All Global News on One Page

Obama rainmakers enjoy White House invites appointments and contracts

By Fred Schulte and Aaron Mehta, iWatch NewsAs President Barack Obama ramps up his campaign for a second term, many of his top fundraisers are showing how money helps win influence and access to power in Washington.Dozens of Obama’s elite donors — many of them wealthy business figures — have been appointed to advisory panels and commissions that can play a role in setting government policy. Others have been invited to a range of exclusive White House briefings, holiday parties and splashy social events.And some have snagged lucrative government contracts that benefit their business interests or investment portfolios, a Center for Public Integrity investigation has found.These fundraisers are known as “bundlers” because they solicit $2,500 contributions from multiple friends, colleagues and family members and provide “bundles” of checks to the campaign. The sum of contributions per bundler ranges from $50,000 to more than $500,000.The Center’s analysis of Obama campaign records and White House and other government documents shows:At least 68 of 350 Obama bundlers for the 2012 election or their spouses have served in the administration, ranging from seats on advisory boards that tackle critical national issues such as economic growth, to ceremonial posts such as serving on the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.At least 250 of the bundlers have been cleared to attend a White House event since January 2009 (continue reading…)