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State dinner guest list includes Washington, Hollywood stars

By Christina Wilkie - 11/24/09 07:22 PM ET

The guest list for President Barack Obama’s first State Dinner on Tuesday for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh features a heady mix of media personalities, Democratic lawmakers, Indian-Americans, entertainment industry power players and administration officials.

Hollywood heavyweights Steven Speilberg, M. Night Shyamalan, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen are all among the guests. Joining them are two of the three major network news anchors, CBS's Katie Couric and NBC's Brian Williams, but not Charlie Gibson of ABC. Also representing the fourth estate are New York Times columnist Tom Friedman and CNN personalities Fareed Zakaria and Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Major Obama donors from Chicago at the dinner include real estate heiress Penny Pritzker, James and Paula Crown, and Oprah Winfrey's best friend and business partner Gayle King. Winfrey is not at the dinner.


A number of lawmakers flew in for the event, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Govs. Ed Rendell (D-Pa.), Bobby Jindal (R-La.), Deval Patrick (D-Mass.), Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) and Jennifer Granholm (D-Mich.).

Sens. Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) are all attending, as is one Republican member of the Senate, Indiana's Richard Lugar. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is not among the expected attendees.

The top three Democratic leaders of the House will also be seated among the more than 400 guests: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) are all on the list, which does not include any Republican House members, although Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) was reportedly invited.

Other notable guests include spiritual teacher Deepak Chopra, General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt, Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Amartya Sen, author Jhumpa Lahiri, Gen. Colin Powell, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Obama’s mother-in-law, Marian Robinson.




Source:
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/69367-state-dinner-guest-list-includes-powers-from-washington-and-hollywood

Comments (26)

While we're suffering here in the heartland, already laid off or fearful of losing our jobs, scared *** that we will be unable to pay our mortgages and lose our homes, it's nice to know that Obama is such a man of the people. Yup, a regular Andrew Jackson…say hi to Steven Spielberg and Deepak Chopra for me will you please King Barack and Queen Mic[***]e.BY obama the phony on 11/24/2009 at 19:47
It's very nice there is still plenty of money in Washington,don't cut back on our account,we'll find jobs sooner or later.BY rick on 11/24/2009 at 19:56
What does it say in the Bible? Oh yea, you can gain the whole world but loose your soul. Something like that. In the end, when one dies, I in the end would have rather lost the world but gained my soul.BY Susan on 11/24/2009 at 19:59
Twas the month before Christmas**When all through our land,**Not a Christian was praying**Nor taking a stand.**See the PC Police had taken away,**The reason for Christmas - no one could say.**The children were told by their schools not to sing,**About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.**It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say** December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.**Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit**Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!**CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod**Something was changing, something quite odd! **Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa**In hopes to sell books by Franken Fonda.**As Targets were hanging their trees upside down** At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.**At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears**You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.**Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty**Are words that were used to intimidate me.**Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen**On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!**At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter**To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.**And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith** Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace**The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded**The reason for the season, stopped before it started.**So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'**Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.**Choose your words carefully, choose what you say**Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!*Please , all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet during theholidays a MERRY CHRISTMASChrist is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!BY notanobamafan on 11/24/2009 at 20:23
More than 400 guests. Is this a normal guest list for such occasions? Please provide some information on past Presidents' State Dinners. How many guests? How many State Dinners would be considered normal during a 4 year term?BY rnews4u on 11/24/2009 at 20:33
Why are you people so bitter and unrealistic? Every president has state dinners regardless of what is going on with the US economy. Are we not to host foreign dignitaries?BY hannahjane on 11/24/2009 at 20:35
Oh please people, it would not matter who was in The White House right now, state dinners would be the norm. In recent history name a President who did not host state dinners even during the worst economic hardships or wartime. We keep talking about job losses how about contacting every American corporation who has moved or will move their manufacturing facilities to third world countries for cheaper labor min to no labor laws. Yet still we purchase these products so aren't we contributing to the problem as well?BY Michelle on 11/24/2009 at 20:37
notanobamafan that was great, and true, unfortunatly, merry christmas everyone, put crosses in your front yard all lit up this year as a protest to our leader that we will not be silent.BY cargo65 on 11/24/2009 at 20:57
As this is the worst economy since the Great Depression with unemployment the highest in decades — then Obama could and should postpone these types of extravagent taxpayer-funded parties.BY Let us eat cake on 11/24/2009 at 20:59
Glad to know they are enjoying themselves, while unemployment rate is 10.2% and rising and millions along with their families have lost their homes. If you include those that have stopped receiving unemployment the rate is much higher. Unfortunately this White House is out of touch with the people of the United States. Hopefully this will change with 2010 election…BY bailedout on 11/24/2009 at 21:36

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