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CNN Live Today

Democrats on Attack Over Fund-Raising Photo

Aired May 15, 2002 - 10:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush last night helped the Republicans raise record amounts of cash at a black-tie gala in Washington. And while the event set a new high in fund-raising, Democrats are saying that the GOP also set a new low in poor taste at the same time.

The story on that now from CNN's John King.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A record fund-raising night for the Republican Party, a $30 million take, thanks, in large part, to a popular president..

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much for that warm welcome. The black tie gala makes this fund- raising appeal seem a lot more modest, a collection of presidential photos for those who give just $150 to the Republican congressional campaign committees.

But look more closely, this is the president aboard Air Force One, calling the vice president on September 11th, a day, the Democrats say, should have no place in politics.

Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe called using the September 11th photo for political gain "grotesque," and went on to say, "I call on the White House to cease and desist from any further political use of this photograph."

Former Vice President Al Gore also joined the debate. He called it "disgraceful" and said: "I cannot imagine that the families of those who lost their lives on September 11th condone this, and neither should the president of the United States."

SEN. TOM DASHLE (D-SD), MAJORITY I think that clearly there would be a very serious ethical violation, where White House photographers, or any government property, involved in this affair.

KING: This is an official White House photograph. It was released to the news media months ago. The White House says there is nothing wrong because the Republican fund-raising committees bought it from a commercial broker.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY.: The house was generally aware of the fact they wanted to use pictures for fund-raising purposes, and they -- no objections were raised.

KING: Aides say the president sees nothing wrong with using the September 11th photo in a fund-raising appeal.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: The White House press secretary says Democrats are raising a big stink because, in his words, they are having a difficult time coming to grips with the fact that the president is so popular. But the Democrats of course disagree, saying that in rush to raise money, the president and his party are showing both bad judgment and poor taste.

John King, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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