Democrats using White House as fundraising prop?
29 Oct 2009, 1145 Hrs

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Washington, Oct. 29 As the US gets ready for the 2010 midterm elections, The Democratic Party is using the White House as their main prop for fundraising.

Democratic donors are being offered perks such as invitations to exclusive White House affairs, access to senior officials - even the executive office bowling alley.

"When it comes to fundraising I never heard Barack Obama say 'I believe in unilateral disarmament.' So long as Republicans are raising money we have to raise money, and we won the White House, we ought to take advantage of that," CBS News quoted Obama supporter Lanny Davis, as saying.

Obama's long-term buddies Eric Whitaker ($8,550) and Marty Nesbitt ($50K) got to watch the Super Bowl at the White House movie theatre. Hassan Chandoo ($100K), Wahid Hamid ($100K) and Lutfi Hassan ($50K) were invited to a White House banquet.

Giant fundraisers are called "bundlers" by Democrats.

Several bundlers describe invitations to use the executive office bowling alley with family and friends, and a surprise birthday visit to the White House to see the president.

However, the White House said there was no correlation between donations and White House access.

"Hundreds of thousands of people have visited this White House since the president came in. And I think the president has returned to a stance of transparency in ethics that hasn't been matched by any other White House," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

According to sources, those who raise "300,000 dollars before the 2010 midterm elections" get quarterly meetings with "senior members of the Obama Administration... twice-monthly conference calls... (and) contribute to shaping policy agendas."

Despite the criticism, the party is not likely to stop using what many call the biggest fundraising advantage available - the White House. (ANI)

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