Obamas To Appear At 10 Inaugural Balls

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, will twirl their way through 10 official inaugural balls on Jan. 20.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee said Wednesday that the Obamas would attend 10 official balls, one more than President George W. Bush and Laura Bush attended in 2005.

For ball-goers and Obama-watchers, a few questions remain: What will Michelle Obama wear? Who will perform? And will young daughters Sasha and Malia attend?

No word from the committee on those fronts.

Six of the official balls will be held at the Washington Convention Center, with others at Union Station, the Washington Hilton, the National Building Museum and the DC Armory.

But the biggest parties this time may well be unofficial.

MTV and BET are throwing televised parties, while the Creative Coalition will hold a gala to be headlined by Elvis Costello. Dionne Warwick is hosting the American Music Inaugural Ball.

Comments

[toni63]

It is in celebrating this historic event that we can overcome the depressing situations some of us like me ,who as an independent contractor who's clients are so slow in paying , or not even paying me at all now that their money has been slowed down...as their clients haven't paid them, I am still trying to come up with this months rent .....and I am going to remain steadfast and strong that we will overcome this and it begins with the optimism that comes from within ...
the audacity and luxury of HOPE....which.is actually free..!!!!

[politicojunkie]

I am flat broke, but happy for the Obamas. I say, let the party begin! I will kick my heels up with a bottle of non-alcoholic champaign and enjoy watching from the comfort of my den.

[Merp]

I might have a party of my own!! I'm so excited about this.

I absolutely love that photo of Mr. O kissing his beautiful wife.

[MissT]

Oh so sweet and on the nose no less. And it looks like the most intimate, romantic move ever.

[tomomaha]

He sure as hell won't be at the LGBT ball (which really should be cancelled).

[stateMachine]

Yes, this is cause for celebration. Yes, they do deserve it. Yes, I thought they had more tact.

[spartanmom]

Tact?

How so?

[KarenT]

What? They shouldn't attend any of the balls being held for them? And why is that?

[Marie62866]

There is going to be some serious Barocking that night! I wish I could be there!!

[Bitsko]

Let's hope Mr. Bob Dylan will perform.

"Me, I was born in 1941. That was the year they bombed Pearl Harbor. I've been living in a world of darkness ever since. But it looks like things are going to change now." (Bob Dylan, election night 2008)

[Madampotential]

I bet Dylan would love to perform... I would love the see Dylan, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef and Norah Jones all share the same stage.

[Bitsko]

That would be most sweet. Here's Mr. Bobby and Norah Jones Singing "I Shall Be Released" for ya.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Zh_yFfMZY

[joshlobley]

He played 'Chimes of Freedom' at Bill Clinton's Inaugural Concert.

I reviewed the video at my blog DylanTube - here's the post

http://dylantube.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/chimes-of-freedom-live-at-bill-clintons-inaugural-concert-in-washington-dc-on-january-the-17th-1993/

[myinnerteen]

Um, I think Oprah will be attending at least one, if not more, of the balls. She IS Oprah, after all...

[lizziekw]

Ten is pretty much the right number - good for them.

I'd forgotten that party animal President Clinton broke the record with 14. lol So funny - and so HIM. That's not a criticism, I love the Clintons.

[zlohcuc]

In these extraordinary economic times we continue to see little evidence of exemplary behavior befitting of the crisis we are supposedly all facing. Pretty much business as usual for the "leadership"
that put us on the brink. Obama deserves his props and to be feted but can't this type of excess be toned down in keeping with the America's current condition? People are geuinely hurting across America-restraint is in order.

[LittleRedHenSez]

We still need to celebrate this wonderful event. We can show restraint before and after.

[live-aloha]

I just plopped down a lot of money for my trip from Hawaii to the inauguration. It's worth it to me. I'm retired and I'm sure I should be sitting on my savings for some dreadful thing that might happen to me in the future, but to hell with that!! In my lifetime, this will happen once and I don't care how may gazillion people will be there or how madening the travel might be.....I'm gonna freeze my butt off and party for my country.

