Organizing for Action (OFA), a group “closely affiliated” with liberal heavyweights such as billionaire philanthropist George Soros, is offering donors access to President Obama in exchange for $500,000, according to a recent New York Times report.

Not too surprisingly, once word got out that this supposedly “independent” political group -- which is headed by President Obama’s former campaign manager Jim Messina -- has been auctioning off face time with the president, the reaction has been, well, less than pleased.

Jim Messina (Twitter)

Even White House Press Secretary Jay Carney struggled Monday defending Messina’s group’s actions:

Final Thought: Although Carney maintains OfA is “independent” of the White House, it’s worth noting Messina’s people still run the president’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.

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(H/T: BuzzFeed). Featured image Getty Images.