Seating Chart: "Dinner with Barack and Michelle"

Former Social Secretary Julianna Smoot: "my job is done"...
President Obama's second White House Social Secretary, Julianna Smoot, left 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue House in March of this year to become his Deputy Campaign Manager. She sent heady news via e-mail to re-election supporters today, as she unveiled the seating chart, above, for OFA's fundraiser "Dinner with Barack and Michelle."

Three lucky winners and their guests will dine with the President and First Lady Obama at an unspecified date and place, and Smoot dubbed the seating arrangement her easiest assignment ever.

"I've put a lot of dinners together for the President and Mrs. Obama," Smoot wrote. "Sometimes they've been for foreign dignitaries and heads of state. Sometimes they've included governors, artists, and musicians. The seating can get pretty complicated, but I have to say, this one was easy."

"So really, my job's done," she added.

Smoot asks for a minimum $3 donation. Her e-mail followed one earlier in the day from Reggie Love, President Obama's longtime personal aide. Love urged donors to "Get on that here," which translated into English, means make a donation to enter the contest.

"Dinner with Barack and Michelle" is the President's third time raffling himself off as a dinner date. He dined with the four winners of the first dinner contest in October at The Liberty Tavern, but has yet to dine with the four winners of the second contest. OFA this week released a new video of the Eater in Chief talking about the first dinner, which followed five previously released videos. The current contest closes on December 31.

Smoot's subject heading for her e-mail was "Where do you want to sit?"

The text:

XXXX --

I just saw the seating chart for Dinner with Barack and Michelle, and I thought you should see it, too.

The President and First Lady are right here. Where do you want to sit?

Take a look, then donate $3 or whatever you can to be automatically entered for a chance to win.

I've put a lot of dinners together for the President and Mrs. Obama.

Sometimes they've been for foreign dignitaries and heads of state. Sometimes they've included governors, artists, and musicians. The seating can get pretty complicated, but I have to say, this one was easy.

One table, six guests, and the President and First Lady.

So really, my job's done. The only thing that's missing is who the guests will be.

Click here to give $3 or whatever you can and be automatically entered for a chance for you and a guest to have dinner with the President and First Lady:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Barack-and-Michelle

I'd love for you to be there.

Thanks,

Julianna

Julianna Smoot
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America
##

Obama Aide Reggie Love Touts "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" Campaign Fundraiser

Love is in love with the dinner contest: "Get on that here"...
President Obama's closest personal aide, "body man" Reggie Love, is leaving the White House before the end of the year. Today Love sent his very first fundraising e-mail for the 2012 campaign, touting the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest. Love, 30, has spent four years with Mr. Obama, and his wide array of very intimate duties included Presidential food wrangling on the road, as well as dining with his boss--which is the point of his e-mail: "I've also eaten many, many meals with him," he writes. Thus Love is in love with the dinner contest, he says.

"I kind of love this "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest. You all have to do this," Love wrote. "Get on that here."

The subject line for the e-mail is also "You All Have To Do This." The faux homeboy vernacular is pretty goofy, given that Love is exiting Mr. Obama's orbit to finish a graduate degree at an Ivy League university. And typically "You All" is spelled "Y'all," isn't it? The goofiness can be credited to whichever OFA staffer wrote the e-mail, of course.

And the goofiness factor gets even higher as the e-mail touts the exclusivity of dining with Barack and Michelle.

"I know that dinner with Barack and Michelle is something that usually only happens with the girls, and no one else," Love/the OFA staffer wrote.

"You should know this practically never happens."

Just to point out the silliness of that statement, the guest lists for 2011's three State Dinners collectively had about 700 people, all of whom dined with Barack and Michelle. A couple hundred more people dined with Barack and Michelle at the President's 50th birthday party. And then there was the APEC Leaders Dinner, the Return State Dinner, the Bipartisan Dinner for Congressional leadership, the US Combatant Commanders dinner, and the Governors Dinner, which add a couple thousand more names to the list of people who have dined with Barack and Michelle, just this year.

Of course, those aren't the kind of intimate dinners OFA is promoting in its effort to woo "Everyday Americans" to drop cash into campaign coffers. Inviting guests to dine with the President at the White House would probably raise far more money, but that's off limits under federal election rules.

"Dinner with Barack and Michelle" is the President's third time raffling himself off as a dinner date. He dined with the four winners of the first dinner contest in October at The Liberty Tavern, but has yet to dine with the four winners of the second contest. OFA this week released a new video of the Eater in Chief talking about the first dinner, which followed five previously released videos. The current contest closes on December 31.

Three winners will each be allowed to bring one guest to the dinner, and they will all have to sign documents agreeing to be used in campaign materials.The assigned retail value of the prize package has jumped from $1,075 for the first dinner to $1,600 for the current dinner. It is taxable to the winners, and includes airfare and a one-night hotel stay.

The text of Love's e-mail:

XXXX --

You may know me as the tall guy who followed Barack everywhere he went.

As the President's body man for the last four years, it's been my privilege to help him with whatever he needs: making sure he's on time, finding some food when we're on the road, or playing a quick game of basketball (he won, mostly).

Of course, this also means I've also eaten many, many meals with him.

So first of all, I just want to say thanks for supporting the Obamas and being part of this campaign. It means a lot, not only to the President, but to all of us who've worked by his side.

Two: I kind of love this "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest. You all have to do this.

Get on that here.

You should know this practically never happens.

While Barack wants to do these dinners throughout his campaign, I know that dinner with Barack and Michelle is something that usually only happens with the girls, and no one else.

The fact that this dinner is with the two of them should tell you how much it matters to them to know that you have their backs out there.

I wouldn't let this one get away.

Donate $3 or whatever you can today to automatically be entered to win a spot at dinner for you and a guest:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Barack-and-Michelle

Thanks,

Reggie
##

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House, taken in the Oval Office on June 16, 2009.

