POSTED: 7:40 am EDT August 25, 2006 WASHINGTON -- Talk about political gridlock.
Secret Service officials confirm to The Washington Post they tried to get the Virginia Department of Transportation to close down the carpool lanes on a highway leading out of Washington Wednesday so President George W. Bush could easily get to and from a fundraiser for Republican Sen. George Allen.
State experts who monitor traffic predicted a commuting nightmare, because they would have had to close down the lanes for much of the day for logistical reasons, so they denied the request.
Vehicles using Virginia's high occupancy vehicle lanes must have three or more riders from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Some hybrid vehicles and motorcycles are exempt.
The president traveled to the fundraiser by helicopter.
Allen has been under fire for a racist remark he made. He was caught on tape calling an American-born college student of Indian descent a "macaca," and saying, "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."
The White House said the president had no qualms about Wednesday night's fundraiser. However, a Democratic campaign spokesman said attending made it look like Bush was rewarding Allen's behavior.