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Post Sells Access to Officials, Reporters

For $25,000, lobbyists can meet with lawmakers, WaPo staff

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 2, 2009 9:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – Lobbyists who pay $25,000 to $250,000 can attend off-the-record Washington Post gatherings with administration officials, members of Congress, and members of the paper's staff, Politico reports. The offer, described on a flier passed along by a lobbyist, “essentially turns a news organization into a facilitator for private lobbyist-official encounters,” writes Mike Allen. “An evening with the right people can alter the debate,” says the flier. “Bring your organization’s CEO or executive director literally to the table.”

“Spirited? Yes. Confrontational? No,” says the flier of the “dinner and discussion at the home of CEO and publisher Katharine Weymouth.” “What is guaranteed is a collegial evening, with Obama administration officials, Congress members, business leaders, advocacy leaders and other select minds.” The first in a series of “salons” provides “an exclusive opportunity to participate in the health-care reform debate among the select few who will actually get it done.”


In this Feb. 28, 2007 file photo, pedestrians walk past the main entrance to the Washington Post in Washington.
In this Feb. 28, 2007 file photo, pedestrians walk past the main entrance to the Washington Post in Washington.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
In this Oct. 31, 2008 file photo, the Washington Post building is seen in Washington.
In this Oct. 31, 2008 file photo, the Washington Post building is seen in Washington.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Shannonals
Jul 3, 2009 10:24 AM CDT
anchower that is wrong, can't you express yourself without being offensive?
Shannonals
Jul 3, 2009 10:23 AM CDT
The will of the people? Since when has this country been run by the people? Everything is run by money, anything less is being in denial
AnnieChrist
Jul 2, 2009 5:45 AM CDT
For years the main stream corporate run media have been whores for the special interests and fat cats. Its no surprise they have now become their pimps also.

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