Ramadan Dinner at the White House: The Guest List

United States
September 2, 2009 8:40am CST
Once again Obama confirms his alliance/allegiance with Islam. The money that this affair will cost could IMO be better spent on feeding out of work AMERICANS rather than sucking/fawning up to Muslim!. Your opinion? President Obama will host a White House dinner Tuesday night celebrating Ramadan, the Muslim holy month during which the faithful fast from dawn to sunset each day. Obama will be joined at the dinner by three Cabinet members, five members of Congress, nearly two dozen foreign diplomats, and 33 community leaders. Among the invited diplomats are the Israeli ambassador and the chief of mission for the Palestinian Liberation Organization, as well as the Indian and Pakistani ambassadors to the United States On Aug. 21, the president released a Ramadan video message to Muslims around the world. The guest list released by the White House follows:CABINET Secretary Robert Gates, Department of Defense Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of Justice Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services DEPUTY CABINET SECRETARIES Deputy Secretary Dennis Hightower, Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Adam Miller, Department of Education MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Congressman Andre Carson (Indiana 7th) Congressman John Conyers (Michigan 14th) Congressman Keith Ellison (Minnesota 5th) Congressman Rush Holt (New Jersey 12th) Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) DIPLOMATIC CORPS Ambassador Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al Hussein, Jordan Ambassador Adel A.M. Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia Ambassador Husain Haqqani, Pakistan Ambassador Erlan A. Idrissov, Kazakhstan Ambassador His Excellency Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghanistan Ambassador Aziz Mekouar, Morocco Ambassador Peter N.R.O. Ogego, Kenya Ambassador Roble Olhaye, D'jibouti Ambassador Michael Oren, Israel Ambassador Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat, Indonesia Ambassador Klaus Scharioth, Germany Ambassador Meera Shankar, India Ambassador Nabi Sensoy, Turkey Ambassador Sir Nigel Elton Sheinwald, United Kingdom Ambassador Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Egypt Ambassador Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida'ie, Iraq Ambassador Pierre Nicolas Vimont, France Chargé d'Affaires Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Bangladesh Chargé d'Affaires Ilango Karuppanan, Malaysia Chargé d'Affaires Mohamed O Maiga, Chargé d'Affaires Angela Oi Foong Shim, Brunei Chargé d'Affaires Baba Gana Wakil, Nigeria Mr. Maen Areikat, Chief of Mission, PLO COMMUNITY MEMBERS Ms. Bilquis Abdul-Qaadir, University of Memphis Professor Azizah Al-Hibri, University of Richmond School of Law Ms. Reema Ali, Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights Mr. Hasan Chandoo, Oppenheimer & Co. Rabbi Nathan Diament, Director, Institute for Public Affairs, Orthodox Union* Imam Plemon El-Amin, Atlanta Masjid al-Islam Mr. Wahid Hamid, PepsiCo Ms. Dina Hammad Mr. Lutfi Hassan Ms. Nashala Hearn Ms. Rosalind Hearn Imam Yahya Hendi, Chaplain, Georgetown University Pastor Joel Hunter, Northland Church* Mr. Nooman Husain Mr. Imad Hussain Mr. Sanford Ibrahim, CEO, Radian Group Mr. Jameel Jaffer, Staff Attorney, ACLU Mrs. Elsheba Khan Dr. Mansur Khan, UMMA Community Clinic Ms. Farhana Khera, Muslim Advocates Lt. Commander Abuhena Saifulislam, U.S. Marine Corps Mr. Kareem Salama Imam Yusuf Saleem, Masjid Muhammad Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President, Islamic Society of North America Mr. Farooq Mitha Ms. Dalia Mogahed, Director, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies* Ms. Hutham Olayan, Olayan America Corp. Mr. Eboo Patel, Interfaith Youth Corps* Imam Yusuf Saleem, Masjid Muhammad Rabbi David Saperstein, Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism* Ms. Mina Trudeau, Executive Director, El Fatiha Foundation Mr. J. Saleh Williams, Congressional Muslim Staffers Association Mr. Mohamed Zakariya, Zakariya Calligraphy http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/09/01/ramadan_dinner_at_the_white_ho.html?wprss=44
4 people like this
10 responses
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
2 Sep 09
He's really racking up the religious celebrations at the white house isn't he. I wonder if he's be willing to host my Sahmain rites in a few months. Some how I doubt the secret service is going to tolerate a bon fire on the white house lawn, but I'm sure we can work something out. I can't picture them letting me in with an athame either, guess I'll have to substitute with a butter knife.
2 people like this
• United States
2 Sep 09
Hey it's worth a try. If he really want to be President of the World he is going to have show fairness to all religions!!
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
2 Sep 09
lol, somehow I don't think there is much chance I would be getting too many christians in my religious services, many of them consider me a devil worshiper.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
2 Sep 09
xfