First Lady Michelle Obama Emails About 'Dinner with Barack IV' Contest

"Me again"...
With the Saturday deadline looming for campaign donations for this financial quarter, First Lady Michelle Obama--on Spring Break vacation in the western US with her daughters--sent an e-mail to supporters today, asking for a $3 donation, which includes auto entry in the Dinner with Barack IV sweepstakes. The subject line was "Me again," because Mrs. Obama e-mailed donors earlier in the week, advising that her husband stays "up late" at night, working hard.

Today's text included no Dear ____, but gets straight to the point. Mrs. Obama wrote:

"There's one thing I forgot to mention:

If you chip in to support the campaign before the big deadline tomorrow, you'll also be automatically entered to have dinner with my husband.

I had the chance to go to one of these "Dinners with Barack" just a few weeks back -- and trust me, you don't want to miss out on it.

Make a donation of $3 or whatever you can here:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Saturday-Dinner-Deadline

Thank you,

Michelle"

##

Dine With President Obama: Last Call To Enter 'Dinner with Barack IV' Contest

And new videos from the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" fundraiser...
Citizens hoping to dine with President Obama at the fourth culinary fundraiser offered by Obama for America, "Dinner with Barack IV," have until midnight Saturday to enter, when this financial quarter for donations closes. There's a countdown clock on the OFA website for the event, and for this contest things were done a little differently: The four winners have been selected on a rolling basis, to inspire those who didn't win the first time to be repeat entrants, and drop more cash in the President's war chest. There's now one seat left at the Presidential table. (Above: The OFA graphic features the President at the most recent fundraising dinner)



OFA has released two new videos filmed during the third dinner contest, "Dinner with Barack and Michelle," when President Obama and First Lady Obama dined with six supporters at DC's Boundary Road restaurant on March 8, 2012.

"I'm going to order steak," the President says as the video begins, and indeed he did.

Both the President and Mrs. Obama ordered the Grilled Hanger Steak as their entrees, made with chestnut puree, and served over spicy kale, with a "sauce charon," similar to a Bernaise ($22). The President started with Quark and Black Pepper Pierogi ($10), which is more like a savory ravioli than a Pierogi, while Mrs. Obama started with the Rapini Salad, chilled rappini with pickled shallots, avocado oil, and Firefly Farms Mountain Top Bleu ($6).

The President and Mrs. Obama's guests were three winners, each of whom were allowed to bring a guest. Winner ReGina Newkirk, a nonprofit executive from Nashville, TN, brought her father, Robert Newkirk Sr., a professor at Tennessee State University; Winner Cathleen Loringer, a former social worker from Wauwatosa, WI, brought her husband, John Loringer, a Wauwatosa attorney; and winner Judy Glassman, a retired school administrator from Cambridge, MA, brought her husband Mitch Glassman, a Cambridge artist.

In Video 2, the Loringers talk about themselves:



The other dinner contests...
The President ate dinner with the four winners of the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in October of 2011, at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. The second dinner contest was fulfilled with a luncheon; the President took his four winners to DC's Scion restaurant on January 6, 2012. For a behind-the-scenes account, read French Fries With The Leader Of The Free World.

OFA raised $68 million in the fourth quarter of fundraising in 2011, when the Dinner with Barack and Michelle contest was being run. OFA claims that 98% of supporters in 2011 donated $250 or less, but did not release figures on how many people donated multiple times, theoretically exceeding what is identified as a "small donor" figure.

President Obama, First Lady Visit DC's Boundary Road Restaurant For "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" Fundraiser

Winners of $1,600 prize package film their promo spots for Campaign during "intimate dinner;" A manager dishes on the Presidential party...
Washington, DC: President Obama and First Lady Obama dined on Thursday evening with the three winners of the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest, a fundraiser from Obama for America launched in the Fall of 2011. In a new twist for this particular dinner sweepstakes, the third from the campaign, each winner was allowed to bring a guest, so it was a Presidential party of eight at Boundary Road, a newly opened bistro offering a seasonal American menu. It's located on H Street, between 4th and 5th Street NE, in a neighborhood that has become a hotspot for hip redevelopment. The winners were three women from Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts; the Campaign is focused on attracting the womens vote. One guest brought her father, two brought spouses. (Above: An Instagram tweeted by @BarackObama shows guests Judy and Mitch Glassman with the President and Mrs. Obama)

The President and Mrs. Obama arrived via motorcade at 5:28 PM, and departed an hour and a half later. During a brief photo op for the media before any food was served, the President and Mrs. Obama sat around a long, blonde wood table and chatted with their guests against a backdrop of exposed brick. His shirtsleeves rolled up, Mr. Obama fiddled with the straw in his glass of iced tea. Mrs. Obama was clad in a black dress, with a graphic white pattern, and wore a string of pearls.

The members of the press corps were rapidly ushered out so the Campaign could begin filming its own promotional videos, which, other than the cash that is dropped into the President's 2012 war chest, is the main point of the dinners. Boundary's owners were first contacted two weeks ago to host the Presidential party, and OFA confirmed on Monday that it was a go project, a manager who did double duty as a waiter told Obama Foodorama. The bistro was closed to the public so Campaign staff could have free reign.

OFA identified the winners as ReGina Newkirk, a nonprofit executive from Nashville, TN, who brought her father, Robert Newkirk Sr., a professor at Tennessee State University as her guest; Cathleen Loringer, a former social worker from Wauwatosa, WI, who brought her husband, John Loringer, a Wauwatosa attorney as her guest; and Judy Glassman, a retired school administrator from Cambridge, MA, who brought her husband Mitch Glassman, a Cambridge artist, as her guest. (In photo above, from l: The Newkirks, the Loringers, and Mitch Glassman visible at right)

E-mail requests from the President and Mrs. Obama, staff, and surrogates such as the President's former personal aide Reggie Love--had asked donors to enter the contest with amounts that ranged from $3 to $25. Mrs. Obama in her dinner e-mail promised "togetherness, warm conversation, and the simple pleasure of one another's company" at the "intimate" dinner, with "no handshaking lines, no pomp and circumstance."

