Obama Plans "Neighborhood Inaugural Ball" ( "an inauguration for all Americans")

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural committee announced today a new kind of inaugural ball – a "neighborhood" ball that incorporates interactive and Web-based elements.

According to the press release, tickets for the ball will be free or affordable, and a portion of the tickets will be set aside to residents of the Obamas' new neighborhood — Washington, D.C.

In the release, Mr. Obama said: "This is an inauguration for all Americans. I wanted to make sure that we had an event that would be open to our new neighborhood here in Washington, D.C., and also neighborhoods across the country."

The inaugural committee said that people attending "neighborhood balls across the country" will be able to participate in this "premier event" via Webcasting and text messaging.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/01/05/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4699235.shtml

[Poll_Blind]

1. Great idea!

PB

[nevergiveup]

2. The question is

Will progressives/liberals in these neighborhoods be welcome? :sarcasm:

[keepCAblue]

3. "All Americans" **

**Gays need not apply

[Alexander]

19. Brad Kiley would disagree with you.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/05/brad-kiley-announcement/

"Obama selects Brad Kiley to oversee salaries, budgeting - highest ranking LGBT appointment in the WH"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8059317

Is it fun, being ignorant?

[crikkett]

25. bitter bitter bitterella

can't go to the ball
:cry:

[Bluenorthwest]

4. And when they say all

they mean some.

[NJCher]

5. terrific idea

This is a sign that Obama hasn't forgotten the grassroots that elected him.

Not only that, but it's smart politics. Celebrating is an act of commitment.



Cher

[terisan]

7. Actually it seems more like a ghettoization of We the People.

[terisan]

6. I think all the gliterati grand balls should be cancelled in light of the economic mess

all of these politicans brought us.

[Kip Humphrey]

8. ...and return all those large donations to the wealthy so they can cover their hedge fund losses?

[terisan]

13. That's not a bad idea. We may get a less corrupt government out of it. nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. I remember when I first started teaching

A good friend who was also starting is an African American. When he told me that he required his students to call him "Mr.," I said "really? I tell them just call me by my first name." He said, "Well, it's strange, isn't it, that when black folks finally get into a position to be called 'Mr.,' suddenly nobody has to call anybody 'Mr.' anymore." I took his point, and would apply the analogy to the formal inaugural balls.

[No Elephants]

20. If poor white people had been attending the balls all along, it could be

viewed as a black white issue. As it is, it's a lot more of a class/wealth than a race issue. So, I don't see the analogy.

[No Elephants]

18. Not to mention the country being in wars in two countries at this time.

[RCinBrooklyn]

9. Gay people should get on the back of the line for this event.

[JNelson6563]

14. You can cut in front of us atheists

I hear there's gonna be some kind of prayer. Don't care 'bout missin' that nonsense.

Julie

[whathehell]

15. One man's "nonsense" is another man's "truth"....But thanks for

letting us cut in!B-)

[No Elephants]

22. Back of the line? Something tells me there is not going to be

a place for them, there either. unless, perhaps, Jesus "healed" them of being the way that he made them in the first place.

[Jefferson23]

10. Great idea!

[Cha]

12. Good..get as many

peeps involved who want to be.

[No Elephants]

16. An Inauguration for all Americans who

were born heterosexual.

[No Elephants]

17. An Inauguration for all Americans who

were born heterosexual.

[underpants]

21. It's and inauguration for the rest of us!!!

[No Elephants]

23. So far, only gays, liberals and atheists feel excluded. Well, as the long

as the neocons and the DLC-ers are okay.

[quiet.american]

24. What a great idea to do this. I love it. nt

[Javaman]

26. Festivus for the rest of us! :) lol or a Ball for All. nt