Undercover Investigation: Lobbyist With Ties To White House Offers Access In Exchange For Bush Library Donations

Times Of London:

A lobbyist with close ties to the White House is offering access to key figures in George W Bush's administration in return for six-figure donations to the private library being set up to commemorate Bush's presidency.

Stephen Payne, who claims to have raised more than $1m for the president's Republican party in recent years, said he would arrange meetings with Dick Cheney, the vice-president, Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state, and other senior officials in return for a payment of $250,000 (£126,000) towards the library in Texas.

Payne, who has accompanied Bush and Cheney on several foreign trips, also said he would try to secure a meeting with the president himself.

Read the whole story: Times Of London

Comments

[BaltimoreSteve]

It is sad when these things hardly raise an eyebrow. It is common place, and accepted that we are corrupt. Shame on us. If the DOJ, the Congress do nothing, what are we citizens forced to do but vote everyone of them out of office, dem or gop.

[metropixie]

Move along people. Nothing to see here. John McCain, after 4 days in North Vietnamese captivity offered Military secrets in exchange for better treatment. See http://hawaiihubbub.com for more on his trademark "heroism."

[DoomtoNeoCons]

"RUH ROH!"-Scooby Doo

[Troubledwawa]

There you have it.

Our foriegn policy is for sale, and on both sides of the isle, according to that video.

Glad to see our MSM is on top of stories like this, like our Founding Fathers intended them to do - Not.

[kingcityguru]

How is this different from Clinton offering pardons and favors for donations to his library. So, when will that list of donors be released? I understand that it is very Saudi heavy.

[Sparty1]

I think this is one of the reasons why Obama couldn't possibly place Hillary on the ticket. Those infamous big, money donors that they won't reveal. She'll never be VP and the Repubs would've loved to have been able to go up against regarding the lobbyists.

[UnbiasView]

And this is different from Bill Clinton renting out the White House bedrooms how?

[pattio66]

Only difference is MSM attention...

[fadelff]

I would love to get some momentum going on this story--seems to me that it might "appeal" to the cable networks, (except Faux), as this story has sound and video!

I tried a general tips email to CNN last night--of course, I see nothing today on US sites--can anyone help me with a better email address to the networks--with a link to the story, (after all, the US news might want to pick up a story when the work of investigating has already been done, and they only need to use existing video....

Thanks.

[fiduciaryatlarge]

I saw Arianna on TV saying our press doesn't keep after stories and this one will probably disappear from prominence on this site in short order.

The real insight into the depth of the corruption came when "a Democrat" was mentioned so casually.

[Graywolf48]

There must be a way of drastically eliminating the influence of lobbyists on our politicians. The entire system has become corrupt, and although I realize that lobbying is protected by the Constitution as the right to petition our government, the entire system has been perverted. Perhaps we should enact strict public campaign finance laws and eliminate the 527 provision? Same money to each candidate to spend on re-election maybe a bonus payment for new candidates, to "level the playing field"? But it seems to me that K Street has become the real governing body of our nation and Congress is just their bought and paid for means of achieving their ends. I would also like to see discussion of changing the concept of the corporation and no longer treating the corporate entity the same as a living person. There needs to be a redefinition of the corporation and it's power over people curtailed. The American people no longer control their government, the corporations and their endless supply of money do. Any realistic ideas of how to get things back in equilibrium?

[tuckgraph]

If you watch the video or read the transcript closely, this isn't about the library, or access. Payne is non-committal about which high ranking White House official this guy will get to meet for his “donation.”

The important thing, Payne says, is that the White House will issue a statement in support of this “donor.” So it’s not just access he’s selling, he’s selling foreign policy stances!

That’s a stench of a different odor!

[suzukimom]

Exactly! Which is why we should repeat that over and over until it sinks in. The guy was selling US foreign policy positions. Unbelievable! Or maybe it is just unbelievable that we actually have a window into what it looks like when the interests of the American people are sold to the highest bidder. Obama wants to do away with lobbyist influence because they are selling us out, and the McCain campaign is awash with lobbyists.

We do not have to wonder why our government no longer serves the people.

[ricchase]

You've got to wonder just what a thorough and accurate investigation into Swiss and offshore banking deposits would turn up. George W. Lush = $3,000,000,000.
Richard B. Chrony= $4,000,000,000 + misc. Halliburton Stock,+
KBR Stock, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.
Condi Lice = $107.00

[mscriblerus]

LOL. Money to the library for access to the administration? Well of course, because reading is fund-amental. Seems that RIF has finally influenced our presidents view on literary erudition.

[totaldisbelief]

Washington DC is such a slime pit ..maybe it ought to be paved over.

[alguien]

it has been paved over. it was a swamp until the 1800s

[dansama]

still is

[gotalife]

Duh, it is legal bribery known as lobbying.

Nothing will change until it is illegal.

[RnR]

How much do I get to tell him for 5 bucks?