The menu is off the record...
OFA's filming went on throughout the dinner, according to the manager, who asked that her name not be used: "I don't want my name in print or anything." Chef/co-owner Brad Walker cooked for the Presidential party from the ever-changing menu, according to the manager. Entree prices range from $16-$23, with offerings such as Paprika Dusted Flounder and Grilled Hanger Steak. But what the President and Mrs. Obama and their guests actually enjoyed was strictly off the record.

"White House aides asked us not to say what they ate," the manager said. That's the same directive received by the owners of the restaurants where the two previous Dinners with Barack were held.

UPDATE, March 15: The Menu
According to a source at the restaurant, both the President and Mrs. Obama ordered the Grilled Hanger Steak as their entrees, made with chestnut puree, and served over spicy kale, with a "sauce charon," similar to a Bearnaise ($22). The President started with the Quark and Black Pepper Pierogi ($10), which is more like a savory ravioli than a Pierogi, while Mrs. Obama started with the Rapini Salad, chilled rapini with pickled shallots, avocado oil, and Firefly Farms Mountain Top Bleu ($6). Neither ordered dessert.

Also off the record: Who actually paid for the dinner, an aide or the President himself: "I don't want to talk about that," the manager said. The First Couple posed for photos with restaurant staff and greeted the chef before departing. (Above: The Loringers with the Obamas)

"They were great, they were very friendly," the manager said, adding "of course I was nervous. We've been open three weeks."

The eatery re-opened at 8:00 PM to the public for dinner service, and had an influx of customers, the manager said.

OFA will shortly post photos of the dinner on its Flickr page, and America will hear from all the Presidential guests in the weeks ahead as OFA's videos are released. The President's dinner winners are required to undergo background checks, as well as sign documents agreeing to be used in Campaign materials without compensation.

OFA is currently in the midst of running "Dinner with Barack IV," and this time is staggering the selection of winners, to inspire repeat donations. The campaign has already ID'd one winner, in contrast to the previous contests, including Thursday's dinner, when names of winners were kept secret until the dinner occurred.

$1,600 prize package is taxable...
The dinner prize package included air fare and a one-night hotel stay in Washington; the winners of the second Dinner with Barack contest were lodged at the Capital Hilton, blocks from the White House. Thursday's dinner had an assigned retail value of $1,600, taxable to the winners. OFA raised $68 million in the fourth quarter of fundraising in 2011, when the Dinner with Barack and Michelle contest was being run. OFA claims that 98% of supporters in 2011 donated $250 or less, but did not release figures on how many people donated multiple times, theoretically exceeding what is identified as a "small donor" figure.

The President ate dinner with the four winners of the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in October of 2011, at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. The second dinner contest was fulfilled with a luncheon; the President took his four winners to DC's Scion restaurant on January 6, 2012. For a behind-the-scenes account, read French Fries With The Leader Of The Free World. (Above: OFA's graphic promoting the dinner contest)

More on the menu...
Boundary Road spotlights local purveyors, and current menu on the website features entrees such as Paprika Dusted Flounder over a Spanish fishermen's stew ($22); Grilled Hanger Steak—chestnut purée, spicy kale, sauce charón ($22); and Seared Arctic Char with wilted turnip greens, duck fat potatoes, salsa verde ($23). Appetizers include Foie Gras Torchon PBJ—grilled country bread, homemade peanut butter, peach vanilla jelly ($15); Winter Minestrone with pumpkin seed pesto ($8); Rapini Salad—chilled rapini, pickled shallots, avocado oil, Firefly Farms Mountain Top Bleu ($6). The Hand-Cut Fries with curry mayo ($5) would surely please Mrs. Obama, who has hailed French fries as her favorite food.

The President and Mrs. Obama returned to the White House at 7:09 PM. Mr. Obama heads to Houston on Friday for two fundraisers; Mrs. Obama will be in Boston for two fundraisers.

Information: Boundary Road is located at 414 H Street, Washington, DC. Phone: 202.450.3265.

*Instagram from Obama for America; other photos pool

OFA Star: "Janet From Accokeek, Maryland"

The Campaign's new symbol of citizen engagement represents key voting blocs, and she's working out to look terrific for her Presidential dinner...
The first winner of the Dinner with Barack IV sweepstakes, a 64-year-old grandmother of four identified by the campaign as "Janet, from Accokeek, Maryland," has already gotten as much play from Obama for America as the eight contest winners who have joined President Obama during previous dinner fundraisers. OFA previously kept the identities of winners secret until after they'd dined with the President, but Janet was introduced to America last week, and there are now more details about her on OFA's blog--including her photo (above). Janet's father, Milton, 86, was a Tuskegee Airman; her husband is battling cancer.

As a symbol of voters and issues crucial to the President's re-election effort, Janet is a quintuple threat: She's African American, she's a woman, she's a senior citizen, she's from a military family, and soon we'll all be hearing about how her husband has benefited from the President's efforts with health care reform.

OFA offers homey gossip about Janet: She actually screamed when she found out she'd won her seat at the President's table, so now she's working on self control for the dinner.

"I'm going to be praying that God will give me the right attitude, because I get very talkative, and I want to be quieter and enjoy the moment. I'm going to practice silence," Janet said.

