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Bush Hands Out Campaign Perks

Ever wonder what's in it for the ultra-rich who raise oodles of cash for presidential campaigns? In President Bush's case, 1/3 of his top fundraisers, meaning those that raised over $100,000 have been appointed to prestigious positions.

One-third of President Bush's top 2000 fund-raisers or their spouses were appointed to positions in his first administration, from ambassadorships in Europe to seats on policy-setting boards, an Associated Press review found.

The perks for 246 "pioneers" who raised at least $100,000 also included overnight stays at the White House and Camp David, parties at the White House and Bush's Texas ranch, state dinners with world leaders and overseas travel with U.S. delegations to the Olympics and other events, the review found.

Here's some numbers:

  • At least two dozen of the 2000 pioneers or their spouses became ambassadors, mostly to Europe.
  • At least 57 contributors or their spouses were named to agency positions, advisory or decision-making committees and boards or to U.S. delegations.

Here's some of their names:

  • Howard Leach, Investment Banker
  • Lobbyist Peter Terpeluk
  • James Langdon, a Washington lawyer
  • Hersh Kozlov, New Jersey Lawyer

A few got cabinet level posts: Don Evans at Commerce, Elaine Chao at Labor and Tom Ridge. Some got Administration jobs: State Department chief financial officer Christopher Burnham and Jose Fourquet, U.S. executive director of the Inter-American Development Bank.

The Democrats do it too. So, had Kerry been elected, would we be saying hello to Labor Secretary Atrios and Ambassador Daily Kos? After all, they raised more than $100,000. for Kerry and other Democrats.

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