by Mark Silva
The jumpin' jazz band in the East Room of the White House last night was new: This isn't your father's Marine Band, which has been known to serenade guests crossing the Cross Hall with traditional tunes at the annual holiday reception for the press.
So was the sushi bar.
President Barack Obama's first "holiday" party -- it is Hanukkah, after all, and Christmas cannot be far behind -- featured the Eli Yamin Quintet on the south side of the East Room, the lights of the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial filling the winter windowpanes behind.
And some kickin' sushi.
It also featured a high-profile security net: Two checkpoints for driver licenses examined closely in cross-reference with prepared lists of guests who had undergone background checks -- this, in the aftermath of the now infamous "gate-crashing'' of the State Dinner where a Virginia couple talked their way through the cordon.
Dana Milbank, one of the wittier writers at the Washington Post -- column to follow, we assume -- was working the line of guests queued up around the Treasury Building to enter the White House grounds toting a sign, 'Need One Ticket,' and a poster-sized picture of the president. He had a videographer in tow, too, so we are looking forward to a multimedia presentation.
Members of Congress have been asking where the president's social secretary was that night that the Secret Service allowed two uninvited guests past the guard house.
Last night, Social Secretary Desiree Rogers was working the line of arriving guests who made their way up the stairs to a main floor decorated in traditional fashion for the holidays but featuring some new flourishes, signatures of the new first family.
Jumpin' jazz and kickin' sushi.
(Photos from the East Room inside the White House and of the Washington Post's Dana Milbank outside the White House by Mark Silva.)
Comments
How cute. Now that Oprah and the cameras are gone, Barry can take down the Nativity set he felt compelled to put up for show. Now he can have the secular Christmas that he wanted to have all along, after he is done lighting his 8 candles on his "holiday candelabra".
Posted by: BDD | December 15, 2009 12:11 PM
Lots of parties, lots of golf, lots of teleprompter speeches, but nothing of any value coming out of the Obama White House. The Obama con continues as his approval numbers continue to landslide. Have faith Americans, we WILL rid this nation of the spoiled children, Marxists, and other incompetent, anti-American hacks throughout the Obama adminstration. It began in New Jersey and Virginia and continues in November, 2010.
Posted by: Derrick | December 15, 2009 12:11 PM
[[(Photos from the East Room inside the White House and of the Washington Post's Dana Milbank outside the White House by Mark Silva.)]]
congratulations on a lovely picture of the back of the drummer's head and of the lighting fixtures.
Posted by: photo | December 15, 2009 12:14 PM
I must say....They just LOVE parties, travel and shopping....Mr. Obama will you ever do anything worthwhile for the people?? Don't hold your breath you IDIOTS that voted for this JERK. How do you like your CHANGE???
Posted by: mom1 | December 15, 2009 12:52 PM
Santa was turned away by security, and the stingers on the WH roof were never activated.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | December 15, 2009 1:03 PM
I'd like to offer "Merry Christmas" and happy holidays to all the pathologically negative people leaving comments. Remember to say "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", when you have nothing good to say. You will feel better! Mary Poppins don't lie!
P.S.: Did anyone save me a Dragon roll?
Posted by: Mojopo | December 15, 2009 1:10 PM
How cute. The White House had Mark Silva. Dana Milbank and the rest of the media over for sushi and sorbet.
From Obama's point of view, it makes sense. Why not "wine and dine" (on the taxpayer's dime, of course) the media people whose support put him in the White House?
Posted by: Bruce | December 15, 2009 1:42 PM
"Party Gal" Bruce,
All presidents have interacted with the press, and all have had Christmas parties, and yet you single out this occasion for your usual bitchiness. It's not in keeping with your Party Gal personality.
Santa has some coal for you. Sit on it -- it may become a diamond one day.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | December 15, 2009 2:08 PM
Ah...the good ol' days when they used to serve peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a good waltz. May all the rabid find false intel reports in their stckings this year. They loved them so much before.
Posted by: bill r. | December 15, 2009 2:16 PM
Forgot to mention the oysters on the half shell (Gulfcoast sushi). And, Arianna Huffington was there, too.
Posted by: Mark Silva | December 15, 2009 2:19 PM
It began in New Jersey and Virginia and continues in November, 2010.
Posted by: Derrick | December 15, 2009 12:11 PM
;
LOL How cute. Try getting your "victories" in NJ and VA to vote against Health Care reform. The Constitution I carry around and follow does not allow Governors to vote on Congressional matters. Fool!
Posted by: Science is Fun | December 15, 2009 2:20 PM
Holliday Greetings (White House) at Taxpayers Expense.
Posted by: Inky | December 15, 2009 3:20 PM
Oysters and sushi?? Hope Obama fed you well, Mark. You earned it.
Posted by: Bruce | December 15, 2009 3:58 PM
I love these Silva stories.
It warms my heart to see all the "real" fat cats having fun!
Posted by: wingnut master | December 15, 2009 4:07 PM
I'm wondering that since Dana Milbank is carrying around a life-size photo of the Narcissistic Messiah himself if it was the Christmas present all Obama's little elves in the media got from their boss??
Posted by: John D, still right, as usual | December 15, 2009 6:12 PM