Janet has also started a new fitness regime in order to prep for her date with destiny, which she won by donating $25: "Sit-ups, push-ups, 100 a day! I want to be healthy and looking good," Janet said. Perhaps she's hoping to meet First Lady Obama, the reigning queen of push ups.

Janet's family has also had a running joke about dining with the President and First Lady Obama, OFA reports. As for Janet's papa, Milton, the Tuskegee vet? The President--coincidentally?--welcomed a group of Tuskegee Airmen to the White House in February, for a special screening of the biopic "Red Tails." The President e-mailed supporters on Monday evening, asking them to enter the current dinner contest.

Janet sent an e-mail to supporters this weekend, encouraging them to enter the contest (just $3), which has a staggered selection process to inspire repeat donations. The winner for dinner Seat #2 has supposedly been selected, and seats #3 and #4 will be chosen on March 18 and March 31.

He has already dined with the eight winners of two of the previous "Dinner with Barack" contests, but has not yet dined with the six winners of the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest. The President ate dinner with the four winners of the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in October of 2011, at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. The second dinner contest was fulfilled with a luncheon; the President took his four winners to DC's Scion restaurant on January 6, 2012. A new video about the event is here. The dinner prize packages include airfare and a one-night hotel stay, and the assigned retail value is taxable to winners, who also sign documents agreeing to be used without compensation in campaign promos.

OFA's blog post about Janet:

For Janet, a running joke in her family took on a different meaning last week when she found out she had been chosen as the first guest at the next round of Dinner with Barack.

"Every time I get together for a meal with my sister and cousins, we say 'Oh, we should have President Obama and the First Lady over.' We joke that we're going to pick them up and bring 'em over. We've been playing like that for years: 'Let me just call Barack and Michelle and see if they'll come.' And then I find out I'm going to have dinner with the President—and I don't even have to cook! I tell you what: The tables have turned."

Janet, a grandmother from Accokeek, Maryland, got the news on her way home from a car trip.

"I was in the supermarket parking lot when I found out," she explains. "I was driving down from New York and I started to get really hungry, so I pulled off and got some things to eat. Then all of a sudden my phone rang. I had to boot it out of there so I could stand in the parking lot and scream. I was floored. I felt like I was in a hot air balloon just sailing over everything.

"I was so surprised. I wanted to support the President's second term, so I gave not knowing I had entered into a contest. I just had a desire to give, and as a result I have the ability to sit down and dine with President Obama—that's a blessing. I was getting emails from people in the campaign, and I clicked on one that offered the chance to donate. I saw the block that said donate, so I clicked on it."

When asked what she plans to do in preparation for Dinner with Barack, Janet doesn't miss a beat:

"Sit-ups, push-ups, 100 a day! I want to be healthy and looking good. And I'm going to be praying that God will give me the right attitude, because I get very talkative, and I want to be quieter and enjoy the moment. I'm going to practice silence. I'm going shopping. I'm going to continue to take care of my husband, who is fighting cancer. And I'm going to relax and try to get ready."

She has this advice for anyone deciding whether to pitch in and support the campaign:

"My dad is a Tuskegee Airman. He always says 'Support your leaders and listen to their voices, and in turn, they'll listen to yours.' Turns out he was right about that."

Enter today for your chance to join Janet at Dinner with Barack.

##
*Photo by Obama for America

"Janet from Accokeek, Maryland" E-Mails About Dinner with Barack IV Fundraiser

President's future dinner companion is a Grandmother of four and prone to screaming when excited; OFA advises donors to answer phone calls coming from 937 area code...
Obama for America announced via e-mail on Friday that "Janet from Accokeek, Maryland" was the first person selected to dine with President Obama for Dinner with Barack IV, the current culinary fundraiser from the campaign. No personal details were given about Janet other than the amount she donated--$25--until today, when another OFA e-mail id'd the lucky Marylander as "a grandmother of four." Janet is also prone to screaming, according to a Campaign staffer; that was her excited response when she got the phone call that she'd won the contest. Today the enthusiastic and mysterious Janet herself sent an e-mail to supporters, encouraging them to enter the dinner contest. (Above: The President enjoys a cheeseburger and fries at the second Dinner with Barack event, which was actually lunch)

That's a new twist from OFA, which has previously sent dinner e-mails from the President, First Lady Obama, the President's former personal aide, Reggie Love, and staffers high-up in the OFA pecking order, such as National Finance Director Rufus Gifford, who also e-mailed about dinner today, too. The identities of the President's dinner companions for previous contests weren't revealed until after he'd dined with them.

Janet provides a few more personal details in her e-mail: Her father is named Milton, and he's 86. He challenged her to donate, she said.

"What a blessing. Two days ago I learned I'm going to have dinner with President Obama," Janet wrote. "I guess I should finally start listening to my father, Milton (he's 86 years old)..."Janet," my dad said, "You gotta start supporting President Obama. Support your politicians. Support the President, so that your voice can be heard."

Janet asked supporters for a donation of at least $3.

"I hope you'll join me at the table with President Obama," Janet wrote.

Janet and Gifford's e-mails are part of a push for donations before midnight tonight, an arbitrary deadline set by OFA to select a second winner for the Dinner with Barack IV contest. OFA is staggering selections of the four winners of the contest, in contrast to the three previous dinner contests. The new process is designed to inspire supporters to donate again and again. The other selection dates are after midnight on March 18 and March 31.

Don't screen calls from 937 area code, OFA advises...
Will Janet be screaming when she actually dines with the President? That's unclear. But OFA staffer Martha Patzer wrote in a post on the Campaign blog that Janet interrupted a lunch run in order to really scream when she got the phone call telling her she'd won dinner with the President.

"She was picking up some lunch—she asked me to please hold as she stepped outside, and then let it all out," Patzer wrote.

