GaryMrMets
05-15-2002, 02:12 PM
Is it appropriate for the GOP to use a picture of President Bush dealing with the Sept. 11 attacks to raise money for the party?
Yes
No
Not sure
~~~~~~~~~~
White House Defends Sept. 11 Photo Fund-Raiser
By SHARON THEIMER
.c The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (May 15) - After raising more than $26 million on the road for the GOP this year, President Bush returned home to help Republicans rake in a single-night record of $30 million at a black-tie gala.
Bush's appearance at the Republican National Committee event Tuesday night came as the White House fended off criticism about congressional Republicans' use of a Sept. 11 photo of the president to reward donors who responded to a fund-raising solicitation.
Bush posed for photographs with Republican National Committee donors at a reception and gave a half-hour speech at the dinner, touching on his work to cut taxes, improve the economy and education, and fight terrorism.
Bush sidestepped a question about the controversy before heading to the gala. He made no reference to it in his speech to RNC donors, but did note a promise he made when he came to Washington.
''A year ago, I said I would do my part to try to change the tone in Washington, D.C., to try to get rid of the needless name-calling that goes on here,'' Bush said. ''I believe, and I strongly believe, we've made great progress.''
His press secretary, Ari Fleischer, said the White House was consulted before the fund-raising solicitation and was not concerned about the use of photos showing ''the president doing his job for the American people.''
Bush's rival in 2000, former Democratic Vice President Al Gore, said the president should not condone such use of a Sept. 11 photo.
''While most pictures are worth a thousand words, a photo that seeks to capitalize on one of the most tragic moments in our nation's history is worth only one - disgraceful,'' said Gore, whose fund-raising was criticized by Bush during the campaign.
The photo, taken by a White House photographer, shows Bush calling Vice President Cheney aboard Air Force One just hours after the suicide hijackers struck New York and Washington.
It was promised in a fund-raising solicitation, first reported by The Associated Press, as part of a three-picture set for donors who gave at least $150 for a fund-raising dinner next month for GOP congressional candidates.
Republican donor James Williamson said he didn't think Republicans should use a Sept. 11 photo that way.
''I personally think it's wrong to take advantage of what happened on 9/11. I also think what the president has done after 9/11 has been 100 percent correct,'' said Williamson, managing director at Chesapeake Capital Group in Baltimore, who attended the RNC gala. ''But I think to use a tragedy, whether it be Oklahoma, whether it be Elian Gonzales or 9/11, as a fund-raiser, I think it's in bad taste.''
Sara Lilygren, also a Republican donor, said she wasn't offended by the GOP's use of the photo. Sept. 11 has meaning for people of both political parties, she said.
''If it means something to you, great, if it doesn't mean something to you, walk away from it or select something from behind Door Number One or Number Two,'' said Lilygren, an American Meat Institute lobbyist attending the RNC gala.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee and its House GOP fund-raising counterpart defended use of the photos.
''The photographs that were used by the Republicans are celebratory, they are historic, they are something we should be proud about, the courage put forth by this president,'' said Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who leads the Republican fund-raising effort for Senate candidates.
Bush has campaigned aggressively to raise money for GOP candidates, hoping to win back the Senate for Republicans and retain control of the House in the November elections, while laying the groundwork for his own re-election in 2004.
The $30 million he helped raise Tuesday night - surpassing the previous single-night record of $26.5 million set in 2000 by then-Democratic President Bill Clinton and Gore - comes on top of at least $26 million raised on the road for Republican candidates so far this election year.
Congressional Republicans hope the dinner he is to headline next month will bring in $20 million or more.
Cheney has also helped with GOP fund-raising. Bush noted in his speech to donors that while Cheney did not attend the RNC dinner, he did have lunch Tuesday with GOP contributors.
Other Bush administration officials scheduled to meet with donors Tuesday included Bush political adviser Karl Rove, Commerce Secretary Don Evans, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman and Education Secretary Rod Paige.
Bush told donors Tuesday night that he was dedicated to helping the GOP keep its House majority and regain Senate control this fall.
He also thanked grass-roots workers, whose efforts to help get out the vote will be crucial this fall and become even more important if a new law banning a type of contributions known as ''soft money'' that parties use for such activities takes effect after the fall election.
