This morning’s LA Times: 17 top fundraisers for Bush also lobby the White House on behalf of foreign countries, many of them (like, say, Myanmar) hardly having interests matching our own:

Consider Thomas G. Loeffler, a former congressman from Texas. He was the top moneyman for Bush’s 1994 gubernatorial campaign in Texas, and aggressively collected money for Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign. This year, he raised more than $200,000 for the reelection effort.

When Saudi Arabia contacted his lobbying firm, seeking some face time with Bush officials about trade and the war on terrorism, Loeffler obliged. In July 2003, he introduced the Saudi minister of commerce and industry to U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans, a fellow Texan who led the Bush fundraising team in 2000.

Later that month, Loeffler arranged a private meeting between Adel Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy advisor in Washington, and Karl Rove, Bush’s chief political advisor, "to discuss Saudi trade matters" and "the kingdom’s reform efforts and war against terrorism," records state.

And yet in the same article, there’s this, said with a straight face:

"There is no preferential treatment given to anyone. Every American has access to the administration," said Steve Schmidt, deputy communications director.

We do?  That’s great.  Think I’ll sit down with Karl this afternoon.  That’s just swell.