Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., received an award Wednesday night from the Washington Government Relations Group, an association of black lobbyists, and, speaking off the cuff, promised them that her door was wide-open.

"Sometimes I do not agree, but I hope you know that I want to be known for having an open door, that I welcome the opportunity for me to hear your side of the story -- what you are doing and what you are representing. And, I also welcome the opportunity for you to use me in whatever way you can," she said. Waters, who accepted her honor at a dinner at the French Embassy, said she was proud of those in the room, many of whom have a job that has been difficult over the years, she noted.

"I think the No. 1 way that you can be successful, no matter what, is what I alluded to earlier in giving you access and having companies know that you have access and that you can come in and talk with us no matter what has happened in the past," she said.

"No matter what they think they know about our positions, they don't know, you may be able to change us in our position, they don't know, if they do know, what you are able to represent is that you have access."