‘Quid Pro Quo’: Former Democratic Congressman Explains How to Access the White House
- Posted on April 15, 2012 at 5:51pm by
Erica Ritz
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Former democratic congressman Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Ted Kennedy, gave a curious explanation as to how to best access the White House (and all of the favors that accompany it) in a recent New York Times article.
The former Representative from Rhode Island donated $35,800 to Obama’s reelection campaign, while seeking administrative support for a nonprofit he was involved with.
Such contributions are simply a part of “how this business works,” he said. “If you want to call it ‘quid pro quo,’ fine…At the end of the day, I want to make sure I do my part.”
While Kennedy’s name already makes him an influential figure, he clarified: “I know that they look at the reports [of contributions]…They’re my friends anyway, but it won’t hurt when I ask them for a favor if they don’t see me as a slouch.”
Elaborating, the Times reveals:
More broadly, the review showed that those who donated the most to Mr. Obama and the Democratic Party since he started running for president were far more likely to visit the White House than others. Among donors who gave $30,000 or less, about 20 percent visited the White House, according to a New York Times analysis that matched names in the visitor logs with donor records. But among those who donated $100,000 or more, the figure rises to about 75 percent. Approximately two-thirds of the president’s top fund-raisers in the 2008 campaign visited the White House at least once, some of them numerous times.
[...]
Although those in office invariably deny it, the notion that access is available at a price is a well-founded reality of Washington. Memorably, President Nixon was caught on tape remarking that $250,000 should be the minimum donation for an ambassadorship. The Clinton White House offered major donors coffees with the president or sleepovers in the Lincoln Bedroom. More recently, Republicans in Congress have raised questions about whether Democratic donors who invested in the solar energy company Solyndra and other troubled firms influenced the administration’s support of those businesses, pointing to White House visits and other official contacts…
White House spokesman Eric Shultz denies allegations of wrongdoing, commenting: “being a supporter of the president does not secure you a visit to the White House, nor does it preclude you from one.”
(H/T: Drudge)
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Comments (60)
Allieann
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 8:14pmI have it on good authority that Blab-o-Blago is telling everyone in the Colorado Prison that he has been promised a full pardon when OBuma is defeated. It will be his final in your face gesture to the US citizens who know he is a Chicago crook, can take the man out of the hood, but not the hood outa the man.
Report Post »Laken
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 8:21pmhttp://citizenwells.wordpress.com/
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:00pmCan Obama pardon himself or his pal Holder…I would really like to see holder punished for his treason against this country, but I know we will see no justice while Obama is in office.
Report Post »INOGAWD
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:19pmGuess I won’t be a guest at the WH…Told MO to
Report Post »F’off when I was sent a letter asked to DONATE..
HMMMMMM !!!! Dump these Crooks in 2012 !!!!
hempstead1944
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 8:14pmWhat boggles the mind is that they see nothing wrong with these pay to play schemes…..
Report Post »sooner12
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 8:34pmWhat is the saying: “There’s no honor among thieves.” Well, all of those rats in DC are thieves.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 8:46pmagreed
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 7:48amOUR GANG in the WH: BuckWheat is President; Darla is Sec of State; Spanky is the Chief Czar… and Alfalfa is the Senate Leader; Stymie is DOJ; Sunshine is in the DOD; and Farina in the Supreme Court…
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:58pmAs i have posted many times..Obama could care less how much of the tax payers money has been wasted or stolen,as long as he gets his campaign donations…He is a poor excuse for a leader..History will judge him correctly as the worst president we have ever had…
Report Post »Delores at CH WV
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:53pmDidn’t they just find ex governor of IL guilty of this behavior? I believe he needs to bring this information up in his appeal. Poor Rob . . .they took away his wife, his job, and his children just because He didn’t play the game with Obama.
Report Post »Chromo200
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:40pmGood point.
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:52pmWhen Chicago rules, you play by Chicago rules. Money greases the gears there. They have a long history going back before Capone; you’re dealing with professionals.
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:56pmOr you could be a black revolutionary and get ushered right in.
Report Post »team1blazer
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:34pmit sure sounds like a bribe, it walks like a bribe, talks like a bribe, smells like a bribe, must be a canary.
Report Post »possom
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:29pmThe only difference between a politician and a ****** (rhyme’s with snooker) is one make‘s you smile and the other raise’s your tax‘s and smile’s at you!
Report Post »Cymry
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:23pmthe old liberal core of the dem party has been co-opted by the radical commies in the party and the old libs are trying to go against their nature and “blow the whistle” on what’s happening (bill clinton really did say that barry’s ineligible). it’s a rather pathetic attempt but it will succeed.
Report Post »roostercogburn
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:17pmWow, more Kennedy slime, with any luck he will spend some money and try to learn to fly, these people have destroyed this country, they are just sick people.
Report Post »Crazyotto
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 12:06pmHe is far more dangerous behind the wheel.. he is a chip off the old block… It is amazing that after all we know about this family and their mob ties, corruption, cowardice (not JFK), assaults, arrogance, legendary infidelity, and just all around bad behavior that they remain cannonized as some sort miracle and blessing sent down on this country. They have almost singlehandely ruin this country …
Report Post »they all need to be gone.
