A large, noisy protest by hundreds of members of Occupy DC didn't prevent President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from arriving on time on Saturday evening to attend the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner in the ballroom at the Capital Hilton. The Alfalfa Club, an exclusive organization with members from America's 1% power elite exists for the sole purpose of hosting the affair on the last Saturday of every January. As is always the case, the dinner was closed to media, who were not allowed to hear President Obama make his comedic remarks. The President's pool, held far back, had just one glimpse of Mrs. Obama all night; she who wore a floor-length gown in red. (Above: Mrs. Obama in a red gown at a different black tie affair; it is one of her favorite colors) Among the moguls and politicos spotted on the red carpet, held under a white tent in front of the hotel and away from the protesting: President G. H. W. Bush and his son Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida, who visited with the President on Friday afternoon at the White House, as well as President George Bush; President Obama's favorite billionaire, Warren Buffett; tech entrepreneur Steve Case; Sen. John Kerry (D-MA); Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT); and Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) was among those who got glitter-bombed by members of Occupy DC as he crossed the street to get to the red carpet with companions (video below).
The Alfalfa Dinner menu is always the same...
Chef José Andrés was one of the few guests who tweeted about the event, which included tweeting to Obama Foodorama the photo, above, of his entree. It was a rare Filet Mignon and vegetables; the Alfalfa Club Dinner menu is the same each year, and also includes Lobster.
"At the Alfalfa club dinner.....one unique experience...i feel like Forrest Gump," Andrés tweeted as he entered the dinner.
His next tweet read "now they say that if you tweet they throw you out....." And then after the dinner Andrés sent the entree photo, noting : "im breaking the rules? You owe me one." Andrés hosted Mrs. Obama and a party of pals at his Oyamel restaurant in DC on Friday night.
President attended dinner in 2009...
The Alfalfa Club was founded in 1913, with its primary function being to celebrate the birthday of Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee (born Jan. 19, 1807). The club didn't admit African Americans as members until 1974, and women had to wait until 1994.
"This dinner began almost one hundred years ago as a way to celebrate the birthday of General Robert E. Lee," President Obama said in 2009. "If he were here with us tonight, the General would be 202 years old. And very confused."
There are about 200 current Alfalfa Club members, which include Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Tom Daschle, Newt Gingrich, Buffett, Alan Greenspan, Vernon Jordan Jr., and Steve Forbes. Gingrich did not attend this evening; he's campaigning in Florida. Former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon were members, as are the Bushes. The Alfalfa Club's name is a reference to the plant's supposed willingness to do anything for a drink.
The President and Mrs. Obama arrived at 7:02 PM and were back at the White House by 9:25 PM. They traveled the very short distance from the Capital Hilton to the White House in a 16-vehicle motorcade, which dropped them off and picked them up beneath the white tent in front of the hotel. The President's press pool enjoyed a sandwich buffet at the hotel, heavy on roast beef and turkey, as they were held far away from the action.
The 99% protest the 1%...
Thanks to the Occupy DC protest, there was a heavy security presence, which included police on horseback, street closures and barricades. Protesters carried banners and signs, and some women stripped off their shirts so they could not be touched by police. The protest was much tweeted, and there was a livestream of the action. Occupy DC has been given until Monday by District officials to vacate two encampments, both located within blocks of the White House. The National Park Service is scheduled to dismantle the encampments. (Above: Police on horseback face the Occupy protesters)
The video below, from Occupy DC, shows Sen. Lieberman getting glitter bombed as protesters shout "shame shame shame!" The protest delayed but did not prevent guest arrivals.
Occupy DC protesters were last out in force in front of the White House on the First Lady's birthday on Jan. 17, as the President and Mrs. Obama celebrated at nearby BLT Steak.
*The 2011 Alfalfa Club Dinner program, courtesy of Occupy DC.
*Entree photo by José Andrés; protest photo by AP; video from Occupy DC
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