Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
How Much Does A White House Visit Cost? $100K Doesn't Hurt
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Apr 15, 2012
Modified Apr 15, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Pete Souza / White House Flickr
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Apr 15, 2012
Modified Apr 15, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Obama campaign likes to tout that much of their war chest comes from small donors, people who give less than $250. But $250 only wins you the chance to win an awkward dinner with the president, and the joy of cleaning out your inbox every few hours. Want a roughly 75% of meeting the man in the White House? That'll be $100,000. No word on how much it'd cost to share a cigarette with the president.
The Times' story shows that despite the president's promise to refuse money from lobbyists, they still get to meet with him as guests of big-money donors. 20% of those who gave $30,000 or less visited the White House, while 75% of those who gave $100,000 or more did. In other words, the sky is blue, and brunch is annoying, loud, and crowded.
“Being a supporter of the president does not secure you a visit to the White House, nor does it preclude you from one," White House spokesman Eric Schultz says. "The people selected for this article are contributors to the president, but this article excludes the thousands of people who visit the White House every week for meetings and events who did not contribute to the president, many of whom may not have even supported the president.”
While Obama blushes at the thought of taking money directly from special interests, Mitt "Satruday Night" Romney has received $2,903,078 from 22 registered lobbyists. You can see a list of Obama's bundlers here.
Tagged
2012 election
campaign finance
Democrats
mitt romney
president obama
republicans
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .