Despite Call for Curbs, Clinton to Attend Lavish Fund-Raiser

President Clinton, citing his concern over a political system awash in big money, last month trumpeted a new voluntary ban on gifts from foreign nationals and contributions over $100,000 at the Democratic National Committee.

But Clinton’s attempt to lead by example is not deterring him from appearing at a lavish fund-raiser planned in New York next week for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a group that has said it has no plans to abide by the president’s call for voluntary restraints on raising money.

The White House says there is no contradiction between Clinton’s rhetoric calling for an end to large gifts and his action to help groups still soliciting these types of contributions. “We have adjusted voluntarily some of the requirements that we will place on fund-raising for the Democratic National Committee,” White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry said. “We would hope that the Senate and the House would make some changes too but we’re not going to dictate to them their policies.”

The DSCC and its counterpart in the House, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, say they will not impose voluntary restraints unless Republicans do the same. Democrats also note, correctly, that the GOP continues to outraise Democrats significantly.

And while Clinton hears daily criticism over allegations that DNC contributors got special White House access, the RNC is planning its own events to let donors and GOP leaders get together.