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View Full Version : Obama invites close friends, staff to Seder dinner



Moledet
04-09-2009, 07:19 AM
National Jewish Democratic Council says hosting of traditional Pesach dinner, including reading of the Haggadah, 'shows the personal and deep relationship US president has with the Jewish community'

President Barack Obama is inviting close friends and staff to a private White House meal Thursday to mark Passover, a signal that the new president intends to fulfill his promise that Jewish voters would have an ally.

Among the invited is Valerie Jarrett, one of Obama's closest advisers, and family friend Eric Whitaker, who is visiting from Chicago and attended a Seder last year with the campaign. Michelle Obama and the family's two daughters also plan to attend.

The staff guest list includes aides from the campaign trail who marked last year's Passover at the Sheraton hotel in Harrisburg, Pa. Obama's personal aide, Reggie Love, Michelle Obama's deputy chief of staff, Melissa Winter, personal aide Dana Lewis and associate social secretary Samantha Tubman all received invitations.

Also on the guest list are Eric Lesser, a personal aide to senior adviser David Axelrod, and his family. Lesser worked during the New Hampshire primary and later handled baggage for traveling reporters. White House videographer Arun Chaundhary — a constant presence on the trail — landed invitations for his family.

Quick praise from Jewish group

Others in the exclusive group include Michelle Obama's counsel and friend Susan Sher; Herbie Ziskend, a staff assistant to Vice President Joe Biden's policy and economic advisers; and White House deputy director of advance and special events Lisa Kohnke.

Two of the administration's highest-profile members of the Jewish faith plan to miss the dinner. Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel doesn't plan to attend and Axelrod expects to be in Chicago with his family.

The White House says the Seder meal will be traditional, including matzo, bitter herbs, a roasted egg and greens in the family dining room in the executive mansion. The evening will feature the reading of the Haggadah, the religious text of the holiday.

Passover began at sundown Wednesday. It celebrates the Jewish exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery.

White House aides say they believe this is the first president-hosted Seder at the White House. President Bill Clinton's aides planned Seders, but Clinton isn't known to have attended.

Obama's move won quick praise from the National Jewish Democratic Council.

"By hosting the first presidential Seder in America's history, President Barack Obama shows the personal and deep relationship he has with the Jewish community," said Alexis C. Rice, the group's deputy executive director. "There is no question, Obama is a true friend of the Jewish community."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3699473,00.html
As always, instead of doing something practical he chooses propaganda such BS.

damagejackal
04-09-2009, 07:25 AM
Only one Rahm Emanuel in the Whitehouse ain't enough for you??

Moledet
04-09-2009, 07:53 AM
Only one Rahm Emanuel in the Whitehouse ain't enough for you??
I don't want or need Obama to do the Seder or any other Jewish tradition/mitzvah.
There's no doubt it's nothing more than a cynical way to turn to emotions instead of rational and that's what his entire campaign is based on.

P.S. as it says in the report, Rahm Emanuel doesn't plan to attend and neither does Axelrod. Excellent that they don't go for such a spin.

Climber
04-09-2009, 08:00 AM
Only one Rahm Emanuel in the Whitehouse ain't enough for you??

By "you", to whom do you refer?

Universal_Soldier
04-09-2009, 08:03 AM
For Obama, it's your doomed if you do, your doomed if you don't. If he doesnt host this he'll be blamed for religious insensitivity.
maybe it's the same for every Politician.
who cares anyways.

Climber
04-09-2009, 08:20 AM
Yeah, just's PR stunt.

Macs.
04-09-2009, 08:28 AM
Barack "THE JEW" Obama.

Moledet
04-09-2009, 08:35 AM
For Obama, it's your doomed if you do, your doomed if you don't. If he doesnt host this he'll be blamed for religious insensitivity.
maybe it's the same for every Politician.
who cares anyways.
No one did it before him and for a good reason. I don't like him using a religious ceremony for political capital.

Universal_Soldier
04-09-2009, 08:40 AM
No one did it before him and for a good reason. I don't like him using a religious ceremony for political capital.

I agree with you on that. I didnt know that he was the first to do that.
... guess his inscure, given all the critism coming his way bout being a moslem and being less interested in Israeli security.

Invisigoth
04-09-2009, 11:25 AM
Let's make sure we add that to the list:


Fascist
Communist
Socialist
Muslim
Jew *tick*

Panchito12
04-09-2009, 11:29 AM
Let's make sure we add that to the list:


Fascist
Communist
Socialist
Muslim
Jew *tick*


Don't forget Barak "XENU" Obama

LazerLordz
04-09-2009, 12:07 PM
Let's make sure we add that to the list:


Fascist
Communist
Socialist
Muslim
Jew *tick*


Seems like he can be the man everyone wants him to be. If he sends more forces into Pakistan, the next on the list will be Neocon

WarDancer
04-09-2009, 11:05 PM
Smoke and mirrors, smoke and mirrors.

Mr Gently Benevolent
04-10-2009, 01:48 AM
Smoke and mirrors, smoke and mirrors.The big players in the US Israel Strong crew are 100% behind Obama without reservation so hitch up your wagon and tag along WarDancer :)

Hobbesian Penguin
04-10-2009, 06:06 AM
I don't know why anyone thinks this is surprising, during the election Obama was constantly perceived as being the candidate weakest on Israel. He is clearly just trying to suck up to Israelites and Jewish grandmothers in Florida

This isnt unique of him either, if you look at Presidential schedules they attend all sort of pointless meaningless events to "say" something. The ones that are extra pointless he sends the VP to.

Mr Gently Benevolent
04-10-2009, 07:30 AM
I don't know why anyone thinks this is surprising, during the election Obama was constantly perceived as being the candidate weakest on Israel. He is clearly just trying to suck up to Israelites and Jewish grandmothers in FloridaHe certainly did bang on about Israel but he got AIPAC backing and some of his team are fairly well connected with the Israel 1st people.

Hobbesian Penguin
04-10-2009, 07:36 AM
exactly, hes also trying please Israel who have likely been wary of his election and what it will mean for their own security. Im sure they are dismayed with the idea of US troops leaving Iraq, and they are also apprehensive about promised discourse with Iran, all of this combined with the fact that Bush effectively gave the Israeli's Carte Blanche, and Obama is making great pains to be seen as "not-Bush" and you have an enviroment where Obama feels he needs to make some outreach to Israel.

Moledet
04-10-2009, 07:42 AM
Most responses to this "gesture" were very anti-Obama so he was wrong thinking it will encourage Israelis. Most of the time whenever there's a news piece about him the talkbacks are very negative.
Israelis don't care about Iraq but only about Iran, Syria, Hizballah and the Palestinians.

Hobbesian Penguin
04-10-2009, 07:50 AM
Most responses to this "gesture" were very anti-Obama so he was wrong thinking it will encourage Israelis. Most of the time whenever there's a news piece about him the talkbacks are very negative.
Israelis don't care about Iraq but only about Iran, Syria, Hizballah and the Palestinians.

if its being perceived as a negative decision among the Israeli public them I'm sure it was likely an event that backfired. I'm fairly certain he didn't agree to the seder because he thought it was going to alienate Israeli citizens. It may not have been a gesture to them either, but more a general one to the Middle East, a kitchy way of affirming a US commitment to religious tolerance etc. Its nearly impossible for us to calculate his motives anyway.

What i meant on Iraq was that every rial spent on arming Shia organizations in Iraq is one less going to Hezbollah in Lebanon, or paying for arms shipments to Hamas in Gaza. I don't think Israel requires US troops their for its own security.