Posted on 07/30/2009 2:00:33 PM PDT by Nachum
Four of the most powerful business leaders in America arrived at the White House one day last month for lunch with President Barack Obama, sitting down in his private dining room just steps from the Oval Office.
But even for powerful CEOs, there’s no such thing as a free lunch: White House staffers collected credit card numbers for each executive, and carefully billed them for the cost of the meal with the president.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
The list, ping
Isn’t it normal for the WH to pay if offering an invite to the WH?
This is endemic of their opinion of business.
I don’t believe it.
The cop visiting the White House tonight can probably expect to pay $5 a bottle for his Blue Moon...
In most civilized areas of the world, the host provides hospitality for his guests. But I guess Obama doesn’t have that kind of class.
Wow, How Symbolic!!!!
How much does he charge the entertainers who play every Wednesday?
What does Grandmama pay?
Obama needs to money to pay for his parties in the WH every week and $100 beef.
Me, neither, this would be insane. Any confirmation on the story?
I bet they had a tip for him.
“I’m calling this charge a campaign donation”.
Summon me, tell me how to run my business, then charge me for lunch?
What a bun swab.
Does this mean Gates will have to pay for his brewskie?
By the way, you’re not fooling anyone, White House, making them pay for lunch while you give away trillions for free.
If they had given to his campaign, they’d be taken care of.
I would’ve left if someone invited me to lunch and then expected me to pay for it: Whether it’s McDonalds, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse or the Executive Mansion. What a low-class loser we have occupying our White House.
Oh, and how much are we paying to rent the Martha's Vineyard estate for all the Obama entourage?
Charging your invited guests for a meal does prove he’s not a muslim.
Not a courteous one, anyway.
What a load of hooey. It is more likely to be a conflict of interest if a business person picks up the lunch of an elected official, not the other way around. This is just Obama grandstanding showing how tough he is on all the mean, greedy CEO types.
So did he tell Skip Gates and Officer Crowley to BYOB?
This stinks in sooo many ways. It kept everything hush hush because it didn’t show up on the WH budget expenditures. It also I think allows O to pocket whatever money isn’t spent for ‘other things’ ( date night in NY?). It is sooo sleazy and they try and say it is part of the most ethical government eveh .....bleeech I hate these guys a lot
This is written by Eamon Javers....an Obama BATHWATER DRINKER.....so not buying it.....even Bammy isn’t this classless.
Michelle can make soup out of those leftovers. Throw in a little leaded arugula from the garden.
I think the other poster meant -—lordy that’s rotten I just can’t believe it
almost want hillary at this point
I believe it. It keeps everything off the books which is his real effort. That’s so when he threatens them he can deny it
Wonder if BO will charge Union and Acorn heads when they lunch at the W.H.? They can use some of the stimulus money.
That would be like me inviting someone to my home and then asking them to contribute for the adult beverages and steaks.
Besides, he was not that concerned about taking his fat-assed wife to see a Broadway play on our nickel.
Moreover, I'm sure these executives over the years have contributed enough in taxes to probably cover the millions the White House annual budget
Conflict of interest?
ROFLMAO!!!
The most corrupt impostor of a President ever has the gall to bring up this red herring?
As are all far left moonbats, this is all about symbolism over substance
What a phony, SOB!!!
Sorry, my outrage meter is busted from overuse - You’re gonna have to settle for heightened amusement...;’}
LOL!!
Hey Gates and Crowley- cash bar and bring a munchy to share
That’s nuts! If you’re invited to the White House, you shouldn’t pay for your lunch or dinner... what a jerk! LOL...
Stupid, stupid and more stupid...
If you’re an American business leader you have to pay for the privilege of being in the presence of the Zeros.
Bet he wouldn’t be asking Ayers, Wright or anyone from ACORN to pay - no conflict of interest there....no...../s
When does the revolution start?
And so it begins...LunchGate.
yeah or even McLame
Hope he didn’t drive there himself, they’ll breathalyze him. “Oh look, I found this baggie in your car...”
Well can the American taxpayers get our money back for the $350,000 date night in New York? or the $100.00 an ounce steaks and Michelle’s lobster dinners?
How about the Tuesday night cocktail parties with the media and elites and the expensive flown in entertainment?
What a joke of a president we have.
Read the story.
“The White House defended the unusual move as a way to avoid conflicts of interest.”
They were contacted by the author or a source checker and if they defended it, it occurred. They did, it did happen.
It woudl be idiotic to run with a lie like that, any of the CEOs could refute it if it wasn’t true.
So did they collect uhbama’s credit card, as well?
It costs money to be in the aura of the Obama.
I’m pretty sure this story is in the same class of satire as giving the Queen of England an ipod or bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia. Funny stuff though - whoever comes up with these goofy ideas should be a writer for Letterman. (Lord knows he needs a good writer!)
all the while, they entertain the music entertainers they love and their personal friends at $100 a pound steak and ....
and then do this? what ignorant people they are.
They should have responded, “I paid for this meal on April 15th, jerk.”
“What a joke of a president we have.”
He has the maturity level to lead a village of 50 people; in a sack race only.
“But the Bush administration was so sensitive about appearing cozy with corporate America that another former high-ranking official cannot recall a single instance of President Bush lunching with CEOs in the White House.”
As usual..the press would have had a fit if Bush had had Coporate CEO’s to lunch whether they paid for it or not..but nary a word on the Usurper In Chief.
It's normal courtesy, at least, that the one who issues the invitation, pays. (Unless it's among, e.g., family or close friends who customarily share the cost.) And especially when you invite someone to dine IN YOUR HOME!! Can you imagine having someone over for dinner and then presenting a bill!!??
LOL!
Proves he's not a Christian, either.
I don’t think we can assume anything definitive about Obama, including religious views.
I don’t believe it. It’s gotta be a joke.
I hope you read the rest of the story. He obviously did do it, supposedly because it might look as if there were “collusion” between business execs and Bambi.
But actually, we all know why: it was just a tiny kick in the teeth. There’s nothing Bambi likes better. I’m surprised it got reported at all, except maybe even Obama’s bathwater drinkers are getting a little embarrassed by now. There is, after all, only so much bathwater any human being can drink.
so was his reelection campaign scamming them?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.