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July 13, 2011
House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa Investigates White House Political Activities
Issa has sent a letter to the president's top lawyer requesting a slew of documents. | AP Photo
Darrell Issa questions White House's 2012 actions
House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa is probing what he sees as signs of an unseemly overlap between President Barack Obama’s official and political activities.
In what could be considered the committee’s sharpest probe to date of the White House, Issa sent a letter to Obama’s top lawyer Monday evening asking for a slew of documents relating to what the California Republican termed as “an array of potentially illegal fundraising behavior.”
Issa singled out a White House meeting in March between Obama, Democratic National Committee officials and members of the business community — who were all Obama donors. The meeting was organized by the DNC.
He’s also calling into question the Obama administration’s decision to provide access to administration officials – possibly including the White House chef – to large donors.
And Issa is taking issue with a campaign video that he says appears to have been shot in the White House, advertising a raffle to have dinner with Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden in return for contributions.
It’s just the latest front in the widening battle between Republicans and Obama as the president runs for reelection. The new House GOP majority is already trying to dismantle Obama’s health care law, hauling in administration officials to testify in oversight hearings. They’re probing his overhaul of the financial regulatory structure and trying to force his aides to testify on Capitol Hill. But Issa, who has subpoena power, is upping the ante by asking that the White House cough up internal documents relating to how the president is running his reelection effort, and whether the White House is being used.
“We have an obligation to inquire into the activities of the now closed White House political office because these activities – some of them are continuing but they’re continuing less formally,” Issa said in a brief interview with POLITICO Monday evening. “It’s an ordinary oversight letter. In other words, we’re not saying, ‘You did terrible things.’ We’re saying, ‘We have indication of this, please explain,’ and that’s what the letter intends to do.”
“Notwithstanding the stated official purpose of this event, this meeting was not included on President Obama’s public schedule, calling into question its official nature,” Issa writes. “Individuals in attendance have essentially affirmed that the underlying – if not overtly stated – purpose of the event was to solidify financial support for the upcoming campaign.”
Issa’s letter also says that the administration appears to be trying to provide “access…in exchange for campaign contributions” by auctioning off a dinner with Obama and Biden and allowing senior administration officials to interact with donors.
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Wild Thing's comment........
BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!
Issa not sitting around Good job, Darrell ! Issa has been hard at work for quite a while.
They must hate him over at the WH, he’s like a dog with a bone, beginning to really like this guy if he keeps this up.
With thug in chief's connections in Chicago, Issa is a brave man. God keep him safe.
Posted by Wild Thing at July 13, 2011 03:50 AM
Comments
Don't mess with Issa.
A ten year Army Captain tank platoon leader, Darrell Issa came to congress already a self made man (the wealthiest of all in congress).
He has a long and very successful career in the results oriented private sector, and in his current position within government can see well through the shallow menagerie of these public sector glibs within the White House.
His oversight committee work in congress will be making headlines next year.
Posted by: Carlos at July 13, 2011 07:59 PM
Carlos, thank you for the added information about Issa. I like him and have a lot of respect for him.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 14, 2011 01:34 AM
