Excerpts From President Obama's Remarks, 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner

The White House on Sunday released tidbits from President Obama's remarks at the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner, held Saturday night at the Capital Hilton by the exclusive members-only social club for the nation's elite. Over a dinner of Lobster and Filet Mignon, the President joked about his reputation, crooner Al Green, and his "We Can't Wait" campaign.  He ribbed club members Warren Buffett, House Speaker John Boehner, seated at the head table, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

"One of my big goals this year was to get out and be among everyday, ordinary Americans -- like the men and women of the Alfalfa Club," President Obama quipped to his audience of billionaires and powerbrokers.

The black-tie event was closed to press. First Lady Michelle Obama accompanied her husband as a noisy protest from Occupy DC went on for hours outside the hotel, which included a human blockade to prevent guests from entering the party, and throwing glitter bombs at fancily dressed VIPs.

"It is great to be here tonight, because I have about 45 more minutes on the State of the Union that I’d like to deliver tonight," President Obama opened.

"You've heard it from the pundits: "Obama is cloistered in the White House." "He's aloof." "He's in the bubble." "He's not connecting,"" the President said. "And that’s why one of my big goals this year was to get out and be among everyday, ordinary Americans -- like the men and women of the Alfalfa Club."

The hundreds of Occupy DC protesters were making this same point outside of the hotel, shouting "shame! shame! shame!" as they noted that the dinner is for the 1% of powerbrokers they decry as having ruined the US economic system. Protesters threw glitter bombs at arriving guests, and created a human blockade to try to prohibit entrance.

"At least my harshest critics can agree I have a promising future -- as a Al Green impersonator," President Obama said.

The President sang a few bars of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at a campaign fundraiser in New York two weeks ago, causing an almost 500% rise in the sales of Green's single.

The Alfalfa Club annually nominates a member to serves as President, and this year it was Jeb Bush, who visited the President on Friday at the White House, joined by his father, former President George H. W. Bush, also a member guest at the dinner.

"It is great to see Jeb Bush, who is accepting a nomination for President tonight," President Obama said. "I have to say, though, it's not fair to tease your friends like that."

President Obama has engaged in a series of Executive actions to continue his agenda without Congress, and Boehner heard about it.

"And Speaker Boehner, it is good to see you at the head table. I know how badly Eric Cantor wanted your seat. But, John, I want you to know: I am eager to work with members of Congress to be entertaining tonight. But if Congress is unwilling to cooperate, I will be funny without them."

Warren Buffett's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, has become the face of President Obama's campaign to reform tax law, after he proposed "The Buffett Rule" last September, following an op-ed from Buffett in which the billionaire opined that he paid a lower tax rate than his underling.

"I’d like to acknowledge a very good friend of mine -- Warren Buffet’s secretary’s boss is in the house," President Obama said.

Bosanek was seated in the First Lady's Box during the State of the Union Address.

The President had a few serious moments in his speech.

“Let us never forget the extraordinary privilege that we share as Americans, and the responsibility that we all have, as leaders, to the continued success of this country that’s made so many of our stories possible,” he said.

Guests spotted on the red carpet entering the dinner included 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 Occupy DC as he crossed the street to get to the red carpet with companions. (Above: A photo of the Alfalfa Dinner entree, tweeted by Chef José Andrés, a guest at the dinner)

There are about 200 current Alfalfa Club members, who include Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Tom Daschle, Newt Gingrich, Alan Greenspan, Vernon Jordan Jr., and Steve Forbes. 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 annual dinner is its only event, and is held on the last Saturday in January each year. The club didn't admit African Americans as members until 1974, and women had to wait until 1994.

President Obama last attended the Alfalfa Club dinner in 2009.

"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."

The name of the club comes from the alfalfa plant's reputation of doing anything for a drink.

