by Mark Silva
The White House maintains that it hasn't offered special treatment for political donors, following a report today that the president has "quietly rewarded scores of top Democratic donors with VIP access to the White House.''
High-dollar fundraisers have been promised access to senior White House officials in exchange for pledges to donate $30,400 to the party personally or to bundle $300,000 in contributions from other donors heading into the 2010 midterm elections, according to internal Democratic National Committee documents obtained by The Washington Times.
One top donor told of a birthday visit to the Oval Office. Another was allowed use of a White House-complex bowling alley for his family, according to the newspaper's report. Bundlers closest to the president were invited to watch a movie in the basement of the presidential mansion.
A contribution "doesn't guarantee a visit to the White House - nor does it preclude it,'' Robert Gibbs , the White House press secretary, told reportersd today.
The White House plans to start releasing the names of all visitors to the White House under an agreement reached in August, said Gibbs -- a quarterly review of the past months' visits that will start in December. The Democratic National Committee has not accepted contributions from registered lobbyists since Obama was the party's nominee and insisted on that, Gibbs added, maintaining that the administration has set the toughest rules on lobbyist influence to date.
"There are only a couple of people I know who used the White House bowling alley,'' said Gibbs, and he isn't aware of any guests getting a night in the Lincoln Bedroom -- a perk which the Clinton White House made infamous. (Some of the guests who stayed there during Clinton's days were still donating to Clinton pal and ex-DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe during his campaign for governor of Virginia this year.)
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, the newspaper reported, and "at least 39 donors and fundraisers also were treated to a lavish White House reception on St. Patrick's Day.''
The White House noted that some of the guests cited in the paper's report have been friends of the president for years - such as the note of Obama watching the Super Bowl with Eric Whitaker and John Rogers - two friends for more than 20 years. Whitaker, an executive vice president at the University of Chicago Medical Center, is a golfing partner of the president, too - as recently as Sunday.
"Many of the people mentioned in this story have been friends and associates of the Obamas for decades - including college roommates and family friends whose relationships predate and are separate from the President's career in public service,'' the White House's Dan Pfeiffer said today. "Given that nearly 4 million Americans donated to the campaign, it's no surprise that some who contributed have visited the White House as have grassroots organizers who didn't contribute financial support and people who actively opposed the president's candidacy.''
The White House shares tickets for presidential appearances with the DNC, he said, with an eye toward ensuring that supporters have access to the speeches.
Comments
Can't you just see it now, Stedman and Oprah rutting in Lincolns bed...be careful Stedman it's an antique.
Posted by: Ludacris | October 28, 2009 2:01 PM
This would be on the front page of every major newspaper if Bush had done it.
Posted by: Hari | October 28, 2009 2:02 PM
I'm shocked, shocked!!, that Silva actually is reporting on this. Course, Silva also does a bit of whitewashing of the complete story. It seems thst donors have been getting quite a few at the White House and even elsewhere, including getting briefings from administration staffers and Cabinet members. It also seems the use of the White House is more than just using the White House bowling alley.
Also, how much are these lavish parties (something Silva hasn't covered) are costing U.S. taxpayers? From what I have read, these lavish parties are on a nearly weekly basis and include top name entertainers performing at them.
I'm also shocked (not really) that the media isn't making a stink of the lavish lifestyle the Obamas have been living while folks are suffering and even living in storage facilities. Somehow if this were a Republican president having weekly lavish parties on the taxpayer's dime while millions are out of work and suffering, the media and the Left would be having the biggest cow ever. "How dare they do that while people are hurting! How insensitive those Republicans are!"
Posted by: John D, still right, as usual | October 28, 2009 2:15 PM
Transparency we can believe in! An end to Washington as we know it!
Yeah. Sure.
Posted by: Beth | October 28, 2009 2:19 PM
Hopey, dopey, no change. What we did get is constant lying, staggering arrogance, dangerous narcissism and astounding incompetence. Obama is a smug, smirking con man. Nothing more.
Posted by: Jackson | October 28, 2009 2:28 PM
Oh please! More politics of distraction from the pay to play Party of Tom Delay. How much did a picture taken with President Bush cost campaign bundlers?
Fear, Hatred, Distortion, Distraction and Division. It's all Republicans have to offer. They sure don't know how to run the Government.
Posted by: thebob.bob | October 28, 2009 2:30 PM
Here we have The Obstructionist of our Senate, The Republican-Libertarian gaggle, holding up the extension for unemployment benefits and we get to see the guest-list for our White House. Let us get back to reality and consider the difficulties of many unemployed Americans, whose benefits have run out, through no fault of theirs. Since the disastrous tag-team of Bush&Cheney and their terrific terms, record numbers of unemployed are suffering and what do we get from the Party that brought us that Dynamic Duo, the Bush&Cheney?? The blocking of an extension of unemployment benefits, for those in most need !! That is not being a good American, that's being a bad Republican-Libertarian !! America will not soon forget, your callousness and your cold-hearted, ideological, fanaticism, when suffering Americans needed your support !! Earn your keep and do your duty towards America, not to your agenda !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | October 28, 2009 2:39 PM
As congressman Alan Grayson of Florida just called some female lobbyist a "K Street Whore," lets call all of these politicians -- whether they be congressmen, congresswomen, senators, VP, President or members of all of their staffs -- excatly what they are: POLITICAL WHORES!! They will go to where the money and power are each and every time.
Posted by: Don | October 28, 2009 2:49 PM
Presidents rewarding big donors to their campaigns with visits to the White House has been going on for over 200 years. Big deal.
