Research Briefing

Away From Press And Public Scrutiny, Obama And His Team Court High Dollar Donors And Lobbyists Off White House Grounds

OBAMA HIDING FROM PUBLIC VIEW AT “PRIVATE, EXCLUSIVE” HIGH DOLLAR FUNDRAISERS

On Four Occasions In The Last Week, Obama Ducked Reporters To Slip Into “Private, Exclusive” High Dollar Dem Fundraisers. “Four times in the last week, President Barack Obama has quietly departed from his official White House schedule and slipped into private, exclusive Democratic Party fundraisers around town, glad-handing well-heeled donors away from the eyes of the press – and contradicting his pledge to run the most transparent administration in history.” (Matt Negrin, “President Obama Courts Wealthy Donors,” Politico, 8/4/10)

These Fundraisers “Seem To Go Against [Obama’s] Promise” For “Most Transparent” Administration Ever. “When Obama took office, he promised his administration would be the ‘most transparent’ ever, but the private fundraisers seem to go against that promise. David Jackson, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, said he is ‘constantly bringing it up with the White House’ to no avail. ‘We object to any closed events where the president is speaking,’ said Jackson, a USA Today reporter. ‘We want a pool with the president, wherever he goes.’” (Matt Negrin, “President Obama Courts Wealthy Donors,” Politico, 8/4/10)

“Marc Cooper, A Journalism Professor At The University Of Southern California … Said The President’s Private, Secluded Chats With Wealthy Donors Last Week Indicate That The Obama Team Is ‘Backtracking’ On His Pledge For Openness.” (Matt Negrin, “President Obama Courts Wealthy Donors,” Politico, 8/4/10)

WHILE HIS STAFF DUCKS OUT OF WHITE HOUSE TO MEET SECRETLY WITH LOBBYISTS

White House Officials Have Met "Hundreds Of Times" With Lobbyists At Coffee Shop Across Street From White House. "Here at the Caribou on Pennsylvania Avenue, and a few other nearby coffee shops, White House officials have met hundreds of times over the last 18 months with prominent K Street lobbyists -- members of the same industry that President Obama has derided for what he calls its "outsized influence" in the capital." (Eric Lichtblau, "Across From White House, Coffee With Lobbyists," The New York Times, 6/24/10)

Meetings "Reveal A Disconnect Between The Obama Administration's Public Rhetoric ... And The Administration's Continuing, Private Dealings With Them." "But because the discussions are not taking place at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, they are not subject to disclosure on the visitors' log that the White House releases as part of its pledge to be the 'most transparent presidential administration in history.' The off-site meetings, lobbyists say, reveal a disconnect between the Obama administration's public rhetoric -- with Mr. Obama himself frequently thrashing big industries' 'battalions' of lobbyists as enemies of reform -- and the administration's continuing, private dealings with them." (Eric Lichtblau, "Across From White House, Coffee With Lobbyists," The New York Times, 6/24/10)

Discussed Issues From Wall Street Regulation To Health Care. "On the agenda over espressos and lattes, according to more than a dozen lobbyists and political operatives who have taken part in the sessions, have been front-burner issues like Wall Street regulation, health care rules, federal stimulus money, energy policy and climate control -- and their impact on the lobbyists' corporate clients." (Eric Lichtblau, "Across From White House, Coffee With Lobbyists," The New York Times, 6/24/10)

AND WHITE HOUSE REWARDS TOP DONORS WITH VIP ACCESS

Obama Awards Top Donors With “VIP Access To The White House.” “During his first nine months in office, President Obama has quietly rewarded scores of top Democratic donors with VIP access to the White House, private briefings with administration advisers and invitations to important speeches and town-hall meetings… High-dollar fundraisers have been promised access to senior White House officials in exchange for pledges to donate $30,400 personally or to bundle $300,000 in contributions ahead of the 2010 midterm elections, according to internal Democratic National Committee documents obtained by The Washington Times.” (Matthew Mosk, “EXCLUSIVE: Democratic Donors Rewarded With W.H. Perks,” The Washington Times, 10/28/09)

• DNC Created Menu Of “Exclusive Access Opportunities.” “The DNC has presented a menu of exclusive access opportunities to top givers, according to internal DNC documents provided to potential donors and obtained by The Times.” (Matthew Mosk, “EXCLUSIVE: Democratic Donors Rewarded With W.H. Perks,” The Washington Times, 10/28/09)

Donors Offered Parties In White House Bowling Alley And Movie Theater. “One top donor described in an interview with The Times being given a birthday visit to the Oval Office.” Another was allowed use of a White House-complex bowling alley for his family. Bundlers closest to the president were invited to watch a movie in the red-walled theater in the basement of the presidential mansion.” (Matthew Mosk, “EXCLUSIVE: Democratic Donors Rewarded With W.H. Perks,” The Washington Times, 10/28/09)

Select Individuals “Provided Access To A Series Of Invite-Only Briefings By Senior Administration Officials Organized By The DNC.” “’I don't think it's surprising that people that support the president do go to functions at the White House and have other access, but there are many, many more Americans who attend events and town halls and other things at the White House every single day,’ DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse said… Only select members of the public, however, were provided access to a series of invite-only briefings by senior administration officials organized by the DNC.” (Matthew Mosk, “EXCLUSIVE: Democratic Donors Rewarded With W.H. Perks,” The Washington Times, 10/28/09)

ALL OF WHICH IGNORES OBAMA’S PROMISE OF “UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF OPENNESS”

President Obama: "My Administration Is Committed To Creating An Unprecedented Level Of Openness In Government." (President Barack Obama, "Memorandum For The Heads Of Executive Departments And Agencies: Transparency and Open Government," Press Release, 1/21/09)

And His Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Said White House Would Report Contact With Lobbyists "So That People Understand If [The Administration Is] Working On Behalf Of The People's Interest." "QUESTION: "Does his strategy also involve reminding people the President is the agent of change, and yet it would seem that what is in the way is old Washington ways, partisanship.  Why can't you effect some change in that?" MR. GIBBS:  "Well, we're trying.  But understand, Wendell, that with the presidency does not come the magic wand for changing the way this town works.  You heard the President outline ways that he thinks this town can work better in the State of the Union; that we have to take steps to ensure that foreign corporations can't unduly influence our elections off of what the Supreme Court decided; that contacts with lobbyists are reported more readily so that people understand if you're working on behalf of the people's interest or the special interests.  That's what led us to put online each month the visitors that come into this building for the first time in the history of this country." (Robert Gibbs, Press Briefing, The White House, 2/16/10)

During Campaign, Obama Criticized Special Interests Who "Write The Checks" And "Get The Access." "'I know that I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington, but I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change... He added, 'People who love their country can change it.'... Admitting the tactic is typical of aspiring candidates, Obama promised to overhaul a political system he says is dominated by lobbyists and special interest groups 'who've turned our government into a game only they can afford to play.'... 'They write the checks and you get stuck with the bills, they get the access while you get to write a letter, they think they own this government, but we're here today to take it back. The time for that kind of politics is over,' he said. 'It's time to turn the page right here and right now.'" ("Obama Declares He's Running F or President," CNN, 2/10/07)