Patzer had words of advice for others who have donated to the dinner contests:

"Here's a tip: If you're screening your calls in the next few weeks, don't ignore any "937" area codes."

Interestingly, the 937 area code is in Ohio, not in Chicago, Illinois, where the Obama campaign headquarters are located.

Below, the full text of Janet's e-mail, and today's e-mail from Gifford. Janet's e-mail had the subject line "Join me for dinner?"--though it should have read "Join me and the President for dinner?" Gifford's had the subject line "Are you guest #2?" (Above: The OFA website includes a graphic with a live countdown clock for the dinner contest)

The President has already dined with the eight winners of two of the previous "Dinner with Barack" contests, but has not yet dined with the six winners of the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest. The President ate dinner with the four winners of the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in October of 2011, at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. The second dinner contest was fulfilled with a luncheon; the President took his four winners to DC's Scion restaurant on January 6, 2012. A new video about the event is here. The dinner prize packages include airfare and a one-night hotel stay, and the assigned retail value is taxable to winners, who also sign documents agreeing to be used without compensation in campaign promos.

The text of Janet's e-mail:

XXXX--

What a blessing. Two days ago I learned I'm going to have dinner with President Obama.

I guess I should finally start listening to my father, Milton (he's 86 years old).

He always taught me that when you give, you receive.

"Janet," my dad said, "You gotta start supporting President Obama. Support your politicians. Support the President, so that your voice can be heard."

"I do support the President," I told him.

"Prove it."

Well, here I am.

I'm telling you this because the campaign is picking the next guest in a few hours -- and I hope my story inspires you to add your name to mine.

Join me by donating $3 or whatever you can to help the campaign and be automatically entered to win Dinner with Barack.

The truth is, I don't usually enter these kinds of things. I gave $25 last week in response to an email from the campaign, but not for one second did I think my name would be drawn.

I donated because I want a president who cares enough about his supporters to sit down for a meal, just like we do in our own families.

And because I was anxious to support the President's campaign. It was my time to give.

I hope you'll join me at the table with President Obama. As I mentioned, they're picking the next guest tonight:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Picking-at-Midnight

And mind your parents, people. It pays off.

- Janet

##

The text of Gifford's e-mail:

XXX--

Today there are three seats left at the upcoming dinner with the President. By midnight tomorrow there will be only two -- we'll be picking the next guest.

Janet, a grandmother of four from Maryland, found out yesterday she'll have the first seat.

It's time to fill the second.

Pitch in $3 or whatever you can before midnight tomorrow, and you'll be automatically entered for the chance to join Janet, President Obama, and two other supporters:

https://donate.barackobama.com/The-Second-Guest

There are only hours to go -- so if you want your name to be in there, you should act now while there are still three spots remaining.

Good luck!

-Rufus

Rufus Gifford
National Finance Director
Obama for America
##

*Photo by Obama for America

A New "Dinner with Barack" Video

As the March 3 deadline looms for a seat at President Obama's table for the Dinner with Barack IV fundraising contest, Obama for America has just released this video of the four winners of the second "Dinner with Barack" contest. The winners are filmed sightseeing around the Capitol, and dining with the President at DC's Scion Restaurant.

The winners are Kathie Toigo, 64, an early childhood special needs teacher flown in by the Campaign from Yerington, Nevada; Bill Blackwelder, 31, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, a US Army Reserves veteran of the war in Afghanistan and horticulture student; Val Grossmann, 54, of Westminister, Colorado, a US Postal Service worker; and Scott Zoebisch, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, a firefighter. Toigo dishes on the dinner here: "French fries With The Leader Of The Free World."

Every winner is required to undergo background checks, and to sign legally binding documents that allow the unpaid use of their names, images, likenesses, etc. by Obama for America "for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation." They're also taxed by the IRS on the assigned retail value of the prize package.

Click here for links to videos from the President's first dinner.

The President ate dinner with the four winners of the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in October of 2011, at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. Guests, somewhat coincidentally, also included a US Postal Service worker and two teachers. The President has not yet dined with the six winners of the third contest, "Dinner with Barack and Michelle," which includes the participation of First Lady Michelle Obama.

*OFA video

Obama Campaign: President's Supporters Are "Crazy" If They Don't Donate

Obama for America creates a countdown clock for contest deadline...
It's unclear if accusing President Obama's supporters of having a psychiatric disorder will inspire them to drop a buck or two in the re-election warchest. But that's what the Campaign's National Finance Director Rufus Gifford is doing today in an e-mail asking for a $2 donation to enter the newly launched Dinner with Barack IV sweepstakes. The e-mail has the subject line "You'd be crazy not to."

"Sitting down for a meal with the President of the United States is just not a chance many people -- including me -- will ever get," Gifford wrote. "That's why you'd be crazy not to at least give this a shot."

The President on Tuesday sent e-mails asking donors for $1, $2 and $3 to enter the contest by today, because the push is on to get as many small donors as possible to step up before midnight ET, when the first winner of the sweepstakes will supposedly be selected. The OFA site today added a countdown clock to the donation page, to let donors know just how little time they had left to pony up (above). The other three non-crazy dinner winners will be chosen on successive dates in order to inspire repeat donations from all those who weren't selected the first time: March 3, March 18, and March 31.

Obama for America says that 98% of January donations were "small," under $250.  However, the Campaign doesn't mention how many of these contributions were from repeat donors whose total aggregate donated sum would far exceed $250. A study from the non-partisan Campaign Finance Institute found that 48% of donors in 2011 actually did give $200 or less.

The current dinner contest has an assigned retail value of $1,150, taxable to the winners.  It is the fourth time the President has raffled himself off as a dinner date. The President dined with winners of the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in October of 2011, at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. The second dinner contest was fulfilled with a luncheon; the President took his four guests to DC's Scion restaurant on January 6, 2012. The third dinner, "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" has eight guests, and the First Lady, and has not yet taken place.

