The Obamas’ State Dinner Not Quite A Rager
Posted by: Kate Torgovnick
Filed in:
news
10:50AM, Wednesday November 25th 2009
‘Tis the season for holiday parties, and Barack and Michelle Obama threw a big one last night—their first state dinner, honoring the prime minister of India. Held on the White House lawn, the Obamas invited politicos like Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Mike Bloomberg and assorted famous folks like Steven Spielberg, Katie Couric, and Gayle King—oddly, Oprah wasn’t on the guest list. Since the theme of the night was India, a vegetarian meal was served and Michelle wore a dress by an Indian designer. Other highlights of the night: a wardrobe malfunction when Senator Bob Casey lost his cummerbund, and a performance by Jennifer Hudson. I’m sure our invite just got lost in the mail? [CNN, NY Post]
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dizzy
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 11:00 am: [report]
Michelle looks so gorgeous. I am so proud of our first couple - it is so nice to have a President and a first lady that aren’t total dumb*sses. ♥
Catherine Strawn
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 11:01 am: [report]
Oooh! A vegetarian meal! I wish they’d put the recipes online.
lilmissA
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 11:03 am: [report]
@dizzy: I totally agree! I love them and love that they are now the new face we are showing off to the World!
powplz
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 11:04 am: [report]
@Catherine - indeed! <3 Indian food.
dizzy
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 11:08 am: [report]
@lilmissA: I was in Turkey earlier this year, and I was walking on the bridge that joins Europe to Asia in Istanbul. A shoe-shiner dropped his brush while walking past me, and I picked it up and called to him that he had dropped it. He turned and thanked me profusely, and tried to give my shoes a free shine. I declined, and he asked where I was from. I said “The United States” and he shouted “Obama!!! I love Obama! We are so happy he was elected.” I felt so damn proud. For years when I had been traveling I would say I was from the US and cringe a little inside. No longer.
lilmissA
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 11:50 am: [report]
@dizzy: I love hearing stories like that. I was living abroad while Bush was in office and I absolutely know what you mean about cringing on the inside!
christinax4
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 12:22 pm: [report]
ok this story makes me mad. We are in a super-recession and extravagances like this need to be shelved. I voted for Obama, but stuff like this burns me up/how many needy families here or in india or wherever are starving…we cant have thanksgiving this year, ive been out of work for over a year…and when i hear about stuff like this, or Obama’s “date-night”, or Michele’s designer outfits and dresses and shoes or whatever i just want to cry, i have 4 daughters and i cant even buy them new socks and underwear.
christinax4
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 12:28 pm: [report]
and before anyone writes “But he’s our PRESIDENT’ i know that, i know he has to hobnob with world leaders and so forth, but in light of our current global monetary crisis, this kinda sh@t is just not appropriate, why can’t they scale back like the rest of the world…did Michelle REALLY need a sparkly new gown from an indian designer…couldnt she just wear one of the 7 gowns she wore for the inauguration parties???
dizzy
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 02:15 pm: [report]
@Christina: Laura Bush’s outfits probably cost a bundle each, but the difference is that they were fug and Michelle’s are not. Remember how much Sarah Palin dropped on clothes during the campaign? They sure didn’t look expensive to me.
parijat
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 03:32 pm: [report]
Most of the designers the First Lady has gone with are new or up and coming. Plus, sometimes these state dinners are needed to create relations with other countries or to show that they are trying to work together.
Sometimes it seems that all these “shenanigans” are a waste of money, but we don’t fully know the story or the reasoning of it. We just see the sparkles and bling. :(
However, this is just MY opinion and from MY point of view. I think its cool that they appreciated someone from India (obviously I have a huge bias, being Indian). Bringing cultural awareness not just to the White House, but to all of us. Really cool that they did a vegetarian meal
Disclaimer: This is just my opinion and my thoughts.
Gorigrl
wrote on November 25 2009 @ 08:30 pm: [report]
I just wish Michelle could’ve gotten a manish malhotra dress…his designs are fantabulous!!
Amy C.
wrote on November 26 2009 @ 06:59 pm: [report]
Well, the food looks great!
msu.umich
wrote on November 26 2009 @ 07:34 pm: [report]
@christina, I hear ya. I’ve also read the flak she gets for rewearing her outfits a lot though….
Budlight Lime Gal
wrote on November 26 2009 @ 11:55 pm: [report]
I think she’s pretty no matter what we should be proud we have such a stylish 1st family.
canadiancutie
wrote on November 28 2009 @ 12:11 pm: [report]
That is the nicest I have ever seen her look. If I didn’t know better I’d think I were looking at an actress on the red carpet at the Oscars and not a politican’s wife.
DancingGeek
wrote on November 28 2009 @ 09:36 pm: [report]
She looks absolutely stunning!
redheadllena
wrote on November 29 2009 @ 12:40 am: [report]
I’d be willing to bet that she didn’t pay a dime for that dress, nor did your tax dollars. Celebrities are sometimes given a designer gown to wear to an event just to promote the designer, and Michelle would be someone who, when seen in your gown, would definitely generate sales. It was probably (and eagerly) given to her by the designer as a gift.