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No Thanks, Gridiron Dinner: Barack Obama Snubs the Washington Establishment
Telegraph ^ | 3/17/09 | Toby Harnden

Posted on 03/20/2009 11:40:43 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta

It's not exactly a revolutionary act but President Barack Obama has certainly put a few noses out of joint by deciding to shun - gasp - the Gridiron Club at this year's annual dinner.

For those not in the know, the white tie Gridiron dinner the most exclusive ticket in town as Washington's elite journalists gather to entertain, schmooze and gently rib their sources.

At first it was intimated that he was going to be in Chicago for spring break with his wife and daughters, but then it emerged he would be at Camp David. That's the presidential retreat in Maryland. A 20-minute helicopter ride away.

So what to make of this? Not much, possibly. On one level, it indicates where Obama's priorities lie. These are very serious times and the idea of dressing up in tails and listening to reporters' skits probably didn't really appeal.

But I wonder if this will be something that will return to haunt him? Already, such establishment mainstays as Howard Fineman and Robert Samuelson have been expressing a hitherto absent level of scepticism about "the One".

Far be from me to suggest that Washington journalists might be petty and vindictive but perhaps there might eventually be some payback for Obama's turning down the Gridiron invitation and sending Vice President Joe Biden instead.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bho44; gridiron; obama; snub
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

This is the first thing TOTUS has done correctly.


21 posted on 03/20/2009 12:10:23 PM PDT by Paladin2 (No, pundits strongly believe that the proper solution is more dilution.)
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To: magellan
You didn't BELIEVE me??? They are WORSE than RUBES....they are CLASSLESS.

Bush could NOT read the TOTUS, but he at least had CLASS.

22 posted on 03/20/2009 12:10:31 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: magellan

Michelle doesn’t wear a WEDDING RING???? She has a ring on her FU finger, but no wedding ring......hmmmm....REALLY CLASSY.


23 posted on 03/20/2009 12:12:02 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: LottieDah

Change we can Bereave in.


24 posted on 03/20/2009 12:18:07 PM PDT by Colvin (Harry Reid is a sap sucking idiot.)
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To: Kansas58

(2, PRIOR to entering politics? Why?)

payola


25 posted on 03/20/2009 12:20:31 PM PDT by Chickensoup ("Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.")
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To: Ann Archy

He was criticized for wearing a WHITE tie.

Ties must be color blind.


26 posted on 03/20/2009 12:28:09 PM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . John Galt hell !...... where is Francisco dÂ’Anconia)
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To: LottieDah
Zero can use is Blackberry as a mini-prompter.

Perfect!

27 posted on 03/20/2009 12:32:07 PM PDT by 6SJ7 (Atlas Shrugged Mode: ON)
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To: Morgana; SortaBichy; Delmont
Ghetto Fashion? You rang?


28 posted on 03/20/2009 12:32:09 PM PDT by ErnBatavia (Here's hoping the Kennedy family trust is in deep....with Madoff)
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To: RexBeach
Even if Mr. Obama can’t or won’t make it, it doesn’t matter, really

In the great grand scheme of things, it matters not.

However, Obama giving the cold shoulder to those who got him elected will not go unnoticed, I'm sure. Just one more little ding in the "messiah" image.

Long run, it might be a good thing for us FReepers.

29 posted on 03/20/2009 12:38:53 PM PDT by wbill
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To: wbill

A lot of the birds that go to that dinner are retired.

However, you are correct; like “Welcome Back Carter,” the press will turn on Mr. Obama. They love to hate people. The press will revert to type, as they say.


30 posted on 03/20/2009 12:45:08 PM PDT by RexBeach ("Do your duty in all things." Robert E. Lee)
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To: Dr. Scarpetta
Is this the event where Steven Colbert was the featured speaker 2 or 3 years ago and was very insulting to President Bush?

Bush went even though most of the journalists there treated him like dirt--he repaid them by being gracious. Obama would be among friends, but won't go. Maybe they won't let him bring his teleprompter.

31 posted on 03/20/2009 12:47:41 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: HighlyOpinionated
The 0man hath no ‘couth.’

The wOman ain't got none neither.

32 posted on 03/20/2009 1:02:26 PM PDT by lonestar (Obama has turned a crisis into a catastrophe.)
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To: RexBeach
yep. I'm thinking that the honeymoon is over already. It was a surprise, I figured that it would last at least 6 to 9 months.

The media likes to play kingmaker. They like to tear down what they've built up even more. Puts eyeballs on their products and $$$$ in their pockets.

Obama's total incomprehension of this is a good thing for us, I think.

33 posted on 03/20/2009 1:03:52 PM PDT by wbill
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

Obama is snubbing the opinionmakers who got him elected in favor of Jay Leno. It’s an audacious media strategy that will either succeed brilliantly or else end in total disaster.


34 posted on 03/20/2009 1:21:38 PM PDT by devere
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To: ErnBatavia

Heaven’s to Betsy, If the first aint my old ex-wife Velvetta Brown, I aint seen her since she was cheating with my ex-friend Maurice, looks like she still gots the shelf on her rear end, just like a fireplace mantle.


35 posted on 03/20/2009 2:02:41 PM PDT by Delmont
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To: Kansas58
Now, that's a hot post!

Get real! Obama has never done any “real work” in his entire life! Obama let Pelosi write most of what he has signed, so far. Obama never really wrote his own autobiographies. (2, PRIOR to entering politics? Why?) Obama never really wrote any legislation, in the Illinois legislature. Obama is a bum. He always makes the “little people” do all the work.

36 posted on 03/20/2009 4:54:44 PM PDT by pointsal
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To: the anti-liberal
I think he’s simply afraid of embarrassing himself - not only can he not tell a joke, I serious doubt he can take one.

You are correct...

37 posted on 03/20/2009 5:44:57 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Spok
The One shows his utter contempt for the fawning media that helped deliver the White House to him.

Do you think the media realizes it?

38 posted on 03/20/2009 5:46:48 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Snickering Hound
If only republicans had the guts not to kowtow to them too...

If only...

39 posted on 03/20/2009 5:47:38 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: devere
It’s an audacious media strategy that will either succeed brilliantly or else end in total disaster.

Obama isn't worried about it because he thinks that everything is going his way...

40 posted on 03/20/2009 5:50:28 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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