New Video: White House Kitchen Gets Koshered For 2011 Hanukkah Reception

How the White House serves holiday delights at "the highest level of Jewish observance"...
Hanukkah begins tonight at sundown, and President Obama today issued a holiday greeting to the global Jewish community, offering "warmest wishes" from the First Family, and wishing all "Chag Sameach."  The President hosted the annual White House Hanukkah reception on Thursday, Dec. 8th, and the kosher menu offered to more than 550 guests was very different from the menu served at all other Presidential holiday receptions. The White House kitchen had to be specially cleaned--koshered--for the event. Washington, DC's Rabbi Levi Shemtov was charged with overseeing the process, and in a new White House video, he explains how it was done, joined by Executive Chef Cris Comerford. (Above: The Rabbi in the kitchen, mid-koshering)

"For me, as an American Jew, it is a distinct honor to oversee the kosherizing of the most important kitchen in the country," the Rabbi says. "The guests...will have White House-level fare, but it will be at the highest level of kosher observance."

The Presidential Hanukkah menu featured lamb chops, Roulade of chicken breast, potato pancakes, smoked salmon, sushi rolls, and an array of sweet treats (full menu is below), in contrast to the ham, shrimp and other non-kosher menu items offered at the rest of the Presidential holiday receptions.

"All of our surfaces have been cleaned, and boiled, and wrapped in saran wrap and aluminum foil and...protected," says Comerford onscreen.



This year's Hanukkah reception was the largest of the Administration. The President was joined by Mrs. Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden as he welcomed his guests. After, the President and Mrs. Obama decamped to the Diplomatic Reception Room to take photos with their visitors, while the party went on upstairs in the Grand Foyer, and the guests enjoyed the kosher buffet.

2011 Hanukkah Reception Menu

Roulade of Chicken Breast
Fresh Thyme Sauce
Arugula and Fresh Artichokes
Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Filet of Beef
Au Jus
Caramelized Pearl Onions
Shiitake Mushrooms

Pine Nut Herb Crusted Lamb Chops
Mango and Mission Fig Chutney

Homemade Potato with Scallion Pancakes
Apple Sauce

Dill and Vodka Scottish Smoked Salmon
Non-Pareil Capers
Chopped Egg Whites and Yolks
Parsley
Lemon Wedges

Assorted Fresh Sushi Rolls
California Roll
Spicy Tuna Roll
Vegetable Roll
Pickled Ginger
Wasabi

Winter Squash Salad

Assorted Rolls

Dessert Station
Homemade Soufganyot
Crème Anglaise
Raspberry Jelly
"An assortment of homemade desserts"

In the photo above, President Obama welcomes guests as Mrs. Obama and the Bidens look on.

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House

New Video: President Obama Speaks About "Dinner with Barack" Fundraising Contest

"This campaign and this presidency is not just about me," says Mr. Obama in sixth video about his October dinner with four donors...
President Obama's willingness to raffle himself off as a dinner date to raise funds for his 2012 re-election effort is one of the top White House food stories of 2011. On Monday morning, OFA released a new video clip of the President speaking about having dinner with four campaign donors in October at The Liberty Tavern, as he fulfilled his first meal commitment for the three different "Dinner with Barack" contests. OFA previously released five video clips from the first dinner. (Above: The President in the new video, looking very gray)

Having dinner with supporters "helps motivate me," the President says in the new video.

The four people the President dined with in October are so enthusiastic about Mr. Obama that one, Casey Helbling, a tech entrepreneur from Minnesota, named one of his children "Maxwell Barack."

"They've got their own struggles, they've got their own challenges, and yet they're still out there working on the campaign, working on the issues, trying to get their Congressmen to vote...that reminds me that this campaign and this presidency is not just about me," President Obama says in the video.

First Lady Michelle Obama has been added to the current contest, "Dinner with Barack and Michelle." Entries close on Dec. 31. Three winners will each be allowed to bring one guest. They will all have to sign documents agreeing to be used in campaign materials.



"In this previously unreleased clip, President Obama talks about why dinners with supporters mean a lot to him," OFA wrote. "After you've watched, make a donation to be automatically entered for your chance to attend the next dinner...We'll cover your airfare and the meal—all you have to bring is your story and your ideas."

The assigned retail value of the prize package has jumped from $1,075 for the first dinner to $1,600 for the current dinner. It is taxable to the winners.

President Obama has yet to dine with the winners of the second dinner sweepstakes.
##

Smoot Touts "Dinner with Barack and Michelle"

Enter to win "a once-in-a-lifetime experience"...
The newest e-mail from OFA for the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" campaign fundraiser was sent today by Julianna Smoot, former White House Social Secretary and now Deputy Campaign Manager. The contest closes Dec. 31; three winners will be selected, and each can bring a guest. The President will be bringing his wife, who has been added to the contest to inspire donations.

"Tell us who you would bring if you won -- and why," Smoot wrote. "I hope you'll put your name in the running to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with someone you care about."

OFA most recently sent an e-mail to potential donors from Wendi Smith, one of the winners of the first dinner sweepstakes, who called her meal with the Eater in Chief "one of the most significant experiences of my life." Smith dined with the President in October at The Liberty Tavern in Virginia, fulfilling the first dinner contest obligation. The President has nt yet dined with winners of the second sweepstakes.

The subject heading for Smoot's e-mail was "Your guest for Dinner with President Obama" (sic).

The text:

XXXXX --

Have you been thinking about who you'd bring to the next Dinner with Barack?

President Obama will be bringing Michelle to the dinner he's having with grassroots supporters like you. The best part? If you join them, you have a chance to bring a loved one along, too.

Tell us who you would bring if you won -- and why.

Maybe it's your spouse, your aunt who volunteers a few times every month, or your niece who's about to vote for the first time in 2012.

Whoever you choose, this dinner isn't just a chance for you both to meet the President and the First Lady, it's a chance to share a special meal -- to ask the questions you've been dying to ask, and tell the stories you think they need to hear.