The text of Gifford's e-mail:

XXXX--

Sitting down for a meal with the President of the United States is just not a chance many people -- including me -- will ever get.

That's why you'd be crazy not to at least give this a shot.

We're drawing the first winner tonight at midnight.

Pitch in $2 or whatever you can to be automatically entered to sit down for a meal with the President.

Consider this: A couple months ago, Scott, a firefighter and dad from Georgia, opened an email about having dinner with the President. He pitched in a few dollars to support the campaign, figuring "Why not?"

Weeks later, the President was offering him a french fry from across the table.

So if you think that could never be you, remember that Scott thought that, too.

Chip in $2 or more to be automatically entered now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/The-First-Guest

Good luck,

Rufus

Rufus Gifford
National Finance Director
Obama for America

President Obama Announces Fourth "Dinner with Barack" Fundraising Sweepstakes

"Dinner with Barack IV" includes a new selection process for winners, designed to get repeat, small donations...
President Obama is once again raffling himself off as a dinner date to raise funds for his 2012 re-election warchest. In an e-mail sent today, the President announced the fourth "Dinner with Barack" contest, and asked for a minimum $3 donation. It's the first dinner contest for 2012, and follows three other dinner sweepstakes held during 2011. The Campaign has upped the excitement level by changing the way winners are selected; the very first winner--of four total winners--will be chosen tomorrow, Feb. 22. (Above: The President at a January lunch with one of the winners of a previous dinner contest)

"Tomorrow night, we'll pick the first of four supporters who will sit down with me for dinner," President Obama wrote. "Donate $3 or whatever you can today to be automatically entered for the chance to be my first dinner guest."

The e-mail had the subject line "This seat is yours." The new selection process is designed to inspire repeat donations by getting those who did not win a seat at the Presidential dinner table the first time to drop more cash. Other versions of the President's e-mail asked for donations of just $1 or $2; OFA is trying to get as many small donations as possible. The other three winners will be selected on successive dates: March 3, March 18, and March 31.

"These meals are one simple thing that sets this campaign apart," President Obama wrote. "These seats are yours."

The dinner prize package--taxable to the winners--has an assigned retail value of $1,150, which includes round-trip airfare and a one-night hotel stay. The dinner is valued at $200; the airfare is valued at $800 and the hotel stay is valued at $150. The winners of the second "Dinner with Barack" contest were lodged at the Capital Hilton, located about three blocks from the White House. Winners are not allowed on to White House grounds, as this violates federal election rules.

Winners are also required to undergo background checks, and to sign legally binding documents that allow the unpaid use of their names, images, likenesses, etc. by Obama for America "for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation," because OFA releases photos and videos of the dinners. Read "French fries With The Leader Of The Free World," a behind-the-scenes look at the most recent "Dinner with Barack" event.

The President has already dined with the eight winners of two of the previous "Dinner with Barack" contests, but has not yet dined with the eight winners of the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest, which includes the participation of First Lady Michelle Obama. The President ate dinner with the four winners of the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in October of 2011, at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. The second dinner contest was fulfilled with a luncheon; the President took his four winners to DC's Scion restaurant on January 6, 2012.

"Small" donations and this Thursday's fundraising blitz...
Obama for America claims it is "small donations" that have helped raise millions of dollars for the campaign effort; $29.1 million was raised in January. In a tweet posted on Friday, Jan. 17, the Campaign highlighted the percentage of small donors, stating that "Of January donations to #Obama2012, 98% were $250 or less. Thanks to everyone who pitched in."

But the President, Mrs. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden also fanned out across the US in January--and in February--for high dollar fundraising luncheons, dinners, and receptions. Mrs. Obama is at a fundraising luncheon in DC today, and the President heads to Florida for a fundraising blitz on Thursday, after an eight-event West Coast swing last week. The President's schedule in Florida includes an event at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami with contributions ranging from $1,000 to the maximum, $35,800, another hosted by Coral Gables developer Chris Korge, a major "bundler," with donations starting at $15,000 to $35,800. The President then flies to Orlando for dinner at the home of basketball star Vince Carter. On the same day, Mrs. Obama travels to Ohio and Kentucky for fundraisers; Biden will travel to Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Providence, Road Island for fundraisers.

The text of the President's Dinner e-mail:

XXXX --

Tomorrow night, we'll pick the first of four supporters who will sit down with me for dinner.

I'm hoping you'll take me up on the invitation.

Donate $3 or whatever you can today to be automatically entered for the chance to be my first dinner guest.

These meals are one simple thing that sets this campaign apart. The seats at our table don't belong to any Washington lobbyist or powerful interest.

These seats are yours.

Donate $3 or more today and be automatically entered to win:

https://donate.barackobama.com/The-First-Guest

Hope to see you,

Barack
##

CLICK HERE for the Official Rules for the dinner. Donations are not necessary to win; there's an alternative "free entry" method.

