Obama Gives Donors Special Access: Washington Times

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has rewarded top Democratic donors with perks ranging from holiday visits to the White House to policy briefings, carrying on a practice of past presidents despite his promise to change how Washington works, a report published Wednesday shows.

At least 39 Democratic donors and fundraisers attended a White House reception on St. Patrick's Day, and festivities held at the White House for Cinco de Mayo and Independence Day were financed at least in part by the Democratic National Committee, The Washington Times reported. Democratic National Committee documents it obtained showed the party promising top fundraisers who pledged to donate or raise certain amounts access to senior White House officials.

Obama invited fundraiser Robert Wolf to play golf with him during the Obama family's August vacation at Martha's Vineyard. Wolf is chief executive of the UBS Group for the Americas and was appointed to Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Also in August, Obama nominated fundraiser Alan Solomont as ambassador to Spain.

Donors have also been invited to meetings with administration officials. For example, this summer, Obama deputy chief of staff Jim Messina went to Los Angeles and San Francisco to brief top donors on the administration's national health care overhaul, the Times reported.

During his 2008 presidential campaign, Obama promised to change the way things are done in Washington. But the donor rewards provided in Obama's first months in office carry on a time-honored Democratic and Republican practice of giving special treats to top fundraisers and donors, such as appointments to ambassadorships and boards and invitations to policy briefings and holiday parties.

The White House said many White House guests were longtime Obama family friends in addition to their fundraising connections, and, that given the millions of people who donated to Obama's campaign, it wasn't surprising that some visited the White House.

"A contribution doesn't guarantee a visit to the White House, but it doesn't preclude it," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday.

Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele asked the White House to immediately release the names of donors given the perks and called for an investigation "looking into the degree and details of fundraising efforts between the White House and DNC, whether there was any quid pro quo offered to donors, and the names of White House officials who were involved."

Gibbs said Obama has put tough ethics rules in place and that "every name of every person that comes to this White House will be released."

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On the Net:

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov

The Washington Times: http://www.washingtontimes.com/

Comments

[sheaintsayin]

Bush just hired and gave no-bid contracts to his patrons straight out, especially the ones cahainey told him to. "You're doing a heckuva job, Brownie!"

[ricmarc]

and this is a big deal why? for 8 years special access was given to every single right wing religious loon during the bush administration and they had their own television network.

[CapitolBoss]

This is a big deal because it exposes another Obama LIE to the American people to get votes. Lobbyists and big donors are still waltzing into the White House despite Obama's repeated pledge to shut them out.

Keep the change, and the hoax of change.

[ricmarc]

you are nothing but yet another disgruntled republican.

[NoahVail]

Who cares what the Moony paper says?

Only in America do we let foreigners from Australia and Korea buy up our media and spew disinformation.

[Sam418]

This is news? Why do you think people donate in the first place? Access to powerful people. This is about as newsworthy as a Congressman having lunch with a rich constituent.

[middleoftheroad]

buying access to the white house... big money bundlers get special treatment as the white house is for sale... real change! when will the white house break out the stories of the little woman who gave her cat food money that was the backbone of the campaign.

[WeekendWarrior]

Did they pass public financing while we were not looking? If not, how else are the Democrats going to raise money for elections. It is being proven that money trumps the prople every time.

[JiminNC]

Jesus Henry Christ

[mancoff]

Gee, Obama does what all Presidents do. Big deal. He said he would bring change, he didn't say everything every single thing the past Presidents have done, I am going to do differently. When they ate breakfast, I will now eat lunch at that time instead. Where they shook hands with visitors, I will knock elbows with them instead. What a stupid article. He said he wanted to change things but he didn't say he would "throw the baby out with the bath water" and get stupid about things. Grow up, People.

[DeloresT]

Much ado about NOTHING!!! But I am still waiting for MY personal tour of the White House. Of course I have no interest in sleeping in the Lincoln bedroom, since it's rumored that Lincoln still visits from time to time.

[MauricioC]

Consider the source. It's the Washington Times; better known by DC's homeless population as toilet paper.

[inrealtime]

Change and transparency ? Right. The DNC actually published a list of quid pro quo perks. Minimum $30,000 per individual up to $300,000 per bundler. Want to go bowling at the WH ? how about watching the World Series with the President ? Save those shekles kiddies.

[Sam418]

If they printed a list, THAT'S transparency. Try to keep up.

[CapitolBoss]

If they printed a list after being relentlessly pressured by the media to stop hiding the truth, that's Bush/Cheney III

Keep the change.

[OneLiberalLady]

Most Democrats have donated to Obama's campaign as well as many Independeents and some Republicans. What do they want, to limit White House visits and golf partners only to Republican non-donors? And by the way, the issue iosn't whether someone got the benefit of a visit or a golf date, it's wheter lobbying was done. We trust Obama enough by now to know that it wasn't.

[CapitolBoss]

President Obama, why did you lie about ending backroom lobbyist and donor perks? Why did you pretend to be a liberal Democrat? Why are you impersonating George W. Bush? Keep the change...y­ou're a hoax.

[Knowitall]

Don't fall for this nonsense. Everybody in town was crying about the WH not releasing their visitors logs, so they did. THAT's how the Washington Times got the information they published. (By the way, they would NEVER have gotten that information from Bush/Cheney. We STILL don't know who met with Cheney in his Energy/Oil meetings in the first year of Bushes 1st term.)

There ARE NO "backroom lobbyist" (whatever that is!) and I'd be willing to bet that in any White House 2/3rds of the people who walk through the door, are past donors. You can't get around it. If I decided to go on a tour, I would be one of them and my name would show up on the log the Washington Times used for this ridiculous story. Very rarely do people go to work for a President they haven't donated funds to. Think about it.

Don't fall for the hype.

[inrealtime]

Bush bushbushbush, Enough. Obama received many of his votes ( here too) because of disgust with Bush. We didn't expect a Bush clone....a­nd a weak spineless one at that. Carter revisited.

[CapitolBoss]

Why did Mr. Change nobody believes in need prodding from the media to release the names and reveal that team Obama is raking in big donor money from wealthy elite?

I never expect much from Obama supporters. Nobody does.

Keep the change.

[gettingitright]

Don't be ridiculous. That's what presidents, senators, etc. do. It doesn't always mean they are compromised. You have to be in the game in order to change it. Politicians are all gladhanders. You don't get to be President by being an isolationist. It's naiive to think that the POTUS won't attend fundraisers, trips, special meetings, etc. There is not always a quid pro quo arrangement.

[DeloresT]

YOU LIE!!! (Yikes, I can't believe I shouted that! Why am I impersonating Joe Wilson?) Anyhow you are so wrong. NOBODY can impersonate Bush. He's one of a kind. Thank goodness.

[MimiGardner]

Consider the source, the Washington Times. Reverand Moon ranks right up there with Rupert Murdoch in his dislike for the current administration.

I recall the Bush administration couldn't quite remember if Jack Abramoff had attended White House functions until photos surfaced of him being there.

[talkitreal]

Hundreds of American citizens, every single day , take a tour the White house!

Plus, President Obama also has friends that have donated money to his campaiign, friends he knew before he was even a state Senator, or even a US Senator. Is he not supposed to be able to invite any of his friends to the place he is living now?! Yes, these are also people who donated money to his campaign, like most good friends would do , are these people not supposed to ever be invited to the White House, where the Obama's are now living, or to anywhere else where President Obama spends time - Give me a break ! This nitpicking, this withc hunt, where people are rying to find anything to tarnish Obama with is just getting ridiculous!!!

MAY YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THESE FACTS: Because of President Obama's rules NO lobbyists, or PACS are allowed to make donations to the DNC!

Because of President Obama's rule, No lobbyists or PACS are allowed to donate money at ANY fundraising event that President Obama attends on behalf of a fellow Democrat.

That is PLENTY CHANGE!

[talkitreal]

Because of President Obama's rules NO lobbyists, or PACS are allowed to make donations to the DNC!

ALSO, No lobbyists or PACS are allowed to donate money at ANY fundraising event that President Obama attends on behalf of a fellow Democrat.

That is PLENTY CHANGE!