Pat Dollard

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Fox Politics
The Obama administration on Wednesday acknowledged that it allowed the Democratic Party to distribute tickets to White House events among supporters and contributors, but downplayed a report that said President Obama had “rewarded” donors with “VIP access.”

The Washington Times reported Wednesday that fundraisers who pledged to individually donate $30,400 or to bundle $300,000 in contributions toward the 2010 congressional elections were promised access to senior White House staff.

That access also covered VIP privileges ranging from a birthday visit to the Oval Office, to use of the White House bowling alley, to a golf outing with the president in Martha’s Vineyard.

In a written statement released Wednesday, spokesman Dan Pfeiffer acknowledged the White House gave the Democratic National Committee tickets to distribute.

“As part of an effort to open up events at the White House to thousands of Americans, we have at times provided tickets to events to the DNC, among many other organizations. Our understanding is that those tickets have in turn been distributed to grassroots supporters, contributors and elected officials,” he said.

But Pfeiffer emphasized that contributions did not “guarantee” a White House ticket. And he downplayed the allegations in The Washington Times story.

“Many of the people mentioned in this story have been friends and associates of the Obamas for decades — including college roommates and family friends whose relationships predate and are separate from the President’s career in public service,” he said. “Given that nearly 4 million Americans donated to the campaign, it’s no surprise that some who contributed have visited the White House as have grassroots organizers who didn’t contribute financial support and people who actively opposed the president’s candidacy.”

One White House aide called the article a “stretch,” telling Fox News that one example cited in the story — in which bundlers were invited to watch a movie in the White House theater — involved two of the president’s closest friends.

Former President Clinton stirred a similar controversy during the 1990s when he came under fire for letting donors stay in the Lincoln Bedroom.