I hope you'll put your name in the running to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with someone you care about.

Let us know who you'd bring and why you want them to meet the President and the First Lady:

http://my.barackobama.com/Your-Guest

Thanks,

Julianna

Julianna Smoot
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America
###

President Obama Hosts 2011 White House Hanukkah Reception - The Menu, The Guest List

President welcomes Jewish leaders to celebrate the festival of lights with a Kosher menu that includes sushi rolls...
President Obama confirmed his Administration's "unshakable commitment" to the security of Israel as he welcomed more than 550 guests, including Administration officials and Members of Congress, to a Hanukkah reception on Thursday evening. The party was already under way when the President, joined by First Lady Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden, arrived at 6:10 PM. It featured a strictly Kosher menu and the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra performing "A Tribute to Jewish-American Composers."

"We never need an excuse for a good party," President Obama joked, as he admitted that the White House was "jumping the gun" for a holiday that begins on December 20th.

"We do have to be careful that your kids don’t start thinking Hanukkah lasts twenty nights instead of eight."

It was the largest Hanukkah reception the First Couple has hosted, and the final one before the 2012 election. Candidate Obama recieved 78% of the Jewish vote in 2008, according to exit polls. Mrs. Obama smiled and waved to guests in the crowd as her husband spoke. Her hair down, she was clad in a sleeveless dress in a shade of metallic blue that is featured on the flag of Israel, with multiple ropes of matching beads around here neck as a complement.

The guests, packed tightly into the Grand Foyer, held their cameras and cell phones aloft as they stood between lit Christmas trees and green garlands tied with shining ribbons. They'd also been entertained by the West Point Jewish Chapel Cadet Choir.

The guests...
His comment about supporting Israel was the President's only political remark; he spent the rest of his time at the podium smiling broadly. Guests included Members of Congress, top Administration officials, and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

"We are thrilled to see her," President Obama said. "She's one of my favorites. I have a soft spot for her."

He also gave a shout out to Michael Oren, Israel's Ambassador to the US, and to Jarrod Bernstein, the newly minted Director of Jewish Outreach. See below for a list of invited Members of Congress.



The President briefly told the story of the battle of the Maccabees and the oil lamp.

"This Hanukkah season, we remember a story so powerful that we know it by heart...even us Gentiles," he said to laughter. "A story of right over might, faith over doubt, a story about a band of believers who rose up and freed their people."

President Obama said the Hanukkah story is a reminder that "miracles come in all sizes," and the holiday season is a time to "recognize the miracles in our own lives."

"This is also time to be grateful for our friendships, both with each other and between our nations, and that of course includes our unshakable support and commitment to the security of the nation of Israel," President Obama said, to applause.

After speaking, he left to meet with guests in the Map Room of the White House. The full transcript of his remarks.

A Kosher menu...with sushi rolls
The reception had a buffet of Jewish holiday specialties--as well as sushi rolls, which were also served last year. The kitchen was Koshered for the event, and the menu was prepared under the strict rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Lubavitch Center of Washington (Chabad), in cooperation with the Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington, according to the White House. The Meat was Glatt Kosher - Chassidishe Shechitah. All baked goods were Pas Yisroel; all wines were Mevushal. The foods were prepared Lemihadrin with a Mashgiach Temidi.

2011 Hanukkah Reception Menu

Roulade of Chicken Breast
Fresh Thyme Sauce
Arugula and Fresh Artichokes
Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Filet of Beef
Au Jus
Caramelized Pearl Onions
Shiitake Mushrooms

Pine Nut Herb Crusted Lamb Chops
Mango and Mission Fig Chutney

Homemade Potato with Scallion Pancakes
Apple Sauce

Dill and Vodka Scottish Smoked Salmon
Non-Pareil Capers
Chopped Egg Whites and Yolks
Parsley
Lemon Wedges

Assorted Fresh Sushi Rolls
California Roll
Spicy Tuna Roll
Vegetable Roll
Pickled Ginger
Wasabi

Winter Squash Salad

Assorted Rolls

Dessert Station
Homemade Soufganyot
Crème Anglaise
Raspberry Jelly
"An assortment of homemade desserts"

Congressional guest list...
Members of Congress invited to intend included 8 Senators and 21 Representatives from the US House.

The Senate: Sens. Barbara Boxer; Dianne Feinstein; Frank Lautenberg; Carl Levin; Joe Lieberman; Bernie Sanders; Chuck Schumer.

US House: Reps. Shelley Berkley; Howard Berman; David Cicilline; Steve Cohen; Susan Davis; Ted Deutch; Eliot Engel; Bob Filner; Steve Israel; Sandy Levin; Nita Lowey; Jerrold Nadler; Jared Polis; Steve Rothman; Jan Schakowsky; Adam Schiff; Allyson Schwartz; Brad Sherman; Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Henry Waxman; and John Yarmuth.

The menorah...
The menorah for the reception was lent by The Jewish Museum, New York and is dedicated to General Joseph T. McNarney, who served as the Commander in Chief of United States Forces in the European Theatre from November 1945 to March 1947. It was created in a displaced persons’ camp after World War II, the White House said. (Above: A long view of the reception)

The President's Hanukkah receptions in 2009 and 2010 included candle lighting ceremonies, but there was no ceremony this evening, because the reception did not coincide with the actual dates of Hanukkah.

This year, the White House released a special collection of Passover recipes created by acclaimed American chefs, including Joan Nathan. Some of the recipes are perfect for Hanukkah celebrations, too. (Above: the President speaks with a guest after his remarks)

Check the sidebar for all White House recipes.

*Photos by AP/Pool; reverse view photo by Pete Souza/White House

Transcript & Video: President Obama's Remarks, 2011 Hanukkah Reception

President Obama welcomed more than 550 guests for the annual White House Hanukkah reception on Thursday evening. It was held in the Grand Foyer, and featured a fully Kosher menu. Full details are here.

