The blow out state dinner- I think it's a boneheaded move

[cali]

I know it's not a huge deal, but in this economy, why not just hold a smaller state dinner inside the WH?

The building blocks of diplomacy...start with dinner
The tent for President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's State Dinner in honor of India and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been compared to "an Indian wedding tent," but it's not so much a tent as it is a massive closed pavilion. Construction started Thursday, but really picked up steam yesterday. The pavilion is being wired for sound and lights, and of course will include heaters; temperatures on Tuesday night are expected to be in the low 50s.

By the time it's completed, the pavilion could include drapery in the color scheme chosen for the dinner, which will transform the look of the structure, inside and out--but the color scheme is still top secret, as are flowers, menu, etc. etc. There are now satellite staging areas on the sides of the tent, too

<snip>

http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2009/11/state-dinner-tent-part-iii-satellite.html

[MoJoWorkin]

1. This is the FIRST one they have done since coming to the White House. Geez.

As the head of state, it is necessary that some "state dinners" be held.


Also, it gives some people extra work--constructing the tent, etc.


God help me, but does every last thing have to be criticized?

[cali]

4. this will be criticized and where is it written that a state dinner

has to be so big that it can't be held inside the WH?

[MoJoWorkin]

6. I doubt it costs much more to hold it outside. And, as I said, it creates some work

for those pitching the tent, etc.

They had a tent on the White House lawn for the Fiesta Latina music series at the White House---did you criticize that, as well? There were some big stars at that one to celebrate. George Lopez, who was an emcee, made a joke that they (Hispanics) seemed to always be outside, in the back, in a tent.

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. At the risk of hyperventilating,

I don't care for this either. With the economy so down and the jobless rising, pictures of this just feed resentment. I can defend it to the hills, but the pictures paint a certain story to some people.

[Obamanaut]

3. This is a way we can show the world that the employees (elected

officials) live 'higher on the hog' than do the employers (tax paying public.)

I agree with you - it is a boneheaded move, and it does send the wrong message.

'rec'

[UndertheOcean]

5. well, Empires always like to waste money on the Emperor

It is a rotation of Emperors selected by popularity contests these days, it was Emperors for life in Roman times : you say tomato I say tamato

does not surprise me at all.

[liberal N proud]

7. Can the Obama administration not do anything without criticism?

For gawds sake!

[jaxx]

8. No they can't.

I suppose if they served them bread and water in a dimly lit room that might past muster, but I doubt it.

[hileeopnyn8d]

19. That didn't work

for Carter, I suspect it wouldn't work for Obama either. Carter received soooo much criticism for his frugality by both republicans and Democrats.

[jasi2006]

9. Sorry, but criticism is due on this one.

Timing and perception mean everything. 4 more of our children killed in Afghanistan yesterday and Obama still hasn't made a decision to either bring them home or send them more help. This is not the time for eating, drinking, and being merry. I think ALL state dinners should be eliminated until some other major decisions are made.

[liberal N proud]

13. Would a soup line make everyone happy?

I am sure they served soup if that makes you feel better.

It's a dinner for visiting dignitaries. Diplomacy!

[madokie]

10. I guess I'll have to unrec this

for the silliness of it all. My question is whose side are you on? anyway

[FarCenter]

11. Have they checked the immigration status of the workers putting it up?

[Obamanaut]

12. I clicked on the link in the OP, and behold, in the links on the sidebar,

is this http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2009/11/unsettling-wake-up-call-for-america.html that tells me there are more than 49 million people in the US with food insecurity (they don't always have enough.)

I think this is a very good reason to find fault with a state dinner that requires the building of a separate structure to hold it. It is not a tent that was 'put up' but a bit of construction.

Criticism in this case is justified.

[Bitwit1234]

14. How many over grossed out ones did bush have

I think he had a couple in one week just because of this. There were too many to have a one. I am going to check. Of course it could be a sit down dinner for four and the republicans are going to complain. How about bush crawling under the tables and making fun of WMD's that was reported and most republicans laughed. A few democrats got to say it was stupid and unworthy but it never took off, the ha ha's won with the Media.

[blues90]

15. In an economy such as this one .

It is the job of the WH to set an example not go way off the charts as if everything is fine while people are losing everything how does this promote them?

[philly_bob]

16. UNREC Someone has a whole blog devoted to WH food choices? /nt

[bigtree]

17. I think it's a necessary diplomatic move for the administration after the cordial China visit

India's pissed at the China visit. This is a perfect way for them to show solidarity with the world's largest democracy and maintain our necessary and important close relationship.


NYT: Obama's Warming to China Seen as Slight in India

November 23, 2009

NEW DELHI — The statement, on its surface, seemed like any other bland missive released at the end of a polite visit by a head of state. It was put out by the united States and China after President Obama’s visit there, and said that the two countries would “work together to promote peace, stability and development” in South Asia.

But on the eve of the visit to Washington by the Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, where on Tuesday he will be the guest of honor at President Obama’s first state dinner, the words rank as one of several perceived slights that have dampened hopes for a new chapter in the sometimes rocky relationship between the United States and India.

The vague statement has been widely interpreted here as an invitation to China to meddle in India’s backyard, and prompted howls of dismay across the political spectrum.

“How can you make China responsible for keeping peace in South Asia?” said Prem Shankar Jha, a columnist and political analyst, channeling the prevailing sentiment among Delhi’s chattering class. “China has done nothing in South Asia except to play a destructive role here,” he continued, referring to China’s close ties to India’s archrival, Pakistan.

Beyond the surface issues, however, lies a deeper tension, in which India sees a warmer relationship between Washington and Beijing under the Obama administration as a threat to its rise as a global power, and worries that India is being relegated to a regional role on par with its troubled neighbors, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/world/asia/24india.html?pagewanted=print

[undeterred]

18. Is Adam Lambert going to perform?

[DefenseLawyer]

20. It's all part of proper protocol.

Which diplomatic class takes very seriously. Now you can argue whether or not all that pretentiousness is necessary, but it was there long before he got there and will be there long after.