*Photo at top by Obama for America

French Fries With The Leader Of The Free World: Behind The Scenes At "Dinner with Barack"

Presidential lunchmate Kathie Toigo dishes on what it's like being flown to Washington by the President's Campaign operation to be filmed, fork in hand, discussing hope and the middle class with the Eater in Chief...
Exactly what President Obama ate when he had lunch last Friday at DC's Scion restaurant with the winners of Obama for America's "Dinner with Barack" contest was put under strict embargo by the White House. But now it can be told: In keeping with his reputation as the most beef-loving President ever, Mr. Obama enjoyed a cheeseburger and fries. That's the news from Kathie Toigo, one of the four lucky citizens who joined the President. In a full debriefing with Obama Foodorama, Toigo discussed everything from the menu to how it feels being a newly minted OFA spokesman, fashion tips from Campaign staff, and what she thinks of the President's security detail. Lunch, Toigo said, was akin to "winning the lottery," though she was almost too nervous to take one of the French fries the President graciously offered. (Above: The President, his fries, and winner Val Grossmann)

Under orders from Obama for America staffers, Toigo, 64, an early childhood special needs teacher flown in by the Campaign from the tiny rural town of Yerington, Nevada, wasn't even allowed to tell friends that she'd won the contest until after the hour-long lunch at the Asian-esque DuPont Circle eatery was over. (Above: Toigo greeting the President, as fellow winner Scott Zoebisch looks on)

"We couldn't say anything to anybody because of security," Toigo said. "It was very hard."

She found out where she'd be dining with the President on the morning she was taken in an OFA van to Scion. Toigo made a $10 donation during the fundraising quarter that ended Sept. 30, 2011, not even thinking about winning the dinner contest, she said. She was randomly selected, she insisted, and had to pass a background check.

At lunch, Toigo was seated directly across the table from the President. Though she shook the Candidate's hand during a 2008 campaign event in her home state, she was still nervous, she said. The President, who leaned on his elbows, his shirtsleeves rolled up as he chatted, helped everyone relax, in part by joking about his ears: Kids "think I look like a cartoon character with the big ears and everything," the President confided.

"The President said he was going to order first because he didn't want us to feel hesitant," Toigo said.

He did, and his cheeseburger was accompanied by a spinach salad and iced tea. Toigo praised the Eater in Chief for putting everyone at ease by joking about--what else?--food.

"I ordered the Winter Salad, and then when it was time for the next guy to order, the President leaned in and said 'you're going to need more than a salad,'" Toigo recalled, laughing.

When lunch arrived--served personally by the two sisters who co-own Scion, which was closed for business so OFA could film the lunch conversation--the President inspected everyone's plates, and commented that Toigo's salad, which starred four cheesy croutons, looked "tasty." The President also offered to share what his wife has dubbed her favorite food.

"He offered us some of his French fries, and I thought, this is the leader of the free world, giving us his fries," Toigo said. "He's very considerate."

Still, worries continued, though Toigo billed herself as "usually calm."

"You're thinking about your fork falling out of your hand," Toigo said. "I got a little shaky feeling for a few moments, thinking, what do I say? And I was thinking, am I going to be able to eat anything?"

On becoming a spokesperson for the campaign...
Toigo is now what she said OFA calls a "Regular American" spokesperson for the Campaign, and being filmed and photographed made her nervous, too. In addition to the OFA video and still photo teams on hand, the President's press pool rushed in to snap some footage before lunch was served. Toigio was hardly aware of their presence, however, since the President went on talking to his guests, ignoring his media chroniclers. (Above: Toigo and the President, beside Grossmann; video equipment is in the background)

"For me, being in the limelight, I'm not really comfortable," Toigo said. "But I am excited about telling people what a great experience it was."

She's doing swell so far. On Tuesday, Toigo became the first of the President's lunchmates to be featured on OFA's blog, and she repeated Presidential messaging when debriefing with Obama Foodorama.

"The President told us that 'hope is when you keep working for something even when you think it's hard,'" Toigo said.

He also spoke about his dreams for his second term, and his efforts to strengthen the middle class; the President's other lunchmates were a firefighter, an Army Reserves veteran, and a US Postal Service employee, all, like Toigo, from battleground states for 2012: Georgia, North Carolina, and Colorado.

"I was impressed with how positive [the President] was about different things," Toigo said. "And by the fact that he said 'you keep trying to do what you think is important and will benefit the American people.'"

Campaign gives winners fashion tips for Presidential lunch, and filming in DC...
Campaign staff gave her tips on what to wear because she was going to be filmed, Toigo said, but despite all the photo action going on, which included video interviews with the four winners shot in the restaurant after the President departed, there were no make-up or hair services offered. Toigo was advised by staffers not to wear "anything fancy," and to think along the lines of "business casual." (Above: Toigo during the ordering)

"They said don't get dressed up," Toigo said. She spent a lot of time selecting her outfit, worrying about it all.

"I told them I hoped they'd use their best filters for the photos," Toigo joked. "Take away the lines and wrinkles."

Campaign staff also filmed her taking a walk by the White House, with her husband Tom Toigo, who traveled at their own expense with her to Washington. The couple didn't get to see the inside of the White House, however. It violates federal election rules for the sitting President to do campaign promotions from inside the Executive Mansion. It also causes GOP hysteria, as happened when Mr. Obama was accused of filming a "Dinner with Barack" promo video inside the White House.

The Campaign installed Toigo and her fellow winners at the Capital Hilton, which is just blocks from the White House, and she said the staffers coordinating the affair were all "wonderful." She's also now a big fan of the Secret Service; members of the President's security detail were of course hovering during the lunch, and Toigo was screened and checked as she entered the restaurant.

"It made me feel better about the President's safety," Toigo said. "We were all very impressed with the Secret Service."

How did dinner turn into lunch--er, "Dunch?"
As for how "Dinner with Barack," the centerpiece of OFA fundraising for much of 2011, turned into lunch? Campaign and White House staff wouldn't say last week why the dinner with the President was transformed into a midday meal. And Toigo said when she was first contacted by Campaign officials in November to tell her she'd won, the meal was dinner. That changed to lunch over the ensuing months, based on working the event into the President's schedule, she said. ObFo writer Marian Burros coined a term for a dinner-lunch long ago: "Dunch." Typically it takes place in the later afternoon.

Originally from Wisconsin, Toigo is the mother of two sons and a grandmother of one--with one more on the way--and she will be a swell surrogate for the campaign. She's even planning a reunion next year with her Presidential lunchmates, she said.