South Philly Boy
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:16pmFor DemonCrats… Business as Usual
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:27pmExactly … anyone surprised by this? .. or that they do it so blatently?
OMG 2012!
Report Post »sndrman
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:14pmwonder if junior knows how to swim?just saying what with marth’s vineyard surrounded by water, Massachusetts being a coastal state. is he also a good driver? his driving skills are drawn to the sound of water are they? most important does he have a cell phone to summon quick help?or is there bad cell towers and it may take 18 hours or more? was he a good listeners to his dad’s tricks of the trade? does he pay his “fair”share of taxes?
Report Post »Tigress1
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:11pmThis always confuses me when I hear about people donating $30,000 or $100,000, etc. Isn’t there a law that individuals are not allowed to donate more than $2,500? How can these people give so much?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_finance_in_the_United_States
Report Post »DesdemonasCrew
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:52pmNixon was prior to campaign finance reform.
Report Post »Now, if you donate to the party, you can give the max which is over 30K and based on an inflation index.
sndrman
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:09pmyou always hear these cheap tactics from mostly (d)’s….lack of character, integrity,need i go on?
Report Post »flatdaddio
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:02pmpatches spilling the beans is he….
Report Post »Laken
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:00pmClinton knows the TRUTH about Obama…
he’s a non-citizen and set on destroying this country ANYWAY he can…
http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/2012/04/video-globe-magazine-hollywood-producer.html
Report Post »Laken
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:05pmhttp://www.wnd.com/wnd_petition/petition-urging-congress-to-investigate-obamas-eligibility/
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:52pm@Duskerhu…this for that, no need to look it up, a fifth grader knows this…
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:44pmyou would think that since his uncle was killed by surhan surhan from the nation of islam he would stay clear of obama who is linked to rev,wright who is linked to frarrakhan from the nation of islam connect the dots, but when it comes to bribes the kennedy’s are experts the ends justify the means
Report Post »Chromo200
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:36pmI wonder if the NYT will make this a huge front page story. I am not holding my breath ..
Report Post »Chromo200
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:34pmAny one can answer what will happen to all that reelection money in Obama’s “war chest” if he does not spend it all?
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:09pmWell, now, I’d bet on their moving to indosneezia where they can live like the royal a***s they are on all the money they haven’t already spent. That is, until sorocitos finds them and has them whacked because they’ve outlived their usefulness. Coming soon, noman. sorocitos is going to tire of you real quick here, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY WHO IS ALREADY sick and tired of you.
Report Post »CoMa
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:33pmYour daddy was a murderer.
Report Post »Sgt Lamb
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:33pmits Pay to Play……………………………,the Chicago Way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:10pmTranslation, for Senators its called ‘donations’ for anyone else its jailtime for giving bribes.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:14pmBingo.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:32pmWhy would Kennedy write that info? –Seriously?
Rod Balgojevich was obvioulsy set up.
While he blabbed, he‘s probably really been keeping his mouth shut for his family’s sake.
>Women and children leave this world every day due to all sorts of accidents.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:51pmJust like the insider trading being done by those in Congress… now they are making it illegal since they got caught .. should have been illegal all along .. like it is for ANYONE else.
Report Post »Cat
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 12:29amThe biggest donators are the fools who work, then are forced to pay taxes on their prosperity as a result of their own ingenuity …
COM’ON PEOPLE … WAKE THE PHUQUE UP!
Report Post »JohnTwoFeathers
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:06pmSoooo… If I want to be ambassador to say Canada all I need to come up with is 250,000. OK…Income is 150,000 a year, free housing , free food ,and a private car with driver. Heres my check for 250,000. Don’t cash it for a while.
Report Post »Abraham Young
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:01pmThis is a government of the money, for the money, by the money.
And the Federal Reserve has a monopoly on it.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:12pmAnd the fed will continue to devalue the dollar until it’s worthless,probably within five years because the lawbreakers in D.C will not stop spending no matter who occupies the white house.
Report Post »s0ck_monkey
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:23pm@Abraham
Agreed…this country was bought, sold, and paid for a long time ago
Check out a book called Battle Hymn, written by John Scura
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:26pm@SOCK MONKEY
Thanks for the heads up about Battle Hymn
WOW!
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 5:59pmWhy isn’t this being called a bribe?
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:29pmMy thoughts too. Blago may want to hear this….maybe there is a recording some place…no wait..he is the son of Ted Kennedy….the ole’ line from SNL…”Never-mind”.
Report Post »Know this is a very dumb question to ask but what the heck….I have been around working Montana people all my life and others in this country get up everyday & go to work year after year after year and the “gall” of most politicians just don’t give a flying crap about that and spend the taxpayers money without a blink of an eye. How in the heck do these people sleep at night? Just shameless!
Mark0331
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:38pm@Amazing….what is even scarier is they say and do this stuff without a blink of an eye, just outright state that bribes are how things are done, no big deal, and they get away with it…they must take copious amounts of booze and pills to sleep at night to keep the night terrors at bay.
Report Post »duskerhu
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:44pmBecause it is called “quid pro quo.”
Look it up… …you’re on the internet.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 6:59pm@dushk…I know what its called…why is it allowed at all., that is the question…you can call it whatever you want, a bribe is a bribe, dressing it up with the latin translation is pathetic.
Report Post »