*Entree photo by José Andrés; top photo by AP

On The Menu As President, First Lady Attend Alfalfa Club Dinner: VIPS, Filet Mignon & Protest

UPDATE: EXCERPTS FROM OBAMA'S REMARKS
Hundreds of members of Occupy DC held a large, noisy protest in front of the Capital Hilton on Saturday night, but it didn't prevent President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from arriving on time for the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner. An exclusive organization with members from America's 1% power elite, the Alfalfa Club 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 away from the action, had just one glimpse of Mrs. Obama all night; she wore a floor-length gown in red. (Above: Mrs. Obama in a red gown at a 2011 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 protest: 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...
Acclaimed DC 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

Friday Night Dinner Party For First Lady: Michelle Obama & Friends At DC's Oyamel Restaurant

A repeat visit to Chef José Andrés' Chinatown eatery...
Perhaps tired from his three-day, five-state tour this week, President Obama was not part of his wife's dinner party on Friday night as First Lady Michelle Obama paid a visit to Washington, DC's Oyamel. Mrs. Obama arrived at the Chinatown restaurant at about 6:30 PM with a large group of friends, according to a source inside the popular eatery, and stayed for more than two hours. Owner/executive chef José Andrés, a partner in Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! campaign, was on hand to greet the First Lady. He was in the audience on Wednesday as Mrs. Obama announced USDA's new school nutrition standards. Andrés also appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss Mrs. Obama and the healthier school meals.

The First Lady's security detail was very busy...
Mrs. Obama and her party of about ten dined in Oyamel's glassed-off private area in the main dining room. She has visited the restaurant before, and unlike some of her "incognito" culinary adventures in DC, such as repeat visits to BLT Steak, this one was hard to miss. Agents flanked the busy main dining room, noisy with an end-of-week crowd. In front of the restaurant, on 7th Street NW, the area was partially blocked off, and filled with an armed security detail. Patrons hoping to dine were lined up to be wanded and patted down by Secret Service, who also searched handbags and briefcases. Guests were asked to put these down on the sidewalk to the side, for a thorough search. (Above: The exterior of Oyamel)

The First Lady left after 8:30 PM, exiting out a back door of the restaurant into her waiting motorcade. She loves Andrés' cooking: Since moving into the White House, Mrs. Obama has dined at his Greek/Mediterranean restaurant, Zaytinya, at least three times. Members of the First Lady's entourage were also later spotted dining at Andrés' nearby Jaleo restaurant; the chef stopped by to chat with them, too.

Perhaps Mrs. Obama was in the mood for Oyamel because she visited Florida on Thursday to announce a commitment from Goya Foods to the Let's Move! campaign, and to attend DNC fundraisers. Goya is the largest Hispanic food company in the US.

Andrés is a big fan of Twitter, but he is the most discreet chef who has cooked for Mrs. Obama, and never tweets about the visits of his most high-profile regular guest. But he did tweet about her efforts with school lunch.

"On my way to hear Ms. Obama give a speech about School lunch reform..awesome! Biggest contribution of a First Lady to USA ever @BarackObama," Andrés tweeted before he joined Mrs. Obama at Parklawn Elementary School in Alexandria, VA.

The Oyamel menu...
A cookbook author and host of the PBS show Made in Spain, the James Beard Award-winning Andrés has been a superstar on the DC restaurant scene for more than two decades. Oyamel's menu stars small plates, "Anojitos," billed as "the little dishes from the streets," which include items such as Carne Apache, grass-fed beef with sweet onion, pickled cactus, serrano chile, cilantro and smoked pasilla de Oaxaca chile oil for $11, and Ceviche de Atun Pacifico, Tuna with Maggi-lime marinade, scallions, avocado, toasted pecans, jalapenos and crispy amaranth ($12). There's also "Authentic Mexican" tacos in hand-made corn tortillas, a wide variety Carnes (meats) and Mariscos (seafood), as well as salads and vegetables, all ranging in price from $7-$14. The dinner menu [PDF].

Watch Andrés in action on CBS: (he comes in at 2:30)



Information: Oyamel is located at 401 7th St NW, Washington, DC, 20004. Phone: (202) 628-1005.

*Top photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; Oyamel photos courtesy of Oyamel; CBS video