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________

For Immediate Release
December 8, 2011

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT HANUKKAH RECEPTION

Grand Foyer

6:10 P.M. EST


THE PRESIDENT: Well, good evening, everybody. Welcome to the White House. Thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate Hanukkah -- even if we're doing it a little bit early. (Laughter.)

I want to start by recognizing a few folks who are here. The ambassador to the United States from Israel, Michael Oren, is in the house. (Applause.)

We are honored to be joined by one of the justices of the Supreme Court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is here. (Applause.) We are thrilled to see her. She's one of my favorites, I got to -- (laughter.) I've got a soft spot for Justice Ginsburg.

And we’ve got more than a few members of Congress here and members of my administration in the house, including our new Director of Jewish Outreach, Jarrod Bernstein is here. Where's Jarrod? (Applause.) Hey, Jarrod.

I also want to thank the West Point Jewish Chapel Cadet Choir –- (applause) -- the Voice of Tradition -– for their wonderful performance, but more importantly, for their extraordinary service to our country.

And I want to thank all the rabbis and lay leaders who have come far and wide to be here with us today.

Now, as I said, we’re jumping the gun just a little bit. The way I see it, we’re just extending the holiday spirit. We're stretching it out. (Laughter.) But we do have to be careful that your kids don’t start thinking Hanukkah lasts 20 nights instead of eight. (Laughter.) That will cause some problems.

This Hanukkah season we remember a story so powerful that we all know it by heart -- even us Gentiles. It’s a story of right over might, of faith over doubt. Of a band of believers who rose up and freed their people and discovered that the oil left in their desecrated temple –- which should have lasted only one night –- ended up lasting eight.

It’s a timeless story. And for 2,000 years, it has given hope to Jews everywhere who are struggling. And today, it reminds us that miracles come in all shapes and sizes. Because to most people, the miracle of Hanukkah would have looked like nothing more than a simple flame, but the believers in the temple knew it was something else. They knew it was something special.

This year, we have to recognize the miracles in our own lives. Let’s honor the sacrifices our ancestors made so that we might be here today. Let’s think about those who are spending this holiday far away from home -– including members of our military who guard our freedom around the world. Let’s extend a hand to those who are in need, and allow the value of tikkun olam to guide our work this holiday season.

This is also a time to be grateful for our friendships, both with each other and between our nations. And that includes, of course, our unshakeable support and commitment to the security of the nation of Israel. (Applause.)

So while it is not yet Hanukkah, let’s give thanks for our blessings, for being together to celebrate this wonderful holiday season. And we never need an excuse for a good party. (Laughter.) So we are going to see all of you in a second downstairs --

MRS. OBAMA: Aren't we in the Blue Room?

THE PRESIDENT: Or wherever we are. (Laughter.) I think we're downstairs. We are downstairs in the Map Room. So as I look around, I see a whole bunch of good friends. We can't wait to give you a hug and a kiss and wish you a happy holiday. The guys with whiskers, I won't give you a kiss. (Laughter.)

Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.)

END 6:14 P.M. EST

Who "Deserves" To Dine With President Obama?

The Obama Campaign apparently wants to know which of your friends have been naughty or nice this year...
 
In an afternoon tweet promoting the third fundraising dinner with President Obama--now known as "Dinner with Barack and Michelle," @BarackObama asked "Which friend do you think deserves a seat at the table for #DinnerWithBarack?" The accompanying link went to the flag-wrapped screen, above, a new addition to OFA's website, which encourages supporters to enter their friends' e-mail addresses.

The three winners of the contest are each allowed to bring a guest.  The bar is pretty low for selecting "deserving" companions: Dining with the Eater in Chief and his incredibly popular wife can be had for a $3 donation.

The campaign recently advertised that it is looking to hire new staff to write its digital media missives. It can't happen fast enough: The word choices for campaign e-mails and tweets swing between boring, weird, and ominous.

"We're taking names," President Obama wrote when first announcing that he's raffling himself off as a dinner date for the third time. The phrase sounds more than a bit Orwellian, unless the President is Santa Claus, and checking his list twice.

The current contest closes Dec. 31. The President has completed one of his contest dinners, and the Campaign recently released five different videos about the Presidential dinner in October at The Liberty Tavern in Virginia. The date for the dinner fulfilling the second contest has not yet been announced.

Michelle Obama Wants To Dine With YOU

First Lady e-mails about "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" fundraiser...
America's most famous eaters are looking for dinner companions. President Obama announced via e-mail on Wednesday that his wife will be joining the lucky winners of the third "Dinner with Barack" campaign fundraiser, now renamed "Dinner with Barack and Michelle." Today the First Lady sent an e-mail wooing donors, too, asking for a $3 donation. The e-mail had the subject line "[Your Name Here], I want to meet you."

"I'm excited for the chance to meet you and whoever you decide to bring to dinner," Mrs. Obama wrote. "I really hope you give this a shot."

The third dinner raffle will have three winners, and each can bring a guest. The assigned retail value of the prize package has jumped from $1,075 for the first dinner, to $1,600 for the current dinner, which includes airfare and a hotel stay. It is taxable to the winners. The President dined with the four winners of the first dinner contest last month, and the Campaign has released five videos about the dinner. Mr. Obama has yet to dine with the winners of the second dinner contest. Entries for the current contest close on Dec. 31.

The text of the First Lady's e-mail:

XXXX --

I'm excited for the chance to meet you and whoever you decide to bring to dinner.

I really hope you give this a shot.

Give $3 or whatever you can to be automatically entered for you and a guest to have dinner with Barack and me:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner-With-Us

Hope to see you soon,

Michelle

##

First Lady Added To "Dinner with Barack" Contest

"I'm bringing Michelle," President Obama announces...
Update, Dec. 1: First Lady e-mails about dinner
President Obama announced today that he's bringing his wife to the third "Dinner with Barack," a fundraising contest launched this month to raise money for his re-election effort. In a new twist for the dinner sweepstakes, the three winners will each get to bring along a guest.

