Wives club asks $50,000 for lunch with first lady

[Rose Siding]

The latest fundraising pitch of the Congressional Club, a venerable organization of lawmakers’ spouses, asks donors for $50,000 apiece in exchange for lunch, a reception with first lady Laura Bush and a private reception with members of Congress and their spouses.

The blunt language of the fundraising letter and the fact that the sum sought is double what it was in previous years are drawing criticism that suggests the fallout from the scandal surrounding Jack Abramoff and former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.) is tainting even the quaintest and most bipartisan of Washington social organizations.

The 97-year-old, congressionally chartered organization points potential corporate sponsors explicitly to the link between money and access at the First Lady’s Luncheon in April.
.....
Moreover, sources concerned about the letter’s tone also noted that only a small portion of the money raised actually goes to charity.

The bipartisan Congressional Club falls under Section 501(c)(7) of the tax code; the IRS defines such groups as social clubs organized for “pleasure and recreation.”

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/013106/news2.html

[HockeyMom]

1. You couldn't pay ME

$50,000 to have lunch with the STEPFORD WIFE.

[Crazy Dave]

2. I hope it's an all you can eat deal

Damn....you could get 50,000 Wendy's value menu cheeseburgers to feed the homeless with one ticket.

[CornField]

3. We need somebody to put some rat poisoning in their creme brulee

That's just a joke, for you Freepers in the audience.