Access To White House For Sale

In a scathing article not commonly seen in the notoriously pro Obama mainstream media, a major newspaper reports that access to the White House is directly connected to the amount of cash donated to the president’s reelection campaign and the Democratic Party.

In other words the so-called people’s house is for sale to the highest bidder, which is more often than not a special interest. By reviewing campaign donations and White House visitor logs, New York Times reporters discovered that those who donated the most to the president and the Democratic Party were far more likely to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue than others.

Among donors who gave $30,000 or less, about 20% visited the White House, according to the paper’s analysis that matched names in the visitor logs with donor records. The White House visitor figure increases sharply to 75% for those who donated $100,000 or more. Additionally, about two-thirds of Obama’s top 2008 campaign fundraisers visited the White House at least once. Some made multiple trips.

Some of the donors had no previous record of giving to Obama or Democrats or of making such large contributions. That makes their hefty gifts, sometimes given in close proximity to White House meetings, all the more suspicious. The story puts it mildly, suggesting it raises questions about whether they came with expectations of access or were expressions of gratitude.

The lengthy piece offers a multitude of examples, but the most damaging information comes from a former congressman of famous political pedigree. Patrick Kennedy, the former congressman from Rhode Island and son of the late Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, actually describes the unscrupulous Obama White House arrangement as “quid pro quo,” which means something for something in Latin.

Patrick Kennedy donated $35,000 to an Obama reelection fund last fall as he pursued administration support of a charity that will supposedly help develop new treatments for brain disorders. Kennedy said his campaign contributions are simply a part of “how this business works.” His generosity landed him several White House visits to pitch support for his nonprofit.

Remember how Obama promised not to accept contributions from registered lobbyists? The review of campaign donations and White House visitor logs shows that the president’s biggest donors brought lobbyists with them for personal visits. That means special interests found a covert way to access the commander-in-chief as he assured the nation it would not happen.