Obama Gives Donors Access to White House

(Thumbnail image from the Official White House Photostream)

“The White House is pushing back hard after being hit with these questions about high powered donors gaining access not only to the White House, but also to some top advisors.” (CNN)

“If you bundled up $300,000 you’re eligible for stuff like this. If you wrote a $30,000 check that could be you at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  The only problem I have with it is if he made a campaign promise that he wasn’t going to do it. Other than that everybody does it.” (FOX News)

A report by The Washington Times is causing a stir in the nation's capital.  The report claims President Barack Obama handed some Democratic donors special access to the White House, administration advisors, speeches and town-hall meetings.

Donated money has influenced Washington politicians for years, but Obama campaigned on a promise to clean up the problem. Some are attacking him for giving out perks to donators, but The Administration says it has done nothing wrong.

We are looking at perspectives from The Hill, CNN, The Washington Times and CBS.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele tells the newspaper The Hill the president’s actions cannot be overlooked.

"The seriousness of this issue requires an immediate 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 in such activities."

In response to The Washington Time's report, the White House press secretary announced the Obama Administration will voluntarily open the worker and visitor entry system records or waves.  The system includes information on anyone who visits 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

“I’ll remind you that the waves records will denote who that person is, when they came, how long they were here and who they met with. Again, a standard not met by any previous White House.” (CNN)

Several news sources are reporting that some individuals given special access knew the president before he began his political career and Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush offered similar perks to donors, but a former member of the Federal Election Commission Scott Thomas criticized such practices, telling The Washington Times...

“Once you start trading money for access, you set up a situation where donors eventually say, ‘Well, actually I have another favor to ask. It starts setting up that relationship. If you help with the money, we’ll do something nice for you. And that is a slippery slope.”

DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse tells CBS that Obama has in fact moved to clean up the problem of money influencing politics.

“He has done more than his predecessors have in terms of wringing the influence of big money out of politics. He doesn’t take PAC money, he doesn’t take lobbyist money, PACS and lobbyists are banned from his events, are banned from giving to the Democratic Party.”

What do you think?  Is donor access a problem, and if it is, is President Barack Obama fixing it or perpetuating it?