State Dinner (White House formal guest list): Nixed by Speaker Boehner -- Obama Food-o-rama news preview

Posted Saturday 1/14/2011 -- http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2011/01/speaker-boehner-declines-state-dinner.html

The much-coveted invitation to a State Dinners is considered an honor, and some lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are expected to be invited, but the White House will not announce the guest list until Wednesday afternoon.

But Politico reports that a Boehner aide confirmed that the House Speaker was invited to the dinner and will not attend. No reason was given, but the turn-down comes as President Obama is aggressively pursuing a new era of bipartisanship, and urging a national focus on civil discourse, in light of the shooting tragedy in Arizona.
"Before we are Democrats or Republicans, we are Americans," President Obama said today in his Weekly Address, as he urged lawmakers to put the interests of citizens first as Washington goes back to work following a week-long hiatus to honor the victims and survivors of the shooting.
Three's a charm...It's the third time the newly minted foodie Speaker has declined to attend the most ceremonial, high-profile event that President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host; Boehner was also invited but did not attend the State Dinners with Mexico and India. Perhaps it would be difficult for Boehner to spend a glam evening at the White House while simultaneously trying to repeal President Obama's historic health care act, something the Speaker is intent on doing. Vote #2 on that issue is expected in the House in the week ahead.
The State Dinner guest list is expected to include Cabinet Secretaries, Supreme Court Justices, and high-profile Chinese Americans who are active in the arts and culture, business, politics, and community service, as well as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The most prominent Chinese-American in the Obama administration, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, will be at the State Dinner, as will California Rep. Judy Chu. Newly elected Oakland, California Mayor Jean Quan (D) announced that she has been invited, and will bring San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee as her "date." Quan is the first Asian American woman to lead a major American city.