Tonight’s fundraiser with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick at the St. Regis hotel in Washington DC will be closed to the press.
“Why is tonight’s fundraiser closed press?”asked a reporter during the Press Gaggle aboard Air Force One.
“Because, as you know, when the President doesn’t give an address, we don’t have the pool in.” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney replied.
This is the second small fundraiser held in Washington D.C. this month closed to the press. On December 7th, President Obama held a fundraiser at the Jefferson hotel that was closed to the press. About 20 people attended, and tickets cost $35,800 a person.
During that fundraiser ABC reporter Matt Negrin was ordered to leave the hotel by a campaign staffer for mingling with donors after the event.
According to a guest present, Negrin reported, Obama spoke personally with each attendee, but other guests weren’t as chatty. “We’re not supposed to talk to you,” said one male donor to Negrin. Another ran his finger over his lips as if zipping them shut and said, “No comment.”