"I thought I'd bring one, too -- so I invited Michelle," President Obama wrote in an e-mail to supporters. "She's in."

The dinner has been re-named "Dinner with Barack and Michelle," as can be seen from the promo graphic, above. The heady dinner can be had for just a $3 donation, Mr. Obama advised.

"Michelle and I don't get to spend as much time as we'd like with the people who are building the 2012 campaign," he wrote. "So I hope you'll take us up on it."

Vice President Joe Biden was added to the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in an effort to sweeten the pot, and it was re-named "Dinner with Barack and Joe." The President dined with the four winners of that contest last month, but Biden was out of the country, and missed the event. Mr. Obama has not yet dined with the four winners of the second "Dinner with Barack" contest.

The assigned retail value of the prize package has jumped from $1,075 for the first dinner, to $1,600 for the current dinner, which includes airfare and a hotel stay. It is taxable to the winners. Entries close on Dec. 31.

The e-mail had the subject line "I'm bringing Michelle."

The text:

Friend --

If you win a seat at the next dinner with three other supporters and me, you'll get to bring a guest.

I thought I'd bring one, too -- so I invited Michelle.

She's in.

Donate $3 or whatever you can to be automatically entered to sit down for a meal with Michelle and me.

Michelle and I don't get to spend as much time as we'd like with the people who are building the 2012 campaign.

But we are incredibly grateful for all you're doing, whether it's volunteering and having one-on-one conversations in your communities or chipping in what you can to help build the organization.

We're looking forward to the chance to thank you in person, so I hope you'll take us up on it.

Make a donation today to be automatically entered for the chance to join us at the table:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Me-and-Michelle

Thanks,

Barack
##

Dinner with Barack: The Mini Movies

Obama Campaign releases five new videos from inside President's dinner with contest winners...
President Obama this week announced the third "Dinner with Barack" contest to raise money for his 2012 re-election war chest. To build interest among donors, Obama for America released five new videos from inside the first contest dinner President Obama has completed, his meal on Oct. 27 at Liberty Tavern in Arlington, Virginia. The President's press pool was allowed into the dining room for less than one minute during the event for a rapid photo op, so the Campaign videos are the first extended look at what occurred as four "everyday Americans" broke bread with the Commander in Chief. The longest video is more than eight minutes long, and edited like a feature film. (Above, the President with from L Knight, Smith, Helbling, and Martinez).

The winners were Juanita Martinez, a retired teacher from Brighton, Colorado; Casey Helbling, a software entrepreneur and small-business owner from Minneapolis, Minn.; Ken Knight, a U.S. postal worker from Chandler, Arizona; and Wendi Smith, a retired professor and artist from Corydon, Indiana. Helbling is such a huge Obama supporter he named one of his children "Maxwell Barack," he revealed after the dinner. All had to sign documents agreeing to be used--without pay--in campaign materials. Each prize, taxable by the IRS, was valued at $1,075, and included air fare to DC and a one-night hotel stay for the guests. The prizes did not include make up and hair service for the winners, as they made their feature film debuts.



The dinner was just 70 minutes long; the guests declined the President's offer of dessert. The longest mini-movie, above, is titled "Dinner With Barack: Two Teachers, an Army Veteran, a Small Business Owner and The President." It's edited to build excitement, and shows the President's guests arriving in Washington and being wowed by the monuments, while discussing their thrill over the upcoming dinner with Mr. Obama. Then it transitions to the restaurant, and shows edited portions of the Presidential mealtime conversation. The other four videos are shorter vignettes of the table talk, edited by theme.

For the record, the President at dinner enjoyed the "Harpoon Caught Swordfish," which is regularly featured on The Liberty Tavern menu. It's served "Portuguese style," with white beans, sweet peppers, lamb sausage escarole, and Littleneck clam sauce ($22). He washed it down with iced tea, though his companions drank wine. Before this week's video releases, the four winners had previously dished about their dinner to various media outlets, as well as put out statements for Campaign HQ.



Above, in this 1:05-long clip, "Dinner With Barack: The Impact of My Father," the President is asked by one of his guests about the "negative impact" of not knowing his father, who left when he was a small child. It's the most moving of the videos.

"As I look back on my life, I only remember my father for one month of my whole life," President Obama said. "When I was ten."

His father, however, introduced him to all the things he became passionate about, the President said--among these basketball and jazz--and the absence made him realize how important it is to be a good father to daughters Malia and Sasha.



Above, in the 1:04-long "Dinner With Barack: A Typical Day," Mr. Obama discusses what might occur on any given day of the Presidency. The days are "packed," the President said, noting that he's "not a morning person." The last time he was awakened in the middle of the night for an emergency was for the Japan earthquake and tsunami, the President said, "probably around 3 in the morning."

"At 6:30, even if I'm really busy, I'll stop, go upstairs, and have dinner with the girls," the President said.



Above, in the 1:02-long "Dinner With Barack: Why Education Is important," the President and his guests discuss education issues, as the title implies.



Above, the final 52-second video is a teaser, billed as "Video Preview: Dinner with Barack." The President talks about the challenges of trick-or-treating in public with his daughters, now that he's Commander in Chief. Last time he "pulled it off," Mr. Obama said, was in 2007.

Other dinners...
The President will dine at a later date with four more donors from the Campaign's second contest, the "Dinner with Barack II" sweepstakes, held during fundraising quarter 3, July-September. The winners' names have not yet been released. In an interview in September, Campaign Deputy Press Secretary Katie Hogan told Obama Foodorama that there was no way to determine how many donors have actually given money in order to be entered in the dinner contests; she said that donations for the dinner contests were not specifically tracked, which seems hard to believe. Donors for the second and third contests were and are automatically entered into the dinner pool, but that was not the case for the first dinner contest. Entering the contests without donating is/was possible, too.

