Keep a close eye on how your own party s fundraisers peddle access to you and your White House. Clinton either failed to keep a watchful eye or quietly approved of the practices. After the ethical excesses of his predecessor, Bush can ill afford to have his party s leaders auctioning his administration off to the highest donors. His enemies can t do it. His friends may try.
Influence peddling is an old game with relentless players.
It is never enough for a president to claim ignorance of such practices. Even the appearance of impropriety undermines a leader s credibility and effectiveness, especially in the wake of Clinton s scandals. Now the buck stops with Bush. Before his supporters can embarrass him further, he must put them on notice that his administration is not for sale.