Originally posted by Suki:
Laura Bush said this morning in an interview on NBC that all funds for this coronation were "private" funds.
The majority of the Inauguration is paid for with private donations. It's one of the few times where there is no limit to how much a corporation can give a political figure. So yes, these folks are buying time with the elected officials, and it's been going on for years.
The District, on the other hand, is footing its own bill for voting 90% against the Second Term. It's kind of like a thank you, of sorts.