The third contest closes on December 31, and will have three winners, each of whom can bring a guest. The Campaign is already heavily promoting the third dinner contest, and this week sent a Thanksgiving e-mail to woo donors.

*Videos by OFA; photo by AP/Pool

"Dinner with Barack," Thanksgiving Edition

Dinner with the President is the perfect holiday gift for family members, Obama Campaign advises...
Update, Nov. 27: Campaign releases 5 new videos from the first "Dinner with Barack"
As President Obama was pardoning the National Thanksgiving Turkey on Wednesday morning, his 2012 Campaign operation sent out an e-mail to supporters, urging donations for the newly launched "Dinner with Barack" contest, the third sweepstakes offering an intimate dinner with the Eater in Chief. It was timed for Thanksgiving and holiday gift giving: The latest enticement for donors is that each contest winner can bring a guest. "Who do you want to meet the President?" asked Rufus Gifford, National Finance Director. (Above: A new logo for the contest)

"As you celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, look around the table and ask yourself: Who would you bring?" wrote Gifford. "It's hard to think of a better gift for your parent, spouse, child, or best friend than the chance to accompany you to dinner with President Obama."

The donation ask was $3. The assigned retail value of the prize package has jumped from $1,075 for the first dinner, to $1,600 for the current dinner, which includes airfare and a hotel stay. President Obama has completed one "Dinner with Barack" event with donors; he dined last month at a Virginia restaurant with the four winners of the first contest.

"I'd bring my mom" to the dinner, Gifford wrote. The contest closes on December 31.

The e-mail had the subject heading ""Who do you want to meet the President?"

The text:

Friend --

We just launched our next Dinner with Barack contest, and this time there's a big new twist: Each winner can invite a guest.

So as you celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, look around the table and ask yourself: Who would you bring?

It's hard to think of a better gift for your parent, spouse, child, or best friend than the chance to accompany you to dinner with President Obama.

To be automatically entered right now, make a donation of $3 or whatever you can today.

When you do, you'll be helping fund this campaign as we near a critical fundraising deadline at the end of the year -- just three days before voters in Iowa head to the caucus and the 2012 election formally kicks off.

President Obama wants to connect face to face with the people who are chipping in however they can to grow this campaign.

So this time we're asking the three people who win to bring along a guest: maybe your significant other, or the friend who first got you involved in this movement. I'd bring my mom.

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to start thinking about whom you'd pick.

So throw your hat in today with a gift of $3 -- and be automatically entered for Dinner with Barack:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Thanks,

Rufus

Rufus Gifford
National Finance Director
Obama for America
##

Presidential Dining Deja Vu: Obama Announces Third "Dinner with Barack" Contest

Retail value of dinner with President has skyrocketed..and this time, the three winners can bring guests...
Update, Nov. 27: Campaign releases 5 new videos from the first "Dinner with Barack"
The global economy may be in hot water, but the value of dinner with President Obama has gone up. In an effort to raise funds for the 2012 re-election campaign, President Obama is for the third time raffling himself off as a dinner date, he announced today in an e-mail to supporters. While the President is a cheap date--dinner can be had for just a $3 donation--the assigned retail value of the prize package has jumped from $1,075 for the first dinner, to $1,600 for the current dinner, which includes airfare and a one-night hotel stay. As an extra enticement for supporters, the contest is now two-for-one: Each winner can bring a companion. (Above: The new logo for the new dinner sweepstakes)

"We're taking names for the next dinner starting now, and this time I want to add a new feature: If you win, you can bring a guest," President Obama wrote.

This time there will be three dinner winners, rather than four, for a total of six guests sharing a meal with the President. It's proved to be a popular fundraiser, but the phrase "we're taking names" sounds a bit Orwellian, doesn't it? As he notes in his e-mail, the President dined on October 27th at a Virginia restaurant with the four winners of the first contest. He has yet to dine with the four winners of the second sweepstakes, and the Campaign has not released their names. The current contest closes for entries on Dec. 31. The prize is taxable, and no donation is *actually* needed to enter the contest.

The e-mail had the subject heading "You and a guest".

The text:

Friend--

A few Thursdays ago, I had dinner with four Americans named Ken, Casey, Juanita, and Wendi -- the winners of the campaign's first Dinner with Barack contest.

I loved getting to know each of them.

We're taking names for the next dinner starting now, and this time I want to add a new feature: If you win, you can bring a guest.

Chip in $3 or more today to be automatically entered to win a spot for you and a guest at the next dinner.

The folks who this election is all about tend to fall under the radar of the D.C. pundits and traditional news media.

They're people like Juanita, who helped put her three sons through college on a teacher's salary while saving what she could for retirement.

Like Ken, a single dad who stood by his mother as she fought insurance companies while battling two forms of cancer.

They're like Casey, whose three young kids may not yet appreciate what courage it took for their dad to take a chance and start his own business.

And Wendi, an artist and third-generation teacher who canvassed, marched, and phone banked in Indiana in 2008, the year her home state defied the traditional electoral map.

These people weren't just there for themselves -- they were representing you, this movement, and the folks I go to work for every day as president.

These dinners are important to me because I want to spend time whenever I can with the people who sent me here. They're proving wrong the conventional wisdom that says campaigns should cater to Washington lobbyists and powerful interests. And they're an important reminder that this movement -- and my presidency -- have never just been about me.

I'm proud that we're choosing to run the kind of campaign where a dinner like this isn't just possible, it's a regular thing. And next time, I don't just want to meet you -- I want to meet someone else in your life.

Donate $3 or more, and start thinking about who you'll invite to dinner:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Thanks for being part of this,

Barack

##

The Bidens Host Early Thanksgiving Dinner For Wounded Warriors

Vice President: Taking care of veterans is a "sacred obligation"...
Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden welcomed twelve Wounded Warriors to an early Thanksgiving dinner on Monday afternoon at their Washington, DC, residence. The guests--primarily Marines who served in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province--were joined by their parents or spouses at the Naval Observatory. They sat around two large tables in the dining room as they had a traditional feast: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and pumpkin pie. (Above: The Bidens welcome their guests)

Many of the service members were in wheelchairs and missing limbs, having been wounded in 2010 and 2011. They are still recovering, and in treatment and being outfitted with prostheses at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda. The Vice President welcomed the men and women by telling them that they are an "inspiration" to all Americans, and “part of the finest group of warriors that the world has ever seen.”

