One-Third of Bush Fund-Raisers Got Appointments: competition among Bush's top 2004 fund-raisers will be tougher than in 2000

One-Third of Bush Fund-Raisers Got Appointments - Independent Media TV: "November 18, 2004 | By: Sharon Theimer | Associated Press

WASHINGTON - One-third of President Bush (news - web sites)'s top 2000 fund-raisers or their spouses were appointed to positions in his first administration, from ambassadorships in Europe to seats on policy-setting boards, an Associated Press review found.

The perks for 246 'pioneers' who raised at least $100,000 also included overnight stays at the White House and Camp David, parties at the White House and Bush's Texas ranch, state dinners with world leaders and overseas travel with U.S. delegations to the Olympics and other events, the review found.

Top fund-raisers say the real charm of the rewards was getting the chance to rub elbows with the president.
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Noble predicts competition among Bush's top 2004 fund-raisers for plum administration jobs will be tougher than in 2000, both because there are fewer positions open and because Bush now has twice as many $100,000-and-up fund-raisers as he did in his first campaign.

In the first Bush administration, pioneers' spouses also got into the action. About a half-dozen spouses were given spots on panels such as the board of advisers at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Museum Services Board.