Posted on 05/17/2010 12:16:24 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
One goal of President Barack Obama's state dinner Wednesday will be to make Mexican President Felipe Calderon feel like the man of the hour. Another will be to keep uninvited guests from crashing the party.
Obama and first lady Michelle Obama weren't as lucky with their first dinner last November, for India's prime minister, when more than 300 guests dined and danced in a pavillion-like tent on the South Lawn. Only after the last song had been sung did the White House learn of an embarrassing breach in presidential security that allowed a husband-and-wife duo to crash the party and shake hands with Obama even though they didn't have an invitation.
The dinner will also be the official debut for new White House social secretary Julianna Smoot, who took over two months ago. Her tiny staff has been taking its cues from Mrs. Obama and working overtime to plan the black-tie affair. Smoot has faced seemingly endless comparisons to her predecessor, Desiree Rogers, who left the job after weeks of criticism over her role in the incident and demands from lawmakers that she testify about it to Congress.
The White House announced in March that Calderon and his wife, Margarita Zavala, would be the guests of honor. But compared to the frenzy over the Obamas' first dinner when it seemed all anyone wanted to know was how they might tweak this staid yet elegant White House tradition, who made the cut for the guest list and which fashion designer would create the first lady's evening gown the buzz over the coming Calderon fiesta seems to be lacking.
"The first of anything always gets a lot of attention," said Anita McBride, chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
LOLOLOLOL!
No illegal party-crashers! Secure the entry!
I suggest that the SS implant chips in the hands of all the guests, just to be sure.
And at the POLLS!
Do you suppose that, if someone can’t produce ID, there might be reasonable suspicion? Ooooooh. So unfair.
Yeah -- ruffles potato chips. Ouch.
So mean ,unfair...and racist.
LOL slum lord of the decade maybe.
pa dump dump (ktishhhhhhh)
There is no such thing as an illegal diner....
That is one of the best rimshots I’ve ever read.
“WE ARE ALL WHITE HOUSE DINNER GUESTS”
I have no interest in breaking bread with Barry, his wife or any of their cohorts.
What?
No open borders at the White House??
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