He promised that President Obama and all future presidents will be committed to making sure that they will have access to any medical breakthroughs that can improve their lives or help them heal.

“We have only one true sacred obligation and that is to provide for those of you we send into harm’s way, and give you every single solitary thing that you could possibly need to make the transition back home reasonable and workable," Biden said. "That is the only truly, truly sacred obligation we have.”

When he was done, the Vice President gave the microphone to his wife, who spoke of her own experiences as the mother of a deployed soldier. The Bidens' son, Captain Beau Biden, of the Delaware Army National Guard, is a veteran of the Iraq war. With First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Biden leads the Joining Forces initiative to support and honor military families. (Above: Dr. Biden speaking with Lance Cpl. Joshua Misiewicz)

“I know what it was like to look down our family table and see my son missing,” Dr. Biden said. “I know what you families have gone through when your loved ones are deployed and I know what it feels like…I know how other families are feeling this Thanksgiving.”

During dinner, the Vice President sat between Lance Cpl. Stephen Ayhens, who lost both his legs when he stepped on a buried bomb, and Lance Cpl. William Carpenter, who was injured by a hand grenade. Dr. Biden sat beside Lance Cpl. Joshua Misiewicz.

Shortly after the meal began, Misiewicz and his mother broke away to talk to reporters in a small living room on the first floor. Misiewicz played hockey while growing up in Chicago, and lost both of his legs above the knee when he stepped on a buried bomb on a foot patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan in July. He has already been outfitted for prostheses at Walter Reed. Just last Thanksgiving, he was working at Camp Pendleton, outside of San Diego, and getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan.

“This is so nice,” Misiewicz said of the dinner. “It shows a lot of people care.”

His mother, Nancy Misiewicz, also chimed in with thanks for the Bidens.

“Nothing compares to a home-cooked meal.”

This is the third year the Bidens have welcomed Wounded Warriors for Thanksgiving.

*Photos by the Office of the Vice President. *Updated

For Vice President Biden's Birthday, Obama Campaign Sells The "Cup Of Joe" Mug

The Obama fundraising operation never lets a holiday go by without making a plea for financial support. Today is Vice President Joe Biden's 69th birthday, and while it isn't (yet!) a national holiday, Campaign Manager Jim Messina sent an afternoon e-mail to donors suggesting a special celebration: Drop $20 (or more!) "to get your official Cup-of-Joe mug." Above, the mug as it appears on the OFA swag store website, complete with one of the Veep's favorite words, "literally," in the promo.

"I can't think of a better way to honor the Vice President's birthday than for his smile to grace kitchen tables and workplaces across America," Messina wrote in his e-mail.

Made in the USA, the mug is a big *&%!$*# deal, isn't it? And a perfect accompaniment to the Obama Birther Mug the Campaign is selling. Unfortunately, unlike President Obama's mug, Biden's doesn't have his birth certificate on it. Or Biden's other *&%!$*# signature fave word, which would make it a best-seller.

The mug missive was Messina's second Biden birthday e-mail of the day. Earlier, he sent an follow-up to Dr. Jill Biden's e-mail request that supporters sign a birthday card for her husband. Messina asked for more signatures "before we deliver the card to the Vice President."

"Hundreds of thousands of supporters have already added their names and their good wishes. Joe's going to love reading these," Messina wrote.

Messina's coffee mug e-mail had the subject heading "On this day in 1942".

Click here to see more Obama Campaign foodie swag, including a Biden can holder.

The text of Messina's mug e-mail:

Friend --

Joe Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on this day in 1942.

I can't think of a better way to honor the Vice President's birthday than for his smile to grace kitchen tables and workplaces across America.

Wish Joe a happy birthday -- donate $20 or more to get your official Cup of Joe mug today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Cup-of-Joe-Mug

Thank you,

Messina

Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

##

*Expect 4-6 week delivery time of you actually order a mug.

Happy Birthday, Vice President Joe Biden!

Dr. Jill Biden organizes a special gift for VP's 69th...
Vice President Joe Biden celebrates his 69th birthday today, his second since being sworn in to office. He's spending the day in Wilmington, Delaware and has no public events scheduled, according to the White House. In 2009, Biden celebrated his last birthday before becoming Vice President at Transition headquarters in Chicago, where President Obama presented him with a dozen cupcakes (above). It's the only Obama-Biden birthday photo released by the Administration that actually includes cake in the image.

Dr. Jill Biden will not be spending the big *&%!$*# deal of a day with her spouse in Delaware. Instead, she will be in Florida, joining First Lady Michelle Obama at Homestead-Miami Speedway as co-grand marshal for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale. They'll be hosting a barbecue for military families, and announcing a new private-sector jobs commitment for veterans as part of the Joining Forces campaign.

But on Friday, Dr. Biden orchestrated a special birthday celebration for the Vice President, sending an email to Obama campaign supporters, asking them to sign an online birthday card. It was also from the First Family, Dr. Biden said. (Above: The online card)

"I know I don't usually send you emails, but Joe has a birthday coming up this Sunday, and I'm trying something new," Dr. Biden wrote. "The First Family and I are putting together a special card for him...So help us make this birthday a memorable one for Joe."

The subject heading for the e-mail was "Sign Joe's card."

The full text:

Friend--

I know I don't usually send you emails, but Joe has a birthday coming up this Sunday, and I'm trying something new.

The First Family and I are putting together a special card for him, and we'd like as many supporters of this campaign as possible to add their names and messages for Joe.

