Bush library backs off on foreign contributions -- for now

Remember the flap over the weekend when the Sunday Times of London surfaced a video of a Houston lobbyists soliciting a six-figure contribution for the George W. Bush presidential library, with the suggestion the money would help gain access to the president and Vice President Dick Cheney?

It brought a red-faced promise from library officials that they would not accept foreign donations -- until the president leaves office.

But the Dallas Morning News followed up, and, as the paper put it, "the public will have to take them at their word."

It found that the foundation running the library, which is to be built at Southern Methodist University, is not pledging to identify all the donors, or the amounts they are giving. Or the dates of the gifts.

Citing federal law, Dan Bartlett, who was at Bush's side throughout the 2000 campaign and worked his way up to the crucial post of White House counselor, told the paper: "Current law only requires annual disclosure of the total sum raised."

-- James Gerstenzang

Photo credit: Brian Harkin / Getty Images

Fundraiser seeks big bucks to arrange contact with Bush and Cheney, paper reports

The generally unspoken foundation of political fundraising is access. But it is just that: Unspoken.

And when it is spoken, there is rarely a video.

Until now.

Take a look at Stephen Payne, a Republican fund-raiser and lobbyist who, according to the Sunday Times of London, suggested that for a contribution to President Bush's presidential library, contact with the president and with Vice President Dick Cheney could possibly be arranged.

The price? "Maybe a couple of hundred thousand dollars."

At the White House today, Press Secretary Dana Perino said there was "categorically no link" between official White House business and library fund-raising.

"We would not advocate ... such behavior," she said, and stated that Payne has never worked for the White House.

However, she said that Bush had "probably met him on a number of occasions."

-- James Gerstenzang