On top of running a fundraising lottery for dinners with the President (I'm sure you've been getting Michelle and Barack's emails), the White House has been prominently using the ensuing sit downs for photo-ops. The latest event took place a few days ago at the Mintwood Place restaurant in D.C.'s Adams Morgan neighborhood. Whereas, on the surface, it's heartening to see the Obamas hanging with wildfire smoke jumpers and assistant high school principals, as if one of those chairs might be filled (for $25 or so) by you or me, I'm wondering about the larger symbolism.
Isn't what we're seeing here, in fact, mostly the product of brilliant marketing, the president (or Romney) engineering the perception of populism and participation? More seriously, by having people pay for the opportunity, isn't the campaign also emulating and forcing the public to (literally) buy into the plutocratic game where citizens (those with the real wealth) are expected to pony up to get (the real) attention of elected leaders? Looking at the photo again, how much is the scene a democratic act, a lighthearted strategy for engagement, a concept to say that the little guy helped build the bank, one more reinforcement of the lottery society, and/or a vehicle to model for the American electorate the concept of "pay to play"?
And then, I happened to also notice this single photo from the evening the White House happened to publish on Instagram. In contrast to the wire photos presumably taken of the Obamas and the lottery winners before the dinner started, everyone sitting there with a glass of water in front of them, the Instagram shot shows the Obamas in isolation enjoying their meal in what otherwise (there's no caption) looks like an intimate dinner.
Not to make too big a deal out of it, I also wonder what kind of message this snapshot is supposed to communicate given the whole point of the event involves the Obamas breaking bread with Joan and Jane Q. Public.
(Photo 1: Pete Marovich-Pool/Getty Images caption: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have dinner with three winners of "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" fundraising contest on August 20, 2012 at Mintwood Place in Washington, DC. Voters will go to the polls on November 6 to decided if Obama will be re-elected for another four years.)(Photo 2: @barackobama / Instagram.)
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We did a bucket list thing at church. I was amazed that meeting the Obamas was at the top of just about everyone's list. This fundraising idea makes such a thing possible for some lucky somebodies. I am thrilled for them.
A friend's mom worked on the '08 campaign in her city. She was invited to the White House for lunch. She had the best time ever. She got there and looked for all the other invitees.It was just her little group. She was shocked.
Then they asked her what she wanted to eat. She said whatever you are serving. They said, no, really, what do you want to eat. She said crab cakes. They said large or small, and how many? Needless to say, this was the best and most memorable lunch of her lifetime, and she thoroughly enjoyed this time with our President.
President Obama genuinely engages with folks. I have never seen people used as props. I do not appreciate that kind of aspersion in this story. These fundraising appeals offer the chance to more regular folks like my friend's mom, and that is a great thing. I say if you get that chance and don't want it, HOLLA! I will take your place anytime, anywhere.
Two, if you read the fine print, there's usually a way to enter without making a donation. That's what I did for a trip to the DNC convention.
Three, you're really grasping at straws, aren't you? $25 donations (as cited in your article) certainly compares to a Sheldon Adelson or Koch brother donation. Futhermore, all your expenses are paid for the trip, which pales in comparison to a lowly $25 donation. Give me a break.
And then, I happened to notice there are only a very few restaurants that have a seating capacity of 300,000.
And then, I happened to notice the President otherwise lives in a bubble and really doesn't get too many chances to talk to regular people.
See, I'm very observant!
In any case, Romney would be insulting the baked goods after showing up late, and then blame somebody else for it. He'd then tip 13 percent but only for his own meals value, while claiming the whole dinner as a tax deduction.
I did not get selected... but if I had, I already have my questions memorized and also written down -- the first one being: 1) Why are such a wimp? The second: 2) Why no one responsible for the economic crash is being prosecuted?
There are more... many more.
M
2. The other diners would be so annoyed they would snatch you up, drag you to the bathroom, and "clean you up". You might gather yourself enough to join the party by desert, if you dare.
There won't be any more whatsoever guaranteed.
Many Americans are throwing away the chance to be VERY proud of the President of the United States. He is intelligent, funny, and knows what he is doing. Sad that some people will never see it.