Posted by: BC | October 28, 2009 3:11 PM
Don Fitgerald - at any point do you actually beleive that anyone takes seriously your predictable and incoherent rantings?
Do you ever have a legitimate point to make other than to further push your hyper-partisan agenda at any cost? Plus, we can't forget your signature ""Bring 'em home" tag line...you do realize it is now your guy not "bringin' em home," right, Don? I know he promised you he would, but Bush / Cheney is making him do it...or at least that is the rationale you will likely devise.
Posted by: freddy | October 28, 2009 3:56 PM
Freddy - Don can't understand your language and with his one track mind, there's absolutely no hope for his recovery.
He will be forever stuck in the "I HATE BUSH" universe of insanity. Heck, he still thinks Obama is going to bring 'em home now!
Posted by: springfield | October 28, 2009 4:12 PM
Same old selling...... Clinton selling the Lincoln Bedrooms. Nice to know there is SOOO much more transparency with the Messiah. YEAH RIGHT. Can you say Payoffs in the grand and glorious tradition of Chicago corruption.
Posted by: senator dirksen | October 28, 2009 4:27 PM
Don Fitzgerald - please turn off the computer - your mom has dinner ready, yes mac and cheese again...and then go to bed...school starts early.
Posted by: Tim | October 28, 2009 4:41 PM
Hari,
More mainstream media bashing? If the Trib is in the tank for Obama, why would they report this in the first place? It's pathetic that you have people scream all that mainstream media BS in this age. Do you recall the Trib running a story of Bush's donors during his first 9 months in office?
Posted by: Jose | October 28, 2009 4:43 PM
Can you say, "pay for play?"
Posted by: Lynch M All | October 28, 2009 4:52 PM
Absolutely right, BC. This is no big deal -- now that it's Democratic big shots benefiting from the pay to play politics Obama promised us his election would end. It was a big deal when the Republicans did it. But now that it's your guy, it doesn't matter. Got it. Just another schizophrenic take from an Obama partisan. On one hand, Obama is painted as a new breed of politician, one who is better than any who have come before, different in ever way. On the other, we're asked to now excuse typically bad Washingtonian behavior because Obama is just another politician. So which is it? Transformational and transcendent? Or just typical? You can't have it both ways.
Posted by: JB | October 28, 2009 4:57 PM
Clinton whored out the White House, why not Barry?
Posted by: BDD | October 28, 2009 5:00 PM
Hopium, dopium, change you can see through! As one person wrote, the degree of narcissism, arrogance, downright incompetence, cronyism, profligate spending is astounding including surrounding himself with every left wing nut he can garner.
Posted by: Den C | October 28, 2009 5:19 PM
Mr. Silva didn't actually ever say that any of this is improper. That would be admitting that the annointed one can be wrong.
Posted by: Dave | October 28, 2009 5:20 PM
This must be some kind of democrat idea about raising pocket change during your stay in the white house. Much like the Clinton Motor Lodge when they were in office and the rooms were only $50K per night.
I am sure one of Michelle's 23 assistants has the booking ledger for the Daleys and various in-laws.
Real change.
What a crock.
Posted by: JimBob | October 28, 2009 6:49 PM
White House bedrooms ought to be reserved for the First Family and families visiting their loved ones at Arlington or the military hospitals. Maybe a few others, you get the idea.
The White House is not a playpen for political donors. Obama has no class, no claim to superiority.
Posted by: bob guritz | October 28, 2009 7:14 PM
Presidents rewarding big donors to their campaigns with visits to the White House has been going on for over 200 years. Big deal.
Posted by: BC | October 28, 2009 3:11 PM
I think the same way on this but, most of the Left does not. As long the guy goes to the left its fine. Let a republican do it and the MSM would have a lead story for weeks.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | October 28, 2009 8:52 PM
Lavish reception on St. Paddy's Day?
What would that translate as?
All the corned beef & cabbage you can eat?
Well, it's very good corned beef.
Anyway, Don is a Chicago Treasure, if not a Living National Treasure.
He reminds me of the Salvation Army brass band playing at the train station at the holidays.
And I'd like to put a gold coin in his kettle every time I pass.
Posted by: ornery | October 28, 2009 11:04 PM
Maybe he should call Elliot Spitzer for some ideas for the White House bedrooms...I can't tell who's the bigger...ah prostitute? Is it the politician or his "service technician."
Posted by: Gary | October 29, 2009 4:07 AM
Posted by: JB | October 28, 2009 4:57 PM
'
'
What part about "it's been going on for the past 200 years" did you fail to comprehend? People like you and Schlock News went nutso went President Clinton invited people to stay at the White House.
'
Now let's see how your "hero" Dubya did:
'
A March 10, 2004, Associated Press article (accessed via Nexis) reported, "President Bush played host to dozens of overnight guests at the White House and Camp David last year, from world leaders to some of his most loyal supporters, including friends who double as campaign fund-raisers. ... Bush and first lady Laura Bush have invited at least 270 people to stay at the White House and at least the same number to overnight at the Camp David retreat since coming to Washington in January 2001, according to lists the White House provided The Associated Press."
Posted by: BC | October 29, 2009 1:41 PM
Clinton did the same thing with the 'Designing Women' people.--and others. Bush rewarded Big Oil, Big Contractors, Big Business, Big "Defense" (or Offense) and the Big Insurance Industry. Welcome to power in America. Blerg.
Posted by: Vivian | October 30, 2009 10:36 AM