President Barack Obama and his family hosted a Passover seder at the White House in April. Tonight, after sunset, it's a dinner celebrating Ramadan. White House photo by Pete Souza.
by Mark Silva and updated
President Barack Obama will host a dinner at the White House this evening celebrating Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar in which observants fast from dawn until sunset each day.
The president, who hosted a Passover seder in April with a small table of invited guests at the White House, will set a private Ramadan table at 8 pm EDT. Ramadan, which started on Aug. 22, will end on Sept. 20.
Obama, who is Christian, has attempted to recognize the contributions of all religions with personal gestures such as the dinners - he also traveled to Cairo in June to address the Muslim world with an appeal for understanding.
And Obama may have a chance to play a more direct diplomatic role later this month at the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may meet with the American leader about continuing efforts at securing a peace between the warring states.
"I'm not going to get into every discussion that we've had with either side,'' White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said on Monday, "but we're certainly hopeful that we can continue to make progress, and if that happens in New York, we would be quite happy.''
On this day with a limited work schedule before departing for Camp David for an extended Labor Day weekend, the president also will be looking at the swine flu.
The president will host a meeting of federal authorities preparing for an expected fall onslaught of the H1N1 flu virus, aka swine flu, this afternoon at the White House. Homeland Security Adviser John Brennan, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden are expected.
Three federal agencies also are joining with the Sesame Network - specifically Elmo and Gordon -- to mount a campaign of televised Public Service Announcements with advice for averting and dealing with the flu. You can see the ads sponsored by HHS, Homeland Security and the Department of Education at the CDC's flu Website.
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The White House hasn't released a guest list for the Ramadan dinner yet. In April, the first family's first seder included Valerie Jarrett, a close friend and adviser, Eric Whitaker, a friend from Chicago, other friends and personal White House aides.
Comments
For the ankle biters who will call BO a Muslim:
President Bush welcomed Muslim leaders to the White House Thursday evening for an Iftaar dinner breaking the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
Posted by: bill r. | September 1, 2009 8:22 AM
The WH has held a Ramadan dinner every year since 2002, according to something I read yesterday (maybe in WaPo? I don't recall).
In other words, Obama isn't doing something out of the ordinary, hard as that is for Mark and others to believe. He's not reaching out any differently than Bush did, in this matter.
Posted by: beth | September 1, 2009 9:23 AM
billr:
We know that. Bush also gave many speeches to "the muslim world" saying we're not at war with them. Just like Hussien did in Cairo.
What I dont get is why Hussien is being reported on as if these are all new things?
Posted by: Vince P | September 1, 2009 10:05 AM
@Viince P.:
Nothing in the article suggests this is a "new thing." You wingnuts really are tedious with the whole "media bias" meme. When "Walker" gave his speeches they were reported on, just like this "Hussien" story is being reported.
BTW: The "Hussien" reference betrays you to be petty and nonsubstantive (and, of course, racist). Grow up.
Posted by: a blinkin | September 1, 2009 10:57 AM
Does anyone seriously think Israel will ever make an offer as generous as Barak did in 2000? And if they did, does anyone think Abbas would actually accept it? Keep hoping, but it's a long, long way away people.
Posted by: M James | September 1, 2009 11:10 AM
Does anyone seriously think Israel will ever make an offer as generous as Barak did in 2000? And if they did, does anyone think Abbas would actually accept it? Keep hoping, but it's a long, long way away people.
Posted by: M James | September 1, 2009 11:10 AM
Correction: Ramadan is not the final month in the Islamic calender. Dul Hijja is.
Posted by: Sharif Silmi | September 1, 2009 12:59 PM