Presidential Pipeline: Bush's backers gain contracts, policy changes

[RamboLiberal]

2nd article in series by Toledo Blade.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05353/624618.stm

Long before George W. Bush began campaigning for the White House, his family built a fund-raising network of wealthy supporters to bankroll his political ambitions and propel him to the presidency.

The network -- including oilmen, lobbyists, developers, and agricultural executives -- became accustomed to the Bush family's style of government, with George W. Bush as governor of Texas and brother Jeb Bush as governor of Florida.

The political financiers made an investment in the Bush family, an investment that paid off.

By 2004, President Bush's re-election campaign had assembled 66 elite fund-raisers in Texas and 55 in Florida. Some of the supporters, known as Pioneers and Rangers for raising at least $100,000 or $200,000, respectively, say they collected contributions for Mr. Bush because he was a trusted friend with common political ideas.

Some, though, acknowledge that being a prolific fund-raiser translates into access for those who want to influence government decisions.

First article in series:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05352/624259.stm

Bush Legacy States - Texas and Florida - 5.22MB pdf

http://www.post-gazette.com/downloads/20051219Day2graphic.pdf

[jean]

1. This is an excellent series - I hope it is widely read