Research Briefing

Today, Obama’s Flack Misleads Press On White House Visitors, Lobbyist Donations

CBS’S CHIP REID ASKS: “The RNC is calling for the White House to release the names of donors who have gotten special access to White House advisors and special perks like the bowling alley. Will you release those names?” (Robert Gibbs, Remarks At Daily Press Briefing, White House, 10/28/09)

GIBBS FALSEHOOD, TAKE ONE: RELEASING NAMES OF WHITE HOUSE VISITORS

GIBBS MISLEADS CHIP REID: “Every name of every person that comes to this White House will be released … again Chip, this is something again that for the first time in any administration at any point in our history, we’ve undertaken releasing publicly those names.” (Robert Gibbs, Remarks At Daily Press Briefing, White House, 10/28/09)

IN FACT: Personal Visits Excluded Under White House Disclosure Policy. “Exceptions would be made in cases of national security, extreme confidentiality -- such as a visit by a future Supreme Court nominee -- and strictly personal visits to the first family, including daughters Malia and Sasha.” (Richard Wolf, “White House To Reveal Visitor Names,” USA Today, 9/4/09)

• Requests For Guest Lists By The Washington Times For Specific White House Events “Denied Repeatedly.” “Mr. Obama … has agreed to make public the names of those who sign into White House visitor logs, though a request from The Times for logs that show visits from his top 45 bundlers has so far gone unfilled … Requests for guest lists to various White House events, such as a recent cocktail reception surrounding the celebration of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ National Hockey League Stanley Cup victory or the Latin music concert last week, have also been denied repeatedly.” (Matthew Mosk, “EXCLUSIVE: Democratic Donors Rewarded With W.H. Perks,” The Washington Times, 10/28/09)

GIBBS FALSEHOOD, TAKE TWO: LOBBYISTS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY

ROBERT GIBBS MISLEADS CHIP REID AGAIN: “The Republican National Committee -- there’s two political parties, two major political parties in this country - one party doesn’t accept contributions from registered federal lobbyists, that same party doesn’t accept contributions from political action committees. It’s not the Committee with which you just asked me the question.” (Robert Gibbs, Remarks At Daily Press Briefing, White House, 10/28/09)

IN FACT: During His Presidential Campaign, DCCC And DSCC Continued To Accept Donations From Registered Federal Lobbyists And PACs. “The Obama campaign confirms that two other arms of the national party - the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee - will continue to accept lobby and PAC money this election …” (Jim Tankersley, “Lobby $ Ban Not For All Dems,” The Baltimore Sun’s “The Swamp” Blog, 6/5/08)

• Lobbyist “Largess Remains An Important Revenue Stream For The House And Senate Committees.” (Matthew Murray, “Obama to Headline DSCC, DCCC Event,” Roll Call, 4/21/09)

• While DSCC/DCCC Don’t Accept Lobbyist Money At Events Hosted By Obama, They Do For Rest Of The Year. “[T]he Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will go right back to taking lobbyist and PAC cash … the day after their June 18 fundraiser with Obama.” (Kenneth P. Vogel & Chris Frates, “Groups Accept Obama Rules - For 1 Night,” Politico, 4/20/09)