White House Corruption: How Much Does it Cost to Bowl With the President?
“To the victor goes the spoils.” Since that phrase was coined by William L. Marcy in nearly 20o years ago referring to the acts of patronage taken by Andrew Jackson, sitting presidents have claimed victory in the polls and used the office of the Chief Executive to return the “favor” to those who helped to place them in the highest office in the land. Every administration since that time has taken part in this sharing of the treasure chest of political battle. Access to the president and political favors are as much a part of the presidency as the veto and the State of the Union. Appointments have been made, jobs have been granted, legislation has been championed; all in the name of quid pro quo and political favor.
The Clinton administration, the Bush administration, and every administration that preceded them has taken part in this grand scheme that we all only choose to ignore when our preferential political party is in the White House. For that reason, it should surprise no one that President Obama is participating in this elaborate game of reciprocity, and that Democrats would be quick to deny the president’s involvement. This is simply how the game plays out. The DNC and the Obama administration cannot admit that campaign contributions lead to time with the Leader of the Free World. They cannot admit that the “special interest” has the ear of the President. They will not cannot admit that they too are taking part in an orchestrated give and take that has been part of our Executive Branch for generations.
In an effort to keep the streak alive, the Obama administration has been doing more than its fair share of “spoilin.” The DNC – which is admittedly not the White House – but is clearly working in conjunction with the White House on this one – posted this on a fundraising page of a website.
You can read the documents here courtesy of CBS
These fundraising tactics – of offering an audience with Senior-level White House officials – generated quite a buzz yesterday around Capitol Hill yesterday, and one that made the Press Secretary more than uncomfortable. Its been a rough couple of weeks for him around there with the Fox War, the Mainstream Coalition joining the Fox War, the Afghan War, Healthcare Battle, and now this?
In his daily briefing, Gibbs told reporters that much of what was being reported was factually inaccurate, and that the Obama administration was the most open and transparent White House in the history of the presidency. He went on to justify his remarks by saying that the administration will provide a detailed list of every person who visits the White House and why they were there. He referred to this repeatedly as “unprecedented”, but failed to give a timeline for its release OR to state whether it will be retroactive – so I guess it is will remain…l “unprecedented.”
Gibbs went on to say that President Obama does not take contributions from PAC’s (Public Action Committees) or registered lobbyists and that hundreds of thousands of citizens have visited this White House since the President has taken office (as if anyone really cares about the folks with cameras and backpacks visiting the White House). His final remarks were, ”There are two political parties. One party doesn’t accept money from PAC’s or registered lobbyists…I believe that the President has taken unprecedented steps toward transparency.”
The short of it is this. Libs are the first to accuse Republicans of being in the pocket of the “Rich” and the “Elite” and the “Aristocracy,” so when they too partake in these sorts of endeavors, they have to be taken to the woodshed for it. I think this is one of those moments that Republicans have to pounce upon and not let go away for a while. Just as when Republicans get caught in an extra-marital affair or some other incriminating social act of disobedience or moral transgression, they are unceremoniously taken to task in the press with a level of severity that completely overshadows that of Democratic officials similarly situated; Republicans must beat this issue to death to expose the Obama administration for the hypocritical entity that it truly is.
This administration promised transparency and it is offering pay-to-play in the bowling alley at the White House? Its throwing surprise parties in the Executive mansion for donors? When Republicans get all higher than mighty and morally/religiously self-righteous, they too deserve to be ridiculed when they fall from grace; and similarly, Obama and his band of “transparency” proselytizers should be forced to face the fire for so quickly turning their backs on campaign promises for a transparent White House that is anything but. I’d say its about as clear as mud at this point and only getting darker.
A few more reports on what donations get you with this administration…..
Hassan Chandoo (at least $100K), Wahid Hamid (at least $100K) and Lutfi Hassan (at least $50K) were invited to a White House banquet.
For others, there’s no longstanding friendship that binds them, just the money they’ve brought in as giant fundraisers called “bundlers.”
Robert Wolf of banking giant UBS golfed with the president at Martha’s Vineyard in August. He raised at least $500,000.
Dozens of bundlers were invited to a lavish St. Patrick’s Day reception, 17 to the president’s Wall Street speech.
Several bundlers, who didn’t wish to be named, describe invitations to use the executive office bowling alley with family and friends, and a surprise birthday visit to the White House to see the president.
The White House says there’s no correlation between donations and White House access.
The Obama administration on Wednesday acknowledged that it allowed the Democratic Party to distribute tickets to White House events among supporters and contributors, but downplayed a report that said President Obama had “rewarded” donors with “VIP access.”
The Washington Times reported Wednesday that fundraisers who pledged to individually donate $30,400 or to bundle $300,000 in contributions toward the 2010 congressional elections were promised access to senior White House staff.
That access also covered VIP privileges ranging from a birthday visit to the Oval Office, to use of the White House bowling alley, to a golf outing with the president in Martha’s Vineyard.
In a written statement released Wednesday, spokesman Dan Pfeiffer acknowledged the White House gave the Democratic National Committee tickets to distribute.
“As part of an effort to open up events at the White House to thousands of Americans, we have at times provided tickets to events to the DNC, among many other organizations. Our understanding is that those tickets have in turn been distributed to grassroots supporters, contributors and elected officials,” he said.
But Pfeiffer emphasized that contributions did not “guarantee” a White House ticket. And he downplayed the allegations in The Washington Times story.
“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,” he said. “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.”
One White House aide called the article a “stretch,” telling Fox News that one example cited in the story — in which bundlers were invited to watch a movie in the White House theater — involved two of the president’s closest friends.
Former President Clinton stirred a similar controversy during the 1990s when he came under fire for letting donors stay in the Lincoln Bedroom.
He says that Presidential perks go all the way back to George Washington
I dont know any “normal” people who have the money or would be willing to pay a dime to bowl with the President, play golf with the president, or drink a beer with the president. This is obsurd.
Most transparent administration means most corrupt administration in Obama talk
It is a sad day in America when even conservatives have to accept the fact that this is business as usual. I completely agree with you on your point that it is as much a part of the presidency as anything else, but we cannot sit quietly and watch it continue. It has to be exposed and I am glad to see that sites like this are doing it on a daily basis. you should check out this article from Michelle Malkin’s site.
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/10/28/culture-of-corruption-obama-u-s-attorney-nominee-clams-up/
When will the corruption stop? You can say that this is business as usual but it is corruption. Giving things away for campaign contributions is just wrong. It must stop.
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