Funny, this made me wonder, too, when I got the email today:
The Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC), the group designated to raise money for President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration, announced today that it will select ten supporters (and their guests) to receive tickets to Obama’s swearing in Jan. 20. The catch: supporters have to donate $5.
I’m a little ambivalent about it, in that the practical result is 10 more people at the inauguration that probably wouldn’t have been, otherwise. But I’m uncomfortable with this walking up to the line of what is campaign and what is government.
Joel McDonald
The line really does seem a little blurred here. I questioned the asking for donations to fund the transition. Asking for donations to fund the inauguration seems to run along those lines. I’ll admit, however, that I’m tempted to throw in $5 for a slight chance at a ticket. It’s better than no chance at all, I suppose.
– Joel McDonald
Virginia Beach Progressives
MB
Sorry about the delay in approval, Joel. I’m not a fan of comment moderation, but the spamtide requires a rather short leash, these days.
Joel McDonald
No worries!
silence dogood
I’m disappointed that they didn’t actually ask the campaign for a comment on the process, but you actually don’t have to make a contribution to get into the raffle. There’s a link on the contribution page towards the bottom that lets you enter without donating.