[Jacqueline3]

Let him celebrate! I did not hear anyone tell BUSH to tune down his inauguration in 2004 when we were in TWO unnecessary WARS! It is being funded by donations and I say let him celebrate anyway he likes, he deserves it! People are hurting because of the last 8 years. To celebrate Bush's departure, THE WHOLE COUNTRY SHOULD CELEBRATE!

[aware4O]

True that!

[Gusto2]

I totally agree with jacqueline3. Nobody is complaining of the last 8 years. They are not even blaming Bush for the mess. Obama and WE the People deserve the celebrations. We will be celebration Obama's arrival and most of all Bush/Cheney departure. Bush was celebrating and claiming "political capital" in 2004 while our brothers and sisters were dying in Iraq and Afghnistan and I did not hear anyone complain of any excess and yes the country was in an economic basquet case.

[trebledamages]

Ditto! You "hit the nail on the head" - business as usual. These ARE extraordinary economic times, and Obama, who has run a campaign based on "change," does not appear to be "walking the walk." The money to be spent on these extravaganzas would be put to better use by feeding the hungry, for example. Instead, I'm sure the menus at these events will provide food fit for a king. However, the U.S. decided not to create a monarchy when it drafted the Constitution.

I think this kind of excess is purely disgusting. This is not change, it's more of the same. Isn't one ball enough?

[RudiZ]

There’s no reason not to celebrate enthusiastically but with some economic restraint. Instead of oysters on those silly itty-bitty bickies, (horse’s doovers :>) they can pop on tiny bits of Spam & Obama can front up wearing those famous shoes of his with the holes in the soles.

That way if Bush turns up he can whip them off and throw them at him, which will not only save several rainforests being destroyed by being turned into confetti, it will cause the Iraqis to become so enamored with O that they will elect him de-facto President of Iraq as well, and Ay-rabs everywhere in the world might even commence throwing flowers at Americans instead of bombs, and and to top it off, an obscenely wealthy Sheik might even offer to purchase the holey Obama shoes for enough trillions to rescue the economy :-))

[ladyv]

OMG Obama is so selfish to think of having an inauguration! Next thing you know he'll be trying to actual assume the Presidency or move into the White House or something. Presumptuous!

[spartanmom]

Yeah, imagine what it must cost to heat that place. He should really be thinking about moving into a nice split-level on a cul-du-sac in Maryland

[aware4O]

You mean in my house? Hoorayyyy

[Jacqueline3]

Ha, ha!

[jukesgrrl]

I'm taking the day off work and will watch every possible minute on TV. It's the best way to go to a ball -- in your robe and slippers.

[FACINGREALIT]

I'm with you jukesgrrl - I've actually purchased pajamas and slippers befitting of such a joyous occassion.

[timetorevolt]

don't forget the champagne!!!

[spartanmom]

I'll be weeping by the radio.

I recorded BC's first inauguration on a cassette.
For this one I have You Tube. Change is good

[Jacqueline3]

I am taking off the 19th and the 20th. I think after the last 8 years I can use 4days of celebrating. I'll start celebrating on the 15th!

[grata2ude]

Did the same. I'm recording it as I've done many of his campaign speeches. I've never been this excited about a new President in my life and I ain't no young chick. LOL

[learnsomething]

I am so happy about our historic win..

IT'S PARTY TIME! Lets the celebrations begin!

I would love to attend at least one ball.

[Berkeleyan]

Like other Americans, our family has been affected by the economic crisis. Our son only asked for a $10 Rubik's Cube from Santa. But I am happy that other people have the means to contribute to these Inaugural Balls for Obama. He deserves this historic moment. I don't know why people criticized Obama for his (going home) Hawaii vacation. He and his family need to rest after working so hard. The house the Obama family is renting is like a typical house in the Berkeley Hills. Big deal! Smaller than Palin's Alaska glass house, perhaps.

[Kiabell04]

Will the ball air on national TV?

[lizziekw]

It'll be wall to wall balls on tv all night, generally following the new President's and First Lady's path. Interspersed with that will be replay of the Inaugural and lots of pund-ificating.