Israel Matzav

Obama apes Gadhafi?

In London's Daily Telegraph, Toby Harnden reports that President Obumbler is going to host his first 'state dinner' in a giant tent pitched on the White House lawn (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

The event, in honour of the visiting Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, is a chance for Mr Obama and his wife Michelle to welcome the Washington elite - and a smattering of Hollywood celebrities - into their new home.

Whereas President George W. Bush would hold his 140-person dinners in the formal state dining room, the Obamas have broken with recent tradition by taking a "big tent" approach that will accommodate 400.

Secrecy surrounds the event with the White House jealously guarding details of the guest list and menu, though produce from Mrs Obama's new vegetable garden is expected to be used and curry is suspected by some to be on the menu for the first time.

Deepak Chopra, the billionaire pioneer in New Age spirituality, announced on Twitter that he would be flying to Washington to attend and was "V honored to be invited".

Oprah Winfrey, the talk show hostess, is strongly rumoured to have been invited and there is speculation that George Clooney and Brad Pitt will attend what has been dubbed "Washington's equivalent of the Oscars".

I wonder if there will be any food saved for the unemployed. Ooops - I forgot: Washington is the only city in the US that doesn't have any unemployed. Everyone works for the government.

But I heard that Libyan leader Muamar Gadhafi approves of the tent. Heh.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:10 PM