Graves Says Ending White House Tours Is ‘Shameless Political Stunt’
U.S. Rep. Tom Graves says ending White House tours is a shameless political stunt and asks will the White House also slam its doors on Hollywood, the liberal elite?
U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14), member of the House Appropriations Committee and serving part of Paulding County, issued the following statement on President Obama’s decision to cancel all White House tours, which are self-guided, starting March 9:
“Rather than do his job and agree to take responsible measures to get our government’s finances in order, President Obama continues playing on the emotions and fears of the American people. Canceling all self-guided White House tours is the latest shameless political stunt by the president, who is twisting basic government efficiency into an extreme consequence.
“As the White House doors are slammed in the face of the average American, I want to know if they will still swing wide open for Hollywood and the liberal elite. Will Jay-Z and Beyoncé still get to stop by for a tour, or will they be denied like those who aren’t rich and famous? Will someone who donates half a million dollars to Organizing for Action get a tour, or will they be denied just like someone from Summerville, Georgia, who might drive ten hours for a self-guided tour? The American people deserve to know if this also spells the end for wild, 2:00am parties at the White House with celebrities like Katy Perry and Swizz Beatz.
“The facts are these: Secretary Napolitano said the Secret Service will not be impacted by the sequester. Non-defense discretionary spending by the Executive Branch has increased nearly 17 percent since 2008. Meanwhile, our budgets in the U.S. House have been cut by 11 percent over the last two years and cut another 8.2 percent by the sequester. I’m pleased to report that my staff will remain intact, and yes, we will still be happy to provide a tour of the Capitol and a coke for any constituent.”
Mike Rasbury
2:07 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
Stopping White House tours particularly affects lawmakers because constituents go through their members to arrange them and it’s up to congressional offices, not the White House, to call constituents to inform them of the cancellation.
“Basically it creates a constituent relations nightmare,” said one House staffer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity and is not authorized to speak with the press.
“It’s incumbent on the members’ offices, not the White House, to call them and tell them one by one,” the aide added. “It’s probably like if you’re a high-end car dealer and you have a recall on your cars and you have to call all these people who paid 80 grand for their sports car and tell them there’s a fatal flaw.”
Congressional offices made similar calls last year, when an expiring continuing resolution had the White House threatening to stop tours, although it did not act on that threat at the time.
Come Saturday, staffers answering telephones around Capitol Hill will be fielding calls from frustrated constituents who endured lengthy background checks, booked tickets months in advance and, in some cases, planned their visit to Washington, D.C., solely around a trip to the White House.
That had some members wondering whether President Barack Obama’s administration was playing hardball with the tour cancellation.