White House Press Secretary Jay Carney was pressed this afternoon about a New York Times story reporting that President Obama’s reorganized campaign operation – Organizing for Action (OFA) – was selling access to the White House for donations.
According to the Times, wealthy donors who give $500,000 or more get to join the group’s “national advisory board” which allows them to attend quarterly meetings with the president “along with other meetings at the White House.”
Carney asserted that OFA was an “independent organization” that just happened to support the president’s policy agenda, suggesting that the group was no different from any other advocacy organization.
As reporters continued to press Carney on the issue, he refused to address the New York Times reporting. He ended the press briefing as reporters were still asking questions and fled the podium.
