House Oversight Committee says Bush White House used government resources to aid election of allies
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform states in a newly issued report: This report examines the operations of the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Bush Administration. It finds that the White House used the political affairs office to orchestrate an aggressive strategy to use taxpayer-funded trips to help elect Republican candidates for public office. From January 1, 2006, until the mid-term elections on November 7, 2006, cabinet secretaries and other senior officials traveled to over 300 events recommended by the political affairs office. All of these events were held with Republican candidates, and in most cases, the travel costs were paid for with federal funds.
President Bush’s first director of the political affairs office was Ken Mehlman. In an interview with the Committee, he stated that “a big part” of his job was to “help elect allies of the President.” He also said it was his view that “one legally could have, in the Office of Political Affairs, focused entirely on simply promoting … the President’s allies.” He told the Committee that he consulted closely about “nearly all aspects of what I was doing” with the Office of White House Counsel under Alberto Gonzales.
The view that White House officials could legally promote the election of Republican congressional candidates led to an extensive effort prior to the 2006 elections. From January 1 to November 7, 2006, Bush Administration officials participated in 326 events with Republican candidates suggested by the political affairs office, more than one per day. Cabinet officials and agency heads personally attended 306 of these events. Of these 326 events, 303 required travel outside of Washington, D.C. Thirty-two officials from 12 cabinet agencies and three independent offices journeyed to 35 states to make appearances with 99 Republicans running for election in 2006. Even offices with statutory provisions prohibiting political activity, like the Office of National Drug Control Policy, were enlisted in the election effort. -- The Activities of the White House Office of Political Affairs