Considering the first lawsuits were filed yesterday over Halliburton's cooking the books, do you think Cheney wanted to check with this fellow about prison food....
"06/04/02
Sandy Theis
Plain Dealer Bureau Chief
Columbus
- While few would decline an invitation to dine with the president and first lady, Robert Kirkpatrick has no choice but to say no thanks. The dinner is June 19; he will be in prison until 2004.
The Stark County native received a fund-raising letter from Vice President Dick Cheney, asking him to "join the president and Mrs. Bush for a private dinner here in Washington, D.C." The May 8 invitation to the $2,500-per-plate dinner was addressed to Kirkpatrick in prison, complete with his inmate number - 408-905.
Cheney asked Kirkpatrick "to serve as a representative of St. Clairsville" - home to the Belmont Correctional Institution, where he is serving 35 months for drug possession and escape.
"A special place of honor has already been reserved for you to recognize your steadfast support of President Bush," the letter said.
Kirkpatrick says he has never given Bush a dime.
"I'm going to tell him that I'd be happy to attend, but he's going to have to pull some strings to get me there," Kirkpatrick said.
A White House spokesman referred questions to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, saying, "It's their event." The committee did not return calls seeking comment. |