Because the year ahead is going to be a big one -- not just for Joe and me, but for all of us. We've all got some work to do.

So help us make this birthday a memorable one for Joe. Add your names, and, if you like, your own notes and well-wishes for the year ahead:

http://my.barackobama.com/For-Joe

Thanks,

Jill

##

*Photo from Change.org, the website of the Transition

No More Cake For Federal Employees?

President's Executive Order to stop wasteful government spending includes getting rid of commemorative "swag"...
President Obama this morning ordered federal agencies to stop spending taxpayer dollars on "swag" as he signed an Executive Order "Promoting Efficient Spending," a mandate designed to trim the federal budget without waiting for Congress to act. The White House this morning issued guidance explaining one new rule: "Stop Swag--Or Government Promotional Handouts." Swag is defined as "non-essential items used for promotional purposes, such as clothing, mugs, and non-work related gadgets." In theory, cakes like the one above may now be off limits. It was created for Agriculture Secretary's Tom Vilsack's recent visit to Springfield, Illinois to "soft launch" the year-long 2012 celebration of USDA's 150th anniversary.

The cake's decoration is USDA's new commemorative logo, which will be on plenty of swag. Which raises the question, is cake a swaggy "non-work related gadget?" The government's problems with over-spending on food for federal events were revealed in September.

The Administration's goal is to cut spending by 20% in areas covered by the Executive Order. The President signed it during a brief Oval Office ceremony shortly before noon, joined by Vice President Joe Biden and federal workers who have created cost-saving ideas. The Executive Order is part of the Administration-wide "Campaign To Cut Waste," which Biden oversees. (Above: The President signing the Order; Biden is fourth from left).

"We don't need to wait for Congress," President Obama said, as he noted that Agencies should "try to root out waste, large and small, in a systematic way."

"We're cutting what we don't need so that we can invest in what we do need."

Press Secretary Jay Carney today told reporters that the cuts the President has ordered will amount to a savings of $4 billion annually. A trip like Vilsack's to Honest Abe's hometown might now be off limits, because the President has ordered Agencies to reduce unnecessary travel for employees. Other bans: Government employees must stop surfing the Internet while on the public's dime, and stop making personal calls with BlackBerries and other communication devices owned by the government. Agencies mist stop issuing multiple communication devices such as laptops and tablets, as well as reduce the use of fleet vehicles, and stop printing things that can just as easily be posted on the Internet.



Examples cited by the White House for cost-cutting are the Department of Homeland Security's decision to conduct annual audits to reduce the number of unused cellphones and air cards. The Internal Revenue Service plans to cut 27% of its travel costs by relying more on teleconferences and webinars, while the Commerce Department has reduced the number of fleet drivers to one for all top departmental officials, including for newly installed Secretary John Bryson, the White House said.

Finalists in a cost-saving contest among federal employees were also announced by the White House. One suggested the creation of a tool "lending library," while another suggested ending the purchase of US code books that are already available online.

*Cake photo by Bob Nichols/USDA; signing ceremony photo by AP/pool; White House video

Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces Cooking Event

The Second Lady will visit with military families at "Operation Home Cooking"... 
Dr. Jill Biden, who leads the Joining Forces campaign with First Lady Michelle Obama, will deliver remarks and visit with military families at the 2011 “Operation Home Cooking” event during the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show on Saturday in Washington, DC. (Above: Dr. Biden with military spouses at Ft. Stewart)

"Now in its second year, Operation Home Cooking has offered 2,500 military spouses the opportunity to attend the Cooking & Entertaining Show and participate in celebrity chef demonstrations in recognition of their commitment and sacrifices for our nation," said the White House.

Biden is a blue star mother; she and Vice President Joe Biden are parents to Beau Biden, a Captain in the Delaware Army National Guard, and a veteran of the Iraq war. The cooking show is at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

*In the photo at top, Dr. Biden talks with Army spouses during a visit to Fort Stewart, Ga., on Feb. 14, 2011. U.S. Army photo by D. Myles Cullen.

VP's Office Tweets Biden-Cantor Dinner

The Vice President and the House Majority Leader have a "close relationship," according to the White House...
A photo of Vice President Joe Biden and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) having a candle-lit dinner with their wives, Dr. Jill Biden and Mrs. Diana Cantor, at the Naval Observatory on Wednesday night was tweeted on the @VP account on Thursday night. The bipartisan dinner was deemed a "personal" and "social" event by the White House. Despite being a sharp critic of the Obama Administration's policies, Cantor has a "close" personal relationship with Biden, according to the White House.

"Diana and I are looking forward to sitting down with @VP and Jill Biden for dinner tonight." Cantor tweeted on Wednesday evening, on his @EricCantor account.

Biden and Cantor "developed a close relationship during their prolonged negotiations earlier this year" over the debt ceiling, Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the dinner was "something that the two gentlemen had wanted to do for some time, and they finally got it on the schedule."

The Vice President likes the idea of re-enacting the "collegial" cross-aisle socializing that went on during his 36 years in the Senate, Carney explained.

The Thursday night tweet from @VP: "PHOTO: VP and Dr. B at dinner last night with @GOPLeader Cantor and Diana Cantor at the U.S. Naval Observatory http://pic.twitter.com/L"

*Photo by @VP

Biden Marks 50th Anniversary Of USAID

Video: Vice President gives keynote at DC celebration...
Vice President Joe Biden this morning delivered the keynote remarks at the United States Agency for International Development’s 50th Anniversary Commemoration, held at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. Part of the State Department, USAID was created by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, and is now led by administrator Rajiv Shah. The two major initiatives launched by the Obama Administration are Feeding the Future to combat global hunger, and the Global Health Initiative to address health issues including HIV/AIDS, malaria and child/newborn health. There is currently a special component devoted to the famine in the Horn of Africa.

Biden's son, Hunter Biden, recently became chair of the World Food Program.

"We can't help them all but we can do something and it is the right thing to do," Biden said.

Check out the anniversary website here.


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