18 Big GOP Donors Dine With the Queen

[IDemo]

Source: ABC News

An Arizona car dealer, an interior designer and a former Enron executive were among the 18 major Republican donors invited to the dine with the Queen of England, along with celebrities, members of Congress and Bush administration officials, at last night's White House white-tie state dinner.

"These are not your rank-and-file donors," says Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the campaign finance watchdog group the Center for Responsive Politics. "In a sense, this is the GOP royalty."

Republicans were highly critical of President Bill Clinton when he rewarded big contributors with invitations to state dinners.

The 18 major donors on last night's guest list each raised and contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars for Bush and the Republican party over the past decade, according to an ABC News analysis of campaign contribution data available at Opensecrets.org.

Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/05/18_big_gop_...

[yellowcanine]

1. I am sorry but state dinners should not be used to reward political donors.

And Clinton was wrong also if he did it. The White House is OUR house. It should be not be used in a political way. I feel the same way about overnight guests in the Lincon Bedroom.

[Virginia Dare]

11. I don't ever remember it being so blatant...

considering the Bush's don't have very many state dinners, maybe they had to cram everybody into one.

[yellowcanine]

15. Maybe not, but Poppy Bush let Rush Limbaugh stay in the Lincoln Bedroom.

And Rush is no doubt still bragging about it at every opportunity. Of course it all came back to bite Poppy in the ass during the 1992 campaign when he committed a major gaffe while being interviewed by Rush when he (Poppy) criticised Clinton for traveling to Moscow as a young student. I guess he forgot himself and followed Rush's lead down the slimy muddy path.

[shain from kane]

2. His base.

[hippiechick]

3. A Former Enron Exec?

In other words, a freakin' white collar FELON?
I hope Her Majesty was NOT amused at the Chattel that the Faux-Cattle-man brought in to dine.

[Kikosexy2]

9. Was Kenny Boy...

Lay there incognito?...new face job?..risen from the "dead"?...

[closeupready]

4. disgusting.

[ShortnFiery]

5. Disgusing greedy GOP PIGS! n/t

[truthisfreedom]

6. Whatever. The list reads like a suspect lineup.

I'm sure the Queen was positively thrilled to sit at a table with an Enron executive. bush is a totally tasteless freak.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Will the NYT run a page 1 story on this? Like they did Feb. 26, 1997 on Clinton?

On February 26, on page 1, the Times runs "Courting Donors: The Overview; Clinton Pressed Plan to Reward Donors." The 1800-word story begins: "President Clinton two years ago personally approved a plan under which the Democratic Party rewarded some top donors and fund-raisers with meals, coffees, golf outings and morning jogs with him and with overnight stays in the Lincoln Bedroom, to "energize" them for the coming Presidential campaign."

[Kolesar]

8. And I wonder what the Queen thinks about this...eom

[demo dutch]

13. I'm sure she think he's a buffoon!

[closeupready]

14. In more cynical moments, I wonder how Bush's tax cuts (which rewarded highly-paid media people as

surely as it rewarded CEO's) had an effect on coverage of administration ups and downs? That is, Clinton raised taxes on the wealthy, media celebrities included. Could that be part of the explanation as to why, despite his enormous popularity, the press covered Clinton so negatively and why, conversely, faced with someone who is clearly less competent and has fumbled more times than there are numbers, but lowered their taxes, the coverage of Bush has been less judgmental?

[UpInArms]

18. I would think not - that space is reserved for Judith Miller's LIES eom

[nealmhughes]

10. Actually, having lavish state affairs when the country is at war is distasteful in the extreme.

The events should be solemn and low key, echoing the official state of mourning in the entire country. Were but that the entire country were in mourning for our lost youth and those of Iraq.

Bush should have opted for a swearing in ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda or the East Room of the White House and not a series of galas.

What does one expect when he guitars and golfs while New Orleans drowns?

Let us eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow the Republic will be restored and liberte, egalite and fraternite once again reign in the USA, along with peace and an anathemization of Empire.

[youngdem]

12. Not surprising...they are cut from the same cloth as the Loyalists were

And they are just as dangerous to the American Dream as Loyalists were.

[quiet.american]

16. Just another day in the life of the "have-mores," meanwhile, Rome burns. n/t

[quiet.american]

17. Dupe. n/t

[quiet.american]

19. What to make of David Gregory and his wife being invited.

The final words of 1984 come to mind -- "I love Big Brother."

[newscott]

20. Relax, they're all probably distant cousins anyway.

[laylah]

21. Someone correct me if if am wrong

(and I have no doubt they will ) but when seeing a snip of a story about the presidents Queen Elizabeth has visited at the WH, I saw them to all be Republicans? Was that correct or was I seeing things?

Jenn

[quiet.american]

22. The only Democrat I recognized was Nancy Pelosi. n/t

[Virginia Dare]

23. Supposedly Reid was invited, but declined...n/t