Obama and Cameron took in a March Madness NCAA basketball game, eating hot dogs, was courted by John Legend at the end of the state dinner, but what I was interested in is the gift. It was a Engelbrecht’s 1000 Braten series grill priced $1,895 regularly, but which Pres. Obama made extra American, by having all the parts made in the U.S.A. The menu was extraordinary, according to reports:
The Main Course, Bison Wellington, is a perfect pairing of U.S. and U.K. cultures. The Wellington is a classic English dish given an American twist with the use of buffalo tenderloin.
“The dessert is Steamed Lemon Pudding, a nod to the traditional British treat. The pudding is prepared with Idaho Huckleberry Sauce to unite the British and American flavors.
Who was at the state dinner besides George Clooney and lead actor from Pres. Obama’s favorite show, and one of mine, Showtime’s “Homeland” Damain Lewis?
Of 364 expected guests, 41 were reportedly campaign bundlers.
They include Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, media mogul Fred Eychaner, Pfizer executive Sally Susman, Stoneyfield Farms president and CEO Gary Hirschberg, and Microsoft executives Suzi Levine and John Frank. Several have each raised more than half a million dollars for 2012, according to estimates provided by Obama’s campaign.
… The group attending the dinner tonight is responsible for at least $10.7 million of the roughly $250 million Obama and Democrats have amassed for the election cycle so far.
Alert the media! Money gives you access to fine chow! But as Bill Maher found out, it doesn’t by it if you cause the President problems.
Partial remarks from Pres. Obama yesterday:
We stand together and we work together and we bleed together and we build together, in good times and in bad, because when we do, our nations are more secure, our people are more prosperous, and the world is a safer and better and more just place. Our alliance is essential — it is indispensable — to the security and prosperity that we seek not only for our own citizens, but for people around the world.
Prime Minister Cameron’s remarks:
The partnership between our countries, between our peoples, is the most powerful partnership for progress that the world has ever seen. That is why whenever an American President and a British Prime Minister get together, there is a serious and important agenda to work through. And today is no different. Afghanistan, Iran, the Arab Spring, the need for trade, for growth, for jobs in the world economy, the biggest issues in the world — that is our agenda today.
I don’t understand the big coverage about Obama state dinner…How is it any different from previous presidential state dinners? I notice a tendency in the press to hype up anything the Obamas buy, spend or invite over into their inner circle. Where was this scrutiny when Bush was in office for eight years…the obsession with small to insignificant details about the Obama family from the media is disturbing. If he was not the first minority president would people even care?
This is the game that is played between the two parties. Probably a better comparison instead of the Bushes, would be Nancy (the Queen) Reagan. She received plenty criticism for her “lavish lifestyle” during a recession. The criticism is always there. Whether is golfing. Obama wasn’t the only one criticized for that. Or even gas prices. It is just political tit for tat.
Then it should be no surprise that the Obamas are criticized for it as well!
I don’t think that’s correct at all. Bush, Clinton, they all do state dinners & all receive ample press coverage.
I actually agree with Marie205 here. Although all administrations have had many state dinners, the Obamas garner much more press than I have seen in the past. I rarely watch MSNBC and others any more as a result… a bit nauseating. Also, although the economy may be improving a bit, I still think it sends a bad message to be hob nobbing with movie stars at state dinners in this environment.
“I don’t think that’s correct at all. Bush, Clinton, they all do state dinners & all receive ample press coverage.”
Always happy to correct misinformation……no thanks required.
Bush held few state dinners as president, preferring workman-like visits with foreign leaders over eating meals in a tuxedo. He also was sensitive to concerns in the U.S. about human rights in China and was reluctant to be seen as going all out for Hu with a state dinner.
http://bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20110117obama_to_honor_chinas_president_with_state_dinner
My god! are you kidding? All you have to do is google Bushes state dinners to see the fancy dinners he threw.