White House State Dinner – Who Made the Exclusive Guest List?
Email ABC News’ Karen Travers reports: The list is out – commence the scrutiny! The White House finally has released the highly anticipated guest for tonight’s state dinner in honor of Indian Prime Minister Singh and it features a wide range of people from Hollywood, politics, media, organized labor and White House staff and Obama friends and family. Three-hundred-thirty-five guests made the cut. Not on the list, despite heavy speculation in Washington – talk show host and Obama supporter Oprah Winfrey. But her best friend Gayle King will be there. In attendance will be outgoing White House counsel Greg Craig, who announced he would step down at the end of the year after months of rumors about his job security. Also dining at the White House tonight — Rep. David Obey (D-WI) who told ABC News’ Jon Karl this week “There ain't going to be no money for nothing if we pour it all into Afghanistan.” The full guest list can be found here: Some highlights – From Hollywood:
David Geffen (who stepped into the middle of the Obama/Hillary Clinton primary fight in Feb. 2007 when he told the New York Times Clinton was the “easiest to beat” in the Democratic field and that nobody believes that since leaving office, “all of a sudden Bill Clinton has become a different person”).
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Alfre Woodard
Blair E Underwood
Steven Spielberg Prominent Indian-Americans:
Mr. Deepak Chopra
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R)
Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN (and once the subject of much speculation for the position of Surgeon General) From the world of politics:
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
General Colin Powell (who endorsed Obama during last year’s presidential election) From television media:
ABC’s Robin Roberts
NBC’s Brian Williams
CNN’s Fareed Zakaria
CBS’ Katie Couric
Oprah pal Gayle King
(Not on the list – anyone from FOX News) From organized labor:
Andy Stern (SEIU)
Anna Burger (SEIU)
Richard Trumka (AFL-CIO) And Obama family and friends:
Maya Soetoro-Ng (Obama’s sister)
Konrad Ng (Maya’s husband)
Dr. Eric E. Whitaker
Martin Nesbitt
Anita Blanchard (Nesbitt’s wife)
Penny Pritzker -Karen Travers
Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
Pentagon to Open Additional Jobs to Women
Looks like family, friends, and fundraisers made the list.
Posted by: MayBee | November 24, 2009, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm
“Not on the list – anyone from FOX News”
No one from MSNBC, The Daily Kos or Huffington Post either…
And are there really only (R) from the world of politics?
Posted by: jhw539 | November 24, 2009, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
CNN’s Fareed Zakaria is also a prominent Indian American.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 24, 2009, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
What about Obama’s illegal aunt living on the taxpayer dime?
Andy Stern from SEIU lives at the white house now it seems.
Hear about the SEIU thug official who threatened cub scouts for doing volunteer work at a local park??
Hear about the Obama Czar involved in Climate Gate?
Thanks for the cake abc.
Posted by: Zero | November 24, 2009, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
Is Andy Stern passing out Purple Shirts at the door?
Posted by: sybilll | November 24, 2009, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm
Look at all these posts on this dinner. It’s like a bunch of high school nerds writing about the Prom King the day of the big night.
Posted by: Huh? | November 24, 2009, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
They left out young_voter, ;).
Posted by: young_voter | November 24, 2009, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
It looks like there’s a leak: Pentagon preparing to send 34,000 troops to Afghanistan, official says.
Posted by: young_voter | November 24, 2009, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
I hope he has a great time at his big party, and he isn’t too stressed out over the millions of people who have lost their jobs since he became President.
Posted by: bgates | November 24, 2009, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
Does Erik Whitaker ever actually WORK? He’s here tonight. He’s here a lot, playing golf.
Those who pay his salary in Chifago really would like to know if he ever aftually does anything to earn a payheck.
Posted by: liz | November 24, 2009, 10:58 pm 10:58 pm
Andy Stern from SEIU is in the white house more than Obama is.
Some of his thugs handiwork:
On August 6th Kenneth Gladney attended the Russ Carnahan town hall meeting in south St. Louis County. Kenneth was there to make some money selling freedom flags and buttons. After the meeting Kenneth was assaulted, beaten and stomped by angry SEIU thugs who were upset that a black man would be selling anti-Obama merchandise. Gladney was taken to the hospital following the attack.
Posted by: Zero | November 24, 2009, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm
Who made a horrible lists of guests who had supported Obama a huge financial or endosed only? Is Oprah Lesbian ? Why she has taken always her partner, Gayle King ? They have lived together under one roof. How Obama invited “SEIU” and
skipped to invite even one correspondent
of main stream media, FOX. It just proof that Obama is narrow minded and unfair President in American historically.
“Jeffrey Katzenberg
Alfre Woodard
Blair E Underwood
Steven Spielberg”
General Colin Powell (who endorsed Obama during last year’s presidential election)
From television media:
ABC’s Robin Roberts
NBC’s Brian Williams
CNN’s Fareed Zakaria
CBS’ Katie Couric
Oprah pal Gayle King
(Not on the list – anyone from FOX News)
From organized labor:
Andy Stern (SEIU)
Anna Burger (SEIU)
Richard Trumka (AFL-CIO)
Posted by: Jamie | November 24, 2009, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
This fool should be working on the economy 24/7. All he does is travel and have parties.
Posted by: Bubbles | November 25, 2009, 12:01 am 12:01 am
This fool should be working on the economy 24/7. All he does is travel and have parties.
__________________________________
Oh sure .. .
Posted by: tierra | November 25, 2009, 3:00 am 3:00 am
Since the SEIU’s union-busting boss Andy Stern seems to have his own key to the White House and is considered the hand in Barack Obama’s puppet, it should come as no surprise that he and his fellow union accomplices were served a full-course meal at tax-payer expense.
Posted by: LaborUnionReport | November 25, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
I guess my invitation got lost in the mail………..speaking of which: Maybe we should privatize the Postal Service.
Posted by: Doppelganger | November 25, 2009, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
For all of the years that I have been paying taxes I don’t remember ever seeing a tax form check-off box for a taxpayer funded, private kegger.
Missed Bill and Georges name on the list. Must be a typo.
Posted by: The Falcon | November 25, 2009, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
“I guess my invitation got lost in the mail………..speaking of which: Maybe we should privatize the Postal Service.”
That is a great idea if you want to pay twice to three times as much for mailing letters and parcels. Look at DHL and FedEx. No thanks.
Posted by: veggiedude | November 25, 2009, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Veggiedude said:
“That is a great idea if you want to pay twice to three times as much for mailing letters and parcels. Look at DHL and FedEx. No thanks.”
VD, do you really think the government can deliver a letter for only forty some cents and still come out in the black? The PO is subsidized with taxpayer dollars.
Posted by: Montzilla | November 25, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
Oprah did get an invite — she got the BIG invite to interview the First Family for a Christmas Special at the White House.
Posted by: susie | November 25, 2009, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
“On August 6th Kenneth Gladney attended the Russ Carnahan town hall meeting in south St. Louis County. Kenneth was there to make some money selling freedom flags and buttons”
ROFLMAO!
Yes another Phil Parlock or Ashley Todd.
The best was when Kenneth appeared with his lawyer…in a wheel chair with a neck brace on.
It was like some bad 80′s TV show cliche.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 25, 2009, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
“The best was when Kenneth appeared with his lawyer…in a wheel chair with a neck brace on.
It was like some bad 80′s TV show cliche.”
Pretty funny, huh? According to the Post Dispatch, Six people were charged today including two for assault on Kenneth Gladney.
Posted by: Sigmonde | November 25, 2009, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
Hi Gayle: misplaced your #, shocked what happened Oprah not invited.
TO OPRAH: TURN DOWN THE INVITE…USING YOU!!
liz…remember??
Posted by: liz | November 25, 2009, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm
The best was when Kenneth appeared with his lawyer…in a wheel chair with a neck brace on.
_____________________________
Anyone who has seen the video tape where Kenneth speaks to the camera at the end of the incident can see he certainly hasn’t been ‘beaten senseless’ as the right wing liars posting on here have claimed.
Take a look.
Misdemeanor charges have been filed against 6 people, some for ‘scuffling’ and one reporter for interfering with police.
If this is anything like it appears, it’s a very minor incident and a very minor altercation – blown up with lies and exaggeration by the right wing Republicans for their political gain.
What else is new?
Posted by: tierra | November 25, 2009, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm
I am so sick and tired of the presidents we elect to represent us using OUR money to fund lavish meals and entertainment for celebrities. This has to stop NOW.
Posted by: NGF | July 4, 2010, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm