AP: One-third of President Bush's top 2000 fund-raisers or their spouses were appointed to positions in his first administration, from ambassadorships in Europe to seats on policy-setting boards, an Associated Press review found.

The perks for 246 "pioneers" who raised at least $100,000 also included overnight stays at the White House and Camp David, parties at the White House and Bush's Texas ranch, state dinners with world leaders and overseas travel with U.S. delegations to the Olympics and other events, the review found.

[...]

Three top Bush fund-raisers became Cabinet secretaries: Bush 2000 finance chairman Don Evans at Commerce, Elaine Chao at Labor and Tom Ridge at Homeland Security. At least eight took other high-profile administration jobs, such as State Department chief financial officer Christopher Burnham and Jose Fourquet, U.S. executive director of the Inter-American Development Bank.

During the term of the 42nd President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, members of the opposition party (Republicans) often complained of misuse of the White House to benefit donors. It was implied that stays in the Lincoln bedroom could be bought for campaign donations.

During the 2000 Presidential campaign between Albert Gore of Tennessee and George W. Bush of Connecticut, the latter accused the former of such activities. Evidently, Mr. Bush's complaints must have been that the former administration was not efficient enough in selling off influence because he proved that not only can a President offer his top donors stays at the White House, he can also allow them to shape federal policy at will.

Although graft as a term has become passé, President Bush proved that the concept isn't. Congratulations. [explanation courtesy of Basie!]