.cc/?post=294111

Hope goes for about 50k. Hope and Change will run you 100k.

Rory Cripps

at 13:53 on October 28th, 2009

Hugh: What's the problem here? Obama is just maintaining traditions! LOL!

QueensHart

at 14:21 on October 28th, 2009

You jest Rory! Now there is no doubt that he is sleezier than I thought but oh my lord ! think about all the lies he has told and then stood up and told the american's he was going to change Washington. This just stinks! They really are all rotten.. Creeps O will be doomed for sure now...he has hung himself worrying about the next elections.. remember his start? Remember all the things he refused to show that other Presidents did?

We'll never know what is in Obama's thesis, because Obama will not release it -- nor will he release any of his school papers, transcripts, notes ... nothing. What other politician ever got away with that? A lot of people had to be paid to keep their mouth shut in public institutions too. Colleges etc. He was groomed by thugs and now I know he is a thug. Doing this at the White House? Selling time..I must be stupid for not knowing how dirty politicians have been .

Obama had Jack Ryan's divorce and child custody records papers unsealed, which led to Ryan's resignation and Obama's first election win -- minutes before he decided to run for President. He was talked in the news which they hide now as the Kenyan! He has paved his way with deals and pimpin...is that pimpin..no somebody get us a better word for what he is doing.selling out...losing his soul?