AP-NY-05-15-02 0419EDT
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Yes
No
Not sure
~~~~~~~~~~
White House Defends Sept. 11 Photo Fund-Raiser
By SHARON THEIMER
.c The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (May 15) - After raising more than $26 million on the road for the GOP this year, President Bush returned home to help Republicans rake in a single-night record of $30 million at a black-tie gala.
Bush's appearance at the Republican National Committee event Tuesday night came as the White House fended off criticism about congressional Republicans' use of a Sept. 11 photo of the president to reward donors who responded to a fund-raising solicitation.
Bush posed for photographs with Republican National Committee donors at a reception and gave a half-hour speech at the dinner, touching on his work to cut taxes, improve the economy and education, and fight terrorism.
Bush sidestepped a question about the controversy before heading to the gala. He made no reference to it in his speech to RNC donors, but did note a promise he made when he came to Washington.
''A year ago, I said I would do my part to try to change the tone in Washington, D.C., to try to get rid of the needless name-calling that goes on here,'' Bush said. ''I believe, and I strongly believe, we've made great progress.''
His press secretary, Ari Fleischer, said the White House was consulted before the fund-raising solicitation and was not concerned about the use of photos showing ''the president doing his job for the American people.''
Bush's rival in 2000, former Democratic Vice President Al Gore, said the president should not condone such use of a Sept. 11 photo.
''While most pictures are worth a thousand words, a photo that seeks to capitalize on one of the most tragic moments in our nation's history is worth only one - disgraceful,'' said Gore, whose fund-raising was criticized by Bush during the campaign.
The photo, taken by a White House photographer, shows Bush calling Vice President Cheney aboard Air Force One just hours after the suicide hijackers struck New York and Washington.
It was promised in a fund-raising solicitation, first reported by The Associated Press, as part of a three-picture set for donors who gave at least $150 for a fund-raising dinner next month for GOP congressional candidates.
Republican donor James Williamson said he didn't think Republicans should use a Sept. 11 photo that way.
''I personally think it's wrong to take advantage of what happened on 9/11. I also think what the president has done after 9/11 has been 100 percent correct,'' said Williamson, managing director at Chesapeake Capital Group in Baltimore, who attended the RNC gala. ''But I think to use a tragedy, whether it be Oklahoma, whether it be Elian Gonzales or 9/11, as a fund-raiser, I think it's in bad taste.''
Sara Lilygren, also a Republican donor, said she wasn't offended by the GOP's use of the photo. Sept. 11 has meaning for people of both political parties, she said.
''If it means something to you, great, if it doesn't mean something to you, walk away from it or select something from behind Door Number One or Number Two,'' said Lilygren, an American Meat Institute lobbyist attending the RNC gala.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee and its House GOP fund-raising counterpart defended use of the photos.
''The photographs that were used by the Republicans are celebratory, they are historic, they are something we should be proud about, the courage put forth by this president,'' said Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who leads the Republican fund-raising effort for Senate candidates.
Bush has campaigned aggressively to raise money for GOP candidates, hoping to win back the Senate for Republicans and retain control of the House in the November elections, while laying the groundwork for his own re-election in 2004.
The $30 million he helped raise Tuesday night - surpassing the previous single-night record of $26.5 million set in 2000 by then-Democratic President Bill Clinton and Gore - comes on top of at least $26 million raised on the road for Republican candidates so far this election year.
Congressional Republicans hope the dinner he is to headline next month will bring in $20 million or more.
Cheney has also helped with GOP fund-raising. Bush noted in his speech to donors that while Cheney did not attend the RNC dinner, he did have lunch Tuesday with GOP contributors.
Other Bush administration officials scheduled to meet with donors Tuesday included Bush political adviser Karl Rove, Commerce Secretary Don Evans, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman and Education Secretary Rod Paige.
Bush told donors Tuesday night that he was dedicated to helping the GOP keep its House majority and regain Senate control this fall.
He also thanked grass-roots workers, whose efforts to help get out the vote will be crucial this fall and become even more important if a new law banning a type of contributions known as ''soft money'' that parties use for such activities takes effect after the fall election.
AP-NY-05-15-02 0419EDT
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.