The New York Times—
You know, that Obama-hating, right-wing news rag—
I’ll wait here while you read it.
( The key paragraph: “Giving or raising $500,000 or more puts donors on a national advisory board for Mr. Obama’s group and the privilege of attending quarterly meetings with the president, along with other meetings at the White House. Moreover, the new cash demands on Mr. Obama’s top donors and bundlers come as many of them are angling for appointments to administration jobs or ambassadorships.” )
Done?
We can make this short and sweet.
This is unethical.
It reeks of impropriety, influence peddling, and cronyism.
This is similar to the scandal the Clinton White House was embroiled in before Monica distracted everyone.
The bottom line is that the President is allowing his operatives to sell access to him and his office for a half-million dollars a shot. Using the White House, the Lincoln bedroom, positions of influence and substantive access to the President to raise money for anything is unethical, regardless of whether or not there are legal loopholes that allow it to avoid direct illegality. It sets a terrible example for other office holders. It is the epitome of the rotting fish head.
What a cynical and hypocritical disappointment this President has become. Or, perhaps, how shockingly ineffectual he has been in controlling the worst impulses of his staff.
In the end, the results are the same which ever it is.
_____________________________
Facts: New York Times
This story is made all the worse by two things…
1 – The claim by Obama that such practices would end “right here, right now”. Clearly, this was untrue…
2 – Claims by the White House that OfA is “independent”. If this were true, such a practice could not take place, as they would have no ability to make it happen.
Amen, and triple amen to the penultimate paragraph. The sad fact is that the President’s devotees will either look the other way or say quit picking on him. Classic “favorite son” behavior.
I’m not disappointed. He continues to live down to my expectations. Who expected ethical behavior from this man and his administration?
Certainly no one who paid any attention during the last four years. Or even just if they woke up enough to pay attention to the campaign.
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