Auction Offering Coffee With Ivanka Trump Is Canceled

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN/NY Times

WASHINGTON — An auction offering a 45-minute private meeting with Ivanka Trump in exchange for a charitable donation was abruptly canceled Friday after questions were raised about the process by ethics experts, who said it appeared to offer bidders special access to the next first family.

The auction had been running for 10 days, drawing 28 bids, the highest of which reached $72,888. The bidders included at least three businessmen who said in interviews that they saw their donation as an opportunity to press Ms. Trump for information about her father’s plans as president or to try to urge Mr. Trump to take up an issue important to them.

All information on the amounts and names of the bidders disappeared from the internet with no notice on Friday afternoon. The winning bidder would have been an organization called Go Hydrogen, although no information could be found about this entity.

The Trump Organization said in a statement that the Trump family had waited to decide what to do about the auction until “our team was aligned on steps moving forward.” The money raised was set to go to the Eric Trump Foundation, run by Ms. Trump’s younger brother, to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee.



Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/auction-offering-coffee-with-ivanka-trump-is-canceled/ar-AAlF7Sc?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=UE01DHP

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An auction where access to the President is specifically being offered as a perk, and several bidders planned on using this access to discuss Trump's plans as President?

The Republicans threaten impeach based on a lot of innuendo about the Clinton Foundation, which actually does use money for charitable purposes, rather than as a slush fund. Yet, when it comes to their President, its all good if direct access is put on the auction block. The hypocrisy is amazing. As for the "charitable contribution"? Perhaps Trump has a lawsuit that needs to be settled or a portrait to buy.

[DeminPennswoods]

1. When things are exposed, Trump backs off

This is a good lesson in how to deal with Trump, Inc. They don't like bad publicity so when their graft, excess, stupidity, etc is exposed, reported and generally frowned upon, they back off.

[Skittles]

2. crooked Ivanka

these people are shameless and disgusting

[msongs]

3. the old grab em by the whatsit gambit? nt

[ismnotwasm]

4. In light of circumstances

It was fairly tacky as these things go anyway. The Trump family may have discussed how they will be scrutinized and judged, but living through is an entire other matter. She dodged this one. Given the apparent nature of the family she probably will walk right into the next one.

[leftofcool]

8. For someone who is supposed to be smart she is really stupid.

[romanic]

5. What would one discuss with Ivanka?

"Oh...I love your Jimmy Choo knockoffs! They're so cheap and disposable!" :/

[leftofcool]

7. Her 10 thousand dollar gold bracelet?

[brush]

6. Guess they finally realized seeming to pimp Ivanka is not a good look.

[C Moon]

9. Once again, if a Democratic candidate had done this he or she would be raked throught the coals

by the tv, by the radio, by newspaper, by congress, by senate—etc, etc.
Rich Republicans do it.
...crickets

[JohnnyRingo]

10. Do these people think anything through?

It seems the whole family just comes up with a self centered idea and runs with it without checking with anyone. This is something that would work in a business organization to raise money, but not the White House.

The administration will never be able to take the training wheels off.

[zippythepinhead]

11. this is exactly what they accused hillary of

with the clinton foundation.

I can't wait until trump is in office. His hubris will destroy himself.

Trump will make atlas shrug.

[Hortensis]

13. Hmmm... I challenge you to come up with even one trumpster

who could see that, much less acknowledge it. The worse he is, the more they will dig in--until the strain is finally too much for them, and then they'll come up with a new version of nonreality. Very possibly that he was always really a Democrat snuck in on them.

[zippythepinhead]

14. Just wait until Ivanka parks her taco truck

in front of the whitehouse.

[Hortensis]

15. Naah. Taco trucks aren't just not white enough, they're

not even mildly tacky, much less intensely, nor are they rip-offs--and they make in America.

I think we can expect her to continue using White House coverage as QVC-alternative exposure for her products.

[zippythepinhead]

21. Maybe she can sell douche bags

from a truck.

[Thor_MN]

12. They are trying to monetize the Presidency.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them take over the food vending in every federal build with overpriced Trump branded crap.

[keithbvadu2]

16. Wasn't there a term? Pay to play?

[Madam45for2923]

17. These people are quite trashy.

[left-of-center2012]

18. Offering his daughter to the highest bidder

Isn't that prostitution?

[Initech]

19. Another Trump fail!

[hamsterjill]

20. Well, why else would seasoned business execs want to meet with her?

If not to have access to her father? It's not like she (herself) has any real business acumen that is some how more special than many others.

Sheesh!

[YOHABLO]

22. With Trump everything is for sale for the right price.