Dinner with Obama? Anyone done this?

[Plucketeer]

If your name is on the "list", surely you've been approached about donating to the president's campaign with the chance that YOUR NAME will be drawn at random to have a meal in the company of the president. Not that I'm tempted by this come-on much, but we NEVER hear of someone being selcted and actualy sharing that dinner engagement - or have I just not been paying attentioon???

Does anyone know anyone who's been a winner in these drawings? I'd sure like to know if it's for real and whether or not one's allowed to speak candidly to the prez. I feel that since I've sent post cards and E-mails to the white house on numerous occassions - even if I WAS lucky enough to have my name drawn - they'd check me against their database and my win would be conveniently side-tracked. Surely they wouldn't want someone to ask the hard questions and then go spread the answers thereafter, right?

Again - anyone ever hear of (or BEEN A) winner in these tauntings?

[monmouth]

1. I read where a woman from one of the Carolinas (I think) won, she and her husband went to

the dinner and had a great time. It was a very laid back, fun occasion. She talked about the "what'll I wear" nightmare she went through and all of the fun stuff when you get the news you have been selected. There are thousands of people on the "list." Not everyone can be a winner. I was waiting for George Clooney to call in person....It didn't happen...sigh.

[frazzled]

2. Yes, there have been winners

And yes, I guess you haven't been reading.

-- Hours before the much-touted fundraiser at the Los Angeles home of actor George Clooney, the Obama campaign has released the names of the winners of its raffle for small donors to get a seat at the dinner table Thursday night.

Beth Topinka, a science teacher from New Jersey, and Karen Blutcher, from Florida, were selected to attend the fundraiser after donating to the campaign online and will both bring their husbands as guests, a campaign official said.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/05/women-from-nj-fla-win-dinner-with-obama-and-clooney-123104.html

Also, 4 winners won dinner with Obama (face to face):

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7386312n

[Plucketeer]

4. Thanks for enlightening me

I suppose if I thought I'd had a "snowball's chance" I'd have tracked things closer. I DID give a few bucks, but mused that since I've been critical of Obama's handling of things, there'd be no chance of my being selcted. I like the intimate dinner with Obama and just a few others. There'd be slim chance I could ask very pointed and caustic questions at a table with 30-some others.

It's NOT like I don't feel luck can't fall my way now and then - I won $11 thousand in the state lottery on February 28th - it's just that I suspect there might be some vetting of winners who might be perceived as likely to press for definitive answers on progressive interests.

[monmouth]

7. Yes, dinner would be such an appropriate time to ask very pointed and caustic

questions with 30 other people around. Especially since they're buying your dinner...sigh.

[MADem]

3. Tauntings?

Don't they announce the winner(s), and slap up a pic?

Here's a winner from FL not too long ago: http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2012-05-12/local-woman-wins-dinner-obama-george-clooney#.T9ThgNWufLw

Here is some video of a separate, less fancy event:

I'm sure I could find more if I kept looking...

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. Nice article. Thanks for posting it.

And I agree with you -- "tauntings"?

Personally, I would love to win one of those dinners and have tried but not been chosen.

[MADem]

16. I haven't tried as I've been a bit busy locally, but it does sound like a great event, no matter

if it's held in a diner or a fancy venue!

[DavidDvorkin]

6. No, but if Barack and Michelle want to drop by the house some time

I'm sure we could scrounge something up.

There'd have to be lots of pictures that I could post on my blog and Facebook page.

[magnifisense]

8. I'd have breakfast or lunch with them!

Even brunch.

[Tx4obama]

9. 2011: Dinner with Barack: Two Teachers, an Army Veteran, a Small Business Owner, and The President

Uploaded by BarackObamadotcom on Nov 21, 2011

Four Obama 2012 supporters had the chance to sit down for dinner with President Obama: Juanita from Colorado, Ken from Arizona, Casey from Minnesota and Wendi from Indiana. They all brought their stories and ideas for this campaign and our country. Juanita, a retired public school teacher, shared her concerns on public education. The President shared what a typical day in the White House looks like for him, how he does Halloween with his family, and how his father impacted him.

[Tx4obama]

10. 2012: Dinner with Barack: A surprise for Jim

Jim had no idea when he came home that his wife and kids would be waiting for him with some big news. Watch and see his reaction.

[Tx4obama]

11. 2007: Dinner with Barack Obama

Barack Obama has dinner with four grassroots donors

[Tx4obama]

12. 2012: Contestant winners have LUNCH with President Obama

[FLyellowdog]

13. Yes, they do.

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20120517/COLUMNISTS16/305170011/Asheville-s-Susan-Reinhardt-Waynesville-couple-who-met-Obama

I used to babysit for the husband when he was just a kid. Real people...real winners.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

14. I don't believe that they don't vet the winners...

Put the name back if not acceptable... And draw again.

[Plucketeer]

15. OK....

"Tauntings" was maybe not a great choice. How about "Tempting"??? Tempting with the chance of sharing a table with Obama. "Vetting" may be wrong as well - although I'm "published", I'm not an english major - or minor, for that matter. I don't consider myself a Moran either.

The reason I asked this - and I don't follow the topic at all - was that I wondered about MY chances when I hand over twenty bucks. I"ve written some pretty strongly worded questions to the President on post cards. I have to wonder what lists my rants have landed me on. I've got several pointed questions I'd like to put to the president. but figure MY donations to the dinner drawings don't stand much of a chance because someone somewhere likely knows I wouldn't exactly be in awe when I was three of four feet from his ear. Would I be respectful? You bet. Still - I'd savor the chance to have him as audience for 30 minutes. And I'd share every morsel with DU if it ever came to pass.

Edit for typos

[Raine]

17. I've never entered because I'm scared I'd actually win

I wouldn't know what to wear (which would be bad enough) even worse I'd sit there like a dunce and be unable to open my mouth to say anything at all.