
Washington (CNN)-It's never too early to play hardball presidential politics. Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus penned a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking for an investigation of an "apparent crime" committed by President Barack Obama Monday.
According to Priebus, the crime was committed by the president, in the Map Room, with a video.
Priebus accused the president of recording a fundraising appeal in the Map Room of the White House. He said it is "not part of the White House residence, but rather 'occupied in the discharge of official duties,'" and called for the Department of Justice to investigate.
The Map Room is located on the ground floor of the White House.
"According to multiple individuals with knowledge of the White House's rooms and layout, the video appears to have been recorded in the Map Room...the White House Counsel has indicated that the video was filmed somewhere in the residential portion of the White House," Priebus said.
It is illegal to solicit contributions for a political purpose from any area of the White House "occupied in the discharge of official duties," or, used for purposes of official White House business.
But the Map Room is considered to be part of the White House residence, and has been for decades. The residence is not subject to restrictions placed on rooms used for official business.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz told CNN, "As we've said in the past, this was wholly appropriate and routinely done in past administrations."
"Many lawyers and experts have all said publicly that what this administration is doing is completely above board," Schultz fired back.
Despite the RNC's claims, both Republican and Democratic administrations have considered the Map Room as part of the White House residence.


Desperation reeks. Here's three words that will seal the deal for democrats in 2012: "Obama Got Osama". What would the republicans be saying if their guy had gotten him? It would be all that they talked about. Democrats, meanwhile, have no reason to gloat, and every reason to get to work. Unfortunately the republican party has sold out to big business, so they will be no help.
Just the 200th case of the GOP trying to make a big deal out of something they have done repeatedly before. Fires up their brain dead base, though, which is exactly their goal. Can't say how many times I have heard mis-informed people repeating obviously false claims against President Obama. It's just plain stupid and very unfortunate that this is their MO. We all suffer while they try to tear down the President and to some extent, the Presidency and the Country.
Just a little more to make America look stupid in the eyes of the world. This kind of crap doesn't stop at our borders – anyone in the world with an Internet connection can see the GOP humiliating the United States. Please just stop.
The GOP has become a crazy joke...What ever happened to the Grand Old Party....
I agree about this dudes name. What in the world? trying to get folks in trouble over stupid stuff. grown folks who can't reach an agreement and work together in-spite of their political party name. but they wanna tell the young folks how to act, and get along, and "work together". Where are the examples these days?
I do know this. Republicans are a bunch of quacks that got us in to the financial mess that were in now.
All you suckers who wasted your vote on Republicans last November thinking the party had changed. Same old dance. The GOP is completely bankrupt of ideas.
Rrreally...all right ya caught him.Boy..ol' Reince he sure is on the ball.He don't miss a trick!
Somebody PLEASE give this guy a wedgie...He sincerely needs it
Will anyone swat this little insignificant gnat?
There's a picture of the Obama family watching the soccer finals in the map room. Will Sasha, Malia, and the first lady be arrested for this?
With the help of the liberal media, Obama has been playing by a different set of rules for years.
So now I wonder if Reince Priebus will be fired as chair after his ignorant accusation. I would say he needs to be investigated but not on the American people's dime.
Let me just add that not all Republicans are as silly , or simple minded as the ones they voted for. Remember they were lied to alond with the Independents and Dems. that voted for the Republicans.
Jon
Can you say "cheap, desperate attempt at a distraction"?
July 19, 2011 05:11 pm at 5:11 pm |
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I totally agree.
Another Republican who doesn't know his history. When will they learn to check their facts before the open their mouths?
Are Republicans unable to behave like responsible adults for a single day?
What is wrong with them?
Yet another reason to the long list of why I generally dislike Republicans
I'm so fed up with these Republicans. Waste more tax payer's money! How stupid. Bush could do anything he wanted and not a peep out of them. They go after Obama every chance they get. Mad because he's a different color and he won. Spoiled sports.
And the show goes on! The Rebublicans are much more entertaining than anything else.
...and another thing: " Reince Priebus"...???!!!...hard to take anything seriously from a guy named "Reince Priebus"
Does the pettiness every end?Reince should be prosecuted for fraud ie pretending to represent the American people getting paid by the tax payer & not fulfilling his obligations to the taxpayer.
The next time this RNC idiot claims that Repubs are out to get Americans back to work, balance the budget, and prevent terrorism, we will know without a doubt that they are lying. Obama is trying to get these stupid Repubs to increase the debt ceiling to prevent a complete collapse, and this idiot Priebus is going on about video shot in the map room. Unfreaking believable.
For the love of God, can we focus on important stuff. Please.
Please tell us that this is joke!! Surely, Wisconsin could not have produced this silly man.
"... and furthermore, we don't think the map room has a legal birth certificate."