The headline and lead of this stupid story say it all:
Obama donors get access to top advisers
Aides to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) scheduled pricey luncheons, roundtables, readings, VIP receptions and policy dinners with campaign officials and advisers, offering donors a taste of his potential administration.
Mike Allen must think I was born yesterday, am completely insane, or that I must be astoundingly ignorant. Otherwise, why wouldn't I think for a second that Obama's handling of big-ticket donors isn't exactly like every other political candidate in the HISTORY OF OUR NATION??
Allen's words smack smugly and specifically of the "media bias" that whiners on both sides (mostly Republicans, of course) complain about almost constantly. The article is an opinion piece masquerading as front page news. Let's do a quick breakdown of Allen's language before moving on, shall we?
Rather than simply provide an informative range of prices, Allen uses the loaded word
pricey
Rather than simply use a term such as "access," "contact," or "communication," Allen decides to use the salacious
offering donors a taste
Yummy, right? Allen then goes on to provide a menu of venues and ticket prices for various levels of access to a whole slew of individuals who might end up with positions in an Obama administration.
The fact that Politico even decided to put this on its front page, thus ostensibly characterizing it as newsworthy, just underscores the fact that they are shilling for McCain. Aren't big-ticket donors typically afforded some level of enhanced access to candiates?
For example, maybe George W. Bush did this too?
Or maybe Bill Clinton?
Or Bob Dole?
Or... wait for it... oh yeah:
John McCain.