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White House Distances President From Homeland Security Adviser Who Tried To Trade Access For Cash
How much does it cost to get a meeting with top Bush administration officials?
According to one lobbyist, maybe about $600,000. And you can make that check out to the future George W. Bush presidential library fund.
The Times of London has a video of a Homeland Security adviser and Houston-based lobbyist telling a Kazakh man that he could arrange a meeting with high-level administration officials in exchange for a big donation to the future Bush Library.
In the video, Stephen Payne tells "Eric Dos," a politician from central Asia whose full name is Yerzhan Dosmukhamedov, that he can help arrange meetings with top Bush officials for Askar Akayev, the former president of Kyrgyzstan, who is now in exile in Moscow.
"The exact budget I will come up with, but it will be somewhere between $600,000 and $750,000, with about a third of it going directly to the Bush library," Payne said in the video. "I think that the family, children, whatever [of Akayev], should probably look at making a contribution to the Bush library."
An undercover reporter sits at a table with the Kazakh politician and asks Payne who the meeting might involve.
"Cheney's possible, definitely the national security adviser [Stephen Hadley], definitely either Dr Rice or . . . I think a meeting with Dr Rice or the deputy secretary [John Negroponte] is possible . . ."The main thing is that he [the Asian politician] comes, and he's well received, that he meets with high-level people . . . and we send positive statements made back from the administration about 'This guy wasn't such a bad guy, many people have done worse'."
Unlike campaigns, presidential libraries do not have to disclose their donors.
Last year Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff appointed Payne to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, which is made up of government officials, academics and others from the private sector.
Today, when reporters in Washington asked White House spokeswoman Dana Perino about Payne, she distanced the president from him, saying that "the President has probably met him on a number of occasions," but Payne has never worked at the White House.
Josh
Zachary
Any US Government security clearance given to Steven Payne by virtue of his DHS position needs to be REVOKED IMMEDIATELY!
July 14, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's interesting that Perino said twice, I believe, that Payne never worked for the White House despite never having been asked if he did. Pushing that message out there quite strongly.
July 14, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reminds one of the time the young Bob Woodward asked the WH press office about Howard Hunt on another summer day long ago.
July 15, 2008 3:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Who thinks this will make the half hour 'national news' tonight? So most of America won't know anything about it.
July 14, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
how much money do you need to store three coloring books and a copy of "The Pet Goat" ???
July 14, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Were follow up questions asked about his authority to talk to anyone about access to admin. policy makers or what working in the WH has to do with selling influence? Probably not. I can't abide these briefings nor the press nor Perino, and therefore don't watch these circlejerks.
July 14, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
s Perino always this unprepared? She couldn't answer half the questions asked of her. Also, is she saying that only employees of the white house are able to sell influence? The library donor list would clear up a lot. Then, maybe an intrepid reporter could go over the white house visiter logs and compare them with contributions to the library.
July 14, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why has this story received ZERO media?
Stephen Payne did advance work for Cheney's trip to Kazakhstan, so he could deliver on his promise.
Both Presidential candidates are railing against the "special interests" but neither has proposed any remedy.
July 14, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Meant to write "Is Perino always this unprepared?"
July 14, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Methodist church regional officals are voting in Dallas (Anatole Hilton) on July 16 on whether to revoke approval of the library. Details in Chronicle of Higher Ed.
Bush Sr.'s donors who voluntarily let themselves be identified (for a higher price, I think) now have their names on a wall down at Texas A&M. Sect. Defense Robert Gates was the head of the Bush School there when the library negotiations were made, and to this day, many Iran-Contra documents are still under lock and key.
So it's quite instructive to see who comes forth to donate.
July 14, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can we please mention that the library is supposed to be built at Southern Methodist University. They did want the press that came with housing the library and think tank so let's give it to them.
July 14, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, if Osama bin Laden or Ayman al-Zawahiri made a large donation to the Bush Library, could they get a face to face with the pres? Maybe play some golf? Oh, I forgot, he gave that up out of respect for our war dead... except when he's raising money. It's all so confusing.
July 14, 2008 6:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
This takes me back to the $9 mil meeting Bush took with human rights outlaw Omar Bongo.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/152199.php
July 14, 2008 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just so that I have it straight. God forbid we are attacked again it won't be the fault of lobbyist proliferation of the DHS, but it will be the fault of Barack Obama and the Democratic leagership.
And where is the mainstream media on this? Apple TV can not come fast enough for me. I have completely had it with CBS and NBC and CNN. I don't watch ABC or Fox so I could really care less what they show. Memo to MSM: keep up the good work Brownies and you'll be as relevant as the music industry.
July 14, 2008 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh the mainstream media will be covering really important events, like Christy Brinkleys divorce.
July 14, 2008 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
lea-ger-ship [lee-ger-ship]-adjective
meager leadership -
see; Obama, B; Pelosi, N; Reid, H; and others
July 14, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
dofus [doo-fis]- n
a provider or validator of insipid commentary
see: McMia; Perino, D; Kristol, B;
July 14, 2008 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
This should be HUGE news, as should the retired Military working for the Gov working the networks, but given the cosy relationship between the MSM and the Republicans, this will be buried and never covered. This is absolutely damning.
July 14, 2008 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Politico is reporting Waxman is on the case. This might blow up afterall.
Waxman is one of the good guys...
July 14, 2008 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Give it a day or two to percolate to the top. According to HuffPo, it is starting to be noticed:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/amidst-possible-national_b_112769.html
July 15, 2008 1:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
what?
corruption and bribery?
in this administration?
who would have guessed?
July 15, 2008 3:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
You see, if you don't support us and the troops, well then you must be supporting the terrorists... who, by the way ARE supporting us. It's kinda like this big friendly circle, except for the killin'.
July 15, 2008 7:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
This whole Bush administration nightmare is really about the corruption of the media. None of this could happen without a complicit propaganda ministry to bury the corruption of the Republicans and to highlight the non stories and fake outrage stories about Dems. Even now Ron Fournier tells Rove to Keep fighting the good fight. Please.
July 15, 2008 8:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let's get a few things straight:
- governing the country is complicated and boring
- the MSM is in business to make money
- complicated and boring does not sell
There, that ought to do it.
BP
July 15, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
This story will have no legs. Remember? Jon Meacham (ed. of Newsweek) says the media has Bush-bashing fatigue.
July 16, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink