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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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24

White House Denies Giving Perks to Donors

GOP wants an investigation after newspaper report

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(Newser) – White House officials are engaging in damage control after GOP Chairman Michael Steele accused the Obama administration of offering selected donors perks in exchange for big contributions. Steele’s charges stem from a Washington Times report today claiming that DNC contributors who give $30,400 or bundle $300,000 get inappropriate access to policymakers. He wants an investigation.

The story also says big donors get trips to the White House bowling alley and movie theater. Administration officials say the trips organized by the DNC are part of normal “donor maintenance” and that the arrangement is not a quid pro quo. "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," says a White House spokesman.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, left, flank former Oklahoma Sen. David Boren in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, left, flank former Oklahoma Sen. David Boren in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
In this photo provided by CBS, Republic National Committee chairman Michael Steele appears on CBS's
In this photo provided by CBS, Republic National Committee chairman Michael Steele appears on CBS's "Face the Nation" in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/CBS Face the Nation, Karin Cooper)
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Bill Clinton turned the White House into a hotel and coffee shop. Now President Obama has turned the White House into a full-service resort complete with amenities for the highest Democrat bidder. - GOP Chairman Michael Steele

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24 comments
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easterner
Oct 28, 09 2:25 PM CDT
Hey honey I'm going to be late dinner I'm going to go bowling and take in a movie with the Prez !! Hee Haww !!....... Steele Steele Steele are you a wee bit jealous ? Reply
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
DontLikeYou
Oct 28, 09 2:26 PM CDT
The democrat party continues its self destruction under the thug from chicago.
Vote up! Vote down!
-9
IN RESPONSE:
hybrid
Oct 28, 09 2:58 PM CDT
i had the chance to watch Rob gibbs give the white house response to this and is he a ? dodging bitch, um um ah ah um ya um. Damn BOB just answer the question. One reporter asked him the same question three times and every time gibbs mustarded up an uhh uhh. Obama please fire that horses ass
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+6
IN RESPONSE:
divetrader
Oct 28, 09 3:04 PM CDT
dontlikeyou...you are so brilliant. Obama was from Chicago so he was or is a thug. That is how we are here. We are thugs. If we don't like you, we'll take you hunting and shoot you in the face. Or, better yet, we'll be sure and let the only attack on US soil by foreigners in over 5 decades to occur. Then we'l start a war that had nothing to do with it. Afterall, that is what we do, we are thugs.
Vote up! Vote down!
+4
IN RESPONSE:
RobN
Oct 28, 09 3:55 PM CDT
I don't pretend to like Obama, but I have to agree with hybrid, Gibbs does not represent the administration's positions well at all. You can't sell stuff if you can't get it out there coherently.
Vote up! Vote down!
+2

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