OFA today released the photos here; above, the President and Toigo are with the other winners, who are, from left, Bill Blackwelder, 31, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, a US Army Reserves veteran of the war in Afghanistan and horticulture student; Val Grossmann, 54, of Westminister, Colorado, a US Postal Service worker; and Scott Zoebisch, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, a firefighter.

The President ate dinner with the four winners of the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in October of 2011, at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. Guests, somewhat coincidentally, also included a US Postal Service worker and two teachers. Click here for links to videos from the President's first dinner. The third Presidential dinner from the Campaign, "Dinner with Barack and Michelle," has not yet been scheduled.

Toigo's meal prize with the President had an assigned retail value of $1,150, which included her air fare and one-night hotel stay, taxable to the winners. All winners must sign releases agreeing to be used in campaign promotions, for which they are not remunerated.

Read OFA's blogpost "It Happened To Kathie."

Information: Scion is at 2100 P Street NW, Washington, DC, 20037. Phone: 202.833.8899.

*Photos by Christopher Dilts for Obama for America; lunch table photo with video equipment by AP/pool

President Obama, Commander in Beef

In keeping with his history-making effort to be the most beef eating president in modern history, President Obama enjoyed a cheeseburger and fries last Friday when he had lunch at DC's Scion restaurant with the winners of Obama for America's second "Dinner with Barack" contest. OFA today released this photo of the President, holding his burger as he spoke to his lunchmates. The President also had a spinach salad and an iced tea, but did not stay for dessert. Presidential guest Kathie Toigo dishes on *everything* about the luncheon here.

*Photo by Christopher Dilts for Obama for America.

President Obama Takes "Dinner with Barack" Contest Winners To Lunch At Scion Restaurant

White House doesn't explain how much-hyped evening meal with President turns into lunch ...but Campaign has history of changing its own contest rules...
UPDATE, Jan. 11: Winner Kathie Toigo dishes on her "dunch" with the President
Since last summer, Obama for America has held three different contests for "Dinner with Barack," offering what was dubbed the "rare" opportunity to dine with President Obama as a heady enticement for supporters to fill campaign coffers with donations. On Friday, the donor winners for the second contest, officially called "Dinner with Barack II," got a bit less than the President promised. The firefighter, teacher, Army Reserves vet, and US Postal worker who had traveled from the four corners of the US had a mid-day lunch with Mr. Obama at Scion restaurant in Washington, DC. (Top: The President beside winner Val Grossman and across from the other winners at Scion, with video equipment to film the event. Inset is one of many graphic logos created for the contest)

There was no word from the White House or from OFA aides about how or why what has been the much-hyped centerpiece of fundraising had magically transformed from a Presidential dinner into lunch. The DuPont Circle neighborhood restaurant was closed to regular customers so Campaign staff could videotape the proceedings, according to co-owner Joanne Liu.

Liu also said the White House commanded her not to reveal the selections the President chose from the Asian-influenced American menu, instructing her to refer queries to the White House Press Office. White House aides also declined to reveal the menu. The event lasted a little more than an hour. (Above: Another graphic for the contest)

The President actually ate dinner with the winners of the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in October, held at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. This was videotaped for use as promotional materials for the subsequent "Dinner with Barack" contests. Friday's lunch fulfilled--sort of--the President's dinner commitment for the contest from the fundraising quarter that ended Sept. 30, 2011.

Members of the media were let in to Scion for a brief photo op before any food was served. The President, his shirt sleeves rolled up, sat with his arms crossed over a striped place mat in the restaurant's only dining room, and asked his guests about their backgrounds. All come from battleground states, and are what the Campaign calls "Everyday Americans." They were Kathie Toigo, 64, of Yerington, Nevada, an early-childhood special needs teacher; Bill Blackwelder, 31, of North Carolina, a US Army Reserves veteran of the war in Afghanistan and horticulture student; Val Grossmann, 54, of Westminister, Colorado, a US Postal Service worker; and Scott Zoebisch, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, a firefighter.

The President's group of winners for the first "Dinner with Barack" included two teachers and a US Postal Service worker, and one was also a senior citizen. Campaign aides declined to say how many people had donated as little as $3 to be entered in each of the three dinner sweepstakes.

As the guests made small talk about their families, one said his six-year-old daughter was very excited that her father was meeting the President, and had given him questions to ask.

"I'm very big with that demographic," President Obama said, chuckling.

“They think I look like a cartoon character with the big ears and everything. And they like saying my name.”

Media was ushered out rapidly. The rest of the conversation will be in the OFA-produced videos.

Changing "the menu" for the contests...
OFA spent months touting the exclusivity of DINNER with the President, which included e-mails from the President, First Lady Obama, and staff discussing how rare the opportunity was as they asked for donations. (Above: The entry/donation form for the dinner on OFA's website)

OFA heavily promoted the dinner on Facebook and Twitter, with the hashtag #DinnerWithBarack. "What would you talk about at #DinnerWithBarack?" was a much-Tweeted question from the @BarackObama account.

"These dinners also set our campaign apart," the President e-mailed in September. "No matter what our opponents do over the next 14 months, dinners like these are how we will continue to put people at the heart of this campaign."

There's no mistaking that the contest meals were supposed to be evening dinners.

"At the end of a long day, Barack and I cherish the same things most American families cherish: togetherness, warm conversation, and the simple pleasure of one another's company," Mrs. Obama e-mailed to donors. "That's what this upcoming dinner is going to be all about. "

"I've worked for President Obama for almost five years -- but I've never actually sat down for dinner with him," Deputy Campaign Manager Julianna Smoot e-mailed to donors. "That's why I'm excited about (and maybe a little jealous of) the opportunity you have to join the President for dinner."

