Posted on 11/23/2009 5:05:28 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Barack Obama to host first state dinner in huge tent A huge tent has been pitched on the White House lawn to accommodate 400 guests at Barack Obama's first state dinner.
By Toby Harnden in Washington Published: 10:43PM GMT 23 Nov 2009
An invitation to the event on Tuesday evening has become the most sought-after ticket in the US.
The event, in honour of the visiting Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, is a chance for Mr Obama and his wife Michelle to welcome the Washington elite - and a smattering of Hollywood celebrities - into their new home.
Whereas President George W. Bush would hold his 140-person dinners in the formal state dining room, the Obamas have broken with recent tradition by taking a "big tent" approach that will accommodate 400.
Secrecy surrounds the event with the White House jealously guarding details of the guest list and menu, though produce from Mrs Obama's new vegetable garden is expected to be used and curry is suspected by some to be on the menu for the first time.
Deepak Chopra, the billionaire pioneer in New Age spirituality, announced on Twitter that he would be flying to Washington to attend and was "V honored to be invited".
Oprah Winfrey, the talk show hostess, is strongly rumoured to have been invited and there is speculation that George Clooney and Brad Pitt will attend what has been dubbed "Washington's equivalent of the Oscars".
According to the well-connected Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke, the former DreamWorks partners Steven Spielberg, David Geffen, and Jeffrey Katzenberg will be at the dinner.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Real icing on the cake would be a snow storm.Pray for rain!
“The event marks a return to the lavish hospitality offered by President Bill Clinton and Mrs Clinton in the 1990s.”
Wow, a slam on George Bush, how surprising.
We should be so proud! A LOT of regular hardworking folks are worrying about being homeless with their kids and we should celebrate that the White House has returned to ‘lavish hospitality’./s
The whole DUmp hasn't turned, but there are many negative posts and a lot of infighting. The ignore button is working over time.
He and Michelle can’t let anyone see how they have trashed the WH.
Bollywood for the Prime Minister. A night of 'celebrity'. But, of course, Obama has never led with substance. Nor has he entertained any.
I’m betting Kanye West interrupts the show and 50-cent shoots someone in the parking lot afterwards.
No, rather the great communicator must be doing breakdancing in his grave with the Obama’s trashing the White House state dinner.
On the other hand the "canopied pavillions" is Indian tradition.
And the Indians know how to do spectacle 
And are not likely to be impressed by what Obama stages
More likely result will be a repeat of the Japan trip: Failure to dazzle, but he tries, so polite public noises.
Oh yes, when Mommar has his sane days!
Nor are they patriots. They will fit right in.
You get a watermelon and zuchini to take home.....IF...you win the door prize.
Next year, we the taxpayers, are gonna pay for an upgrade in the form of a thatched roof hut complete with carpets.
Ahh, the good old days!
That was back when we had a real President and a real foreign policy.
Does “trailer trash” at the White House cover my reaction to this?
...and snow. Maybe some hail, too.
No big deal! Obowma just borrowed it from his buddie Kaddaffy, who was going to have to pay to have it taken down in Jersey after the big UN shindig.
Hmmm...I wondered why the words “Let them eat cake” came to mind?
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.