Republicans are laying into the White House this week amidst a Washington Times story that alleges “high-dollar fundraisers” have and are being promised “access” to senior officials or receiving special White House visits if they donate the maximum allowed $30,400 or bundle $300,000 in advance of the 2010 midterm elections.

Their source is described as “internal Democratic National Committee documents.”

The RNC then sent out an email to reporters with the headline “Welcome to Resort Obama,” according to the Washington Post.

Chairman Michael Steele’s message detailed how Bill Clinton used the White House as “a hotel and coffee shop” and that President Obama’s White House is open for the highest Democrat bidder.

The White House has since rebuffed these claims, explaining that all visitor records (except for certain security meetings) will be released in full detail in December as originally planned.

In a briefing Press Secretary Robert Gibbs described some of these visitors as friends of the President. “There are people that gave money that the president has been personal friends with since they went to school. I don’t think it makes a lot of sense to preclude somebody like that from coming here simply because they gave money.”

Obviously, this is a serious allegation in light of the Obama administration’s promise of transparency. We’ll have to wait for this one to play out. I like how the Republicans fail to mention George Bush’s awarding Camp David visits to his top donors.

This story shouldn’t surprise anyone. The political donor rules haven’t changed in years, illegal or not. I don’t think the Washington Times would go out on a limb on this one, but we’ll have to wait and see what a probe into the matter will bring out before condemning an administration a year into office.

In other news of a satirically civil nature, Conservative Green Bay talk show host Jerry Bader has been suspended for two weeks following his accusation that Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton was dropping out of the 2010 governor race because of an affair.

Speaking to the press, Lawton explained her decision to drop out was “deeply personal” and that she is “outraged” that “somebody who has served the state with distinction and dignity has to suffer that kind of slur and my family that has suffered attacks every time I ran would have to suffer this. I will be celebrating in two weeks my 36th wedding anniversary. We have two children and four grandchildren, and this is an outrageous lie.”

Following his suspension, Bader informed that he no longer trusted his “sources.”

This can be chalked up to validating your journalistic sources before running with a story that serious on-air. In this day and age, if you’re going to even suggest that a political official, female or male, is having an extramarital affair, it could be damning for their short-term political careers.

In college-related civility, Chicago’s Mother’s Bar will apologize to six black students from Washington University who alleged they were discriminated against after being turned away from the bar.

In a story from the Associated Press, the students claim they were told their baggy pants were in violation of the bar’s dress code, but saw a white student with baggy pants accepted in.

As part of a resolution that doesn’t involve a lawsuit, Mother’s has agreed to apologize and take part in a Chicago anti-discrimination rally as well as four fundraisers for a worthy cause. In addition, their managers will be provided sensitivity training.

While they haven’t admitted they did anything wrong, it’s great to see this issue resolved with an air of civility. Discrimination occurs every day, and anything that brings the issue to light without violence or legal action should be considered a success.

This was well-handled by a group of students who certainly could have chosen to respond differently. Look here to see Washington University’s own Chloe Rosenberg over the story for Student Life, WU’s independent student newspaper.

There was plenty of civility going around this week. What are your thoughts on these stories? Let us know!