The promise of dinner was crucial to OFA's fundraising strategy for much of 2011.

"#DinnerWithBarack isn’t just a contest—it determines whether or not we have the resources to win across the board," Tweeted @OFA_NM as the third dinner contest deadline approached.

Deputy Campaign Press Secretary Katie Hogan told Obama Foodorama in an interview last September that the "Dinner with Barack" events would NOT be filmed to be used as campaign tools, but 6 different campaign videos were produced from the President's first dinner at The Liberty Tavern. The President's lunch guests at Scion all had to sign releases agreeing to be used in Campaign promotional materials in order to receive the "dinner" prize.

But turning a dinner into a lunch is not the first "menu change" from the Campaign for the "Dinner with Barack" fundraising project.

Vice President Joe Biden was supposed to be at the first "Dinner with Barack," which was re-named after it was launched as "Dinner with Barack and Joe." But the Vice President did not attend the dinner, though Campaign staff spent much time touting his addition to the line-up. The Campaign also violated its own rules for the first dinner, failing to announce the names of winners on the website, as stated in the Official Rules. The rules for the second and third dinners were changed. (Above: The OFA graphic for "Dinner with Barack and Joe")

The President ordered from the regular lunch menu...
Scion co-owner Liu was adamant about not revealing the menu. (Above: The President at lunch)

"They asked us to refer everyone to the press office at the White House for all details," Scion said. "At least until Monday or Tuesday."

But Lui said the President and his group ordered off the regular lunch menu [PDF], which includes loaded burgers, crab cakes, and a lobster Reuben sandwich, with prices for entrees ranging between $9.95 and $18.95. Scion is known for a wide selection of craft beers.

"It was an honor to have the President here," Liu said. "It was very exciting."

The President autographed menus before his departure, and Liu posted a photo of these on Scion's Facebook page. The President arrived at 12:26 PM, and left the restaurant at 1:39 PM from a side door, avoiding a small crowd that had gathered out front. He was back at the White House at 1:43 PM. (Above: The autographed menus)

The prize package is taxable...
The contest winners received air fare and a one-night hotel stay as part of their prize package, which is taxable for the assigned retail value of $1,150. The first dinner had a lower pricetag, with an assigned retail value of $1075. The third "Dinner with Barack" contest includes dinner--or lunch--with Mrs. Obama, barring any unannounced changes to the contest, and is officially called "Dinner with Barack and Michelle." Entries closed on Dec. 31, 2011, and that dinner has an assigned retail value of $1,600. (Above: The graphic for the dinner)

The Campaign has not yet announced if the President will be raffling himself off as a dining companion for a fourth time, though one of his e-mails in September promised that dinners with supporters are going to be "a regular thing."

A video of the photo-op during the lunch:



Information: Scion is at 2100 P Street NW, Washington, DC, 20037. Phone: 202.833.8899.

*Photos by AP/pool, except for menu photo, courtesy of Scion. AP video.

An Instagram From @BarackObama

The "Dinner with Barack" campaign fundraiser was magically turned into "Lunch with Barack" at DC's Scion restaurant on Friday. Read about it here.

First Lady E-Mails About "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" Contest

No pomp and circumstance, no b*llsh*t at the intimate dinner with the First Eaters...
The end is near: Obama for America's "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" fund raising contest ends tomorrow at midnight. President Obama e-mailed donors on Wednesday, and First Lady Obama e-mailed donors today, asking for $3 while promising "warm conversation" at the "intimate" dinner for eight, with "no pomp and circumstance." The First Couple "cherishes" the same things as every American family, Mrs. Obama said.

Including dinners that raise funds for a massive re-election war chest, which Campaign Manager Jim Messina is insisting will not be $1 billion. That figure is "bullshit," Messina said in an OFA video released on Thursday, showing electoral college pathways to an Obama win in 2012. The word was partially bleeped, but it's in the video. Messina's colorful political analysis comes at 2:52 in the video.



The subject heading for the First Lady's e-mail was "Hope to Meet You Soon"

The text:

XXXX--

At the end of a long day, Barack and I cherish the same things most American families cherish: togetherness, warm conversation, and the simple pleasure of one another's company.

That's what this upcoming dinner is going to be all about. It's just going to be a couple of us -- me, Barack, supporters like you and your guests -- sitting around a table, sharing stories.

No handshaking lines, no pomp and circumstance.

We'd love for you to be a part of it. Donate $3 or whatever you can to be automatically entered today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Me-and-Barack

We hope to meet you soon,

Michelle
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"Dinner with Barack and Michelle" is the President's third time raffling himself off as a dinner date. He dined with the four winners of the first dinner contest in October at The Liberty Tavern, but has yet to dine with the four winners of the second contest. OFA recently released a new video of the Eater in Chief talking about the first dinner, which followed five previously released videos.

Entries don't require a donation, and the assigned retail value of "Dinner with Barack and Michelle," $1,600, includes airfare and a one-night hotel stay, and is taxable to the winners.

The First Lady today also sent a second e-mail to supporters, with the subject heading "I want to be able to say."

The text:

Friend --

This holiday has felt a bit like one last long, deep breath before we plunge into 2012.

This time next year, I don't want us to have any regrets. I want to be able to say we rose to the task, and got it done. We've all got some work to do right now.

Over the next 11 months we've got an organization to grow, voters to register, and people to get fired up.

I hope you'll close out this year by donating $3 or more now to help make sure we're ready for the next one:

https://donate.barackobama.com/No-Regrets

Thank you so much, and happy new year,

Michelle

P.S. -- Also, when you donate today, you are automatically entered for a chance to be one of three supporters to have dinner with Barack and me.
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