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When you read articles like this it should give some creditability to my statements that say our elected officials are royal rulers and not the public servants they claim to be.
DNC nixes salesman's plan to pay $32K to lobby Obama USA Today Mon Jun 3, 2013 9:04 PM LOS ANGELES -- The Democratic National Committee is rejecting the contribution of a California car salesman and electric car advocate who was forking over $32,400 out of his retirement savings to attend a private fundraiser Friday on the promise that he would get at least two minutes to lobby President Obama. In rejecting his bid to attend the luncheon, the DNC expressed reservations about the media attention that has gone to Paul Scott, a self-described $50,000-a-year Nissan car salesman in Los Angeles, and the notion of paying for access. Scott's intentions were reported last Friday night by USA TODAY. Scott said he wanted to give the president some advice about better ways to advance the electric-car movement. Scott, 60, says he felt so strongly about the issue that he was going to dip into his savings so he could make the pitch face-to-face. In a letter dated Saturday, DNC National Finance Director Jordan Kaplan says Obama shares a devotion to clean energy and promotion of electric cars, but that the committee had concerns. Contributors, says the letter obtained by USA TODAY, are supporting the president and Democratic candidates, not using off-the-record events "as a way to gain access." The letter noted "the media attention your contribution has garnered." Scott says he received word of his rejection Monday and "my heart sank." He says he had heard over the weekend that he might be viewed by the DNC "as a liability" and that he should hang low and forego further media interviews. "I hoped I didn't blow it," he says. "I really wanted to meet the president." Scott, a co-founder of the advocacy group Plug In America, says he is not rich like many of top-tier donors. He said he responded specifically to a DNC email that promised that a select group of 25 who paid the highest of three levels -- $10,000, $16,200 and $32,400 -- would be able to meet Obama at the Santa Monica, Calif., luncheon, have their photo snapped with the president about be able to engage in a private discussion. He says a DNC official assured him he would get to speak to Obama for at least two minutes, probably no more than four, in connection with the session. "I really wanted to do this thing," says Scott. "It was going to be so exciting, totally worth the money, and more importantly, I was going to get my message out there." Now, he says, the kerfuffle over the contribution can allow him to get out word via media interviews. "Irregardless" of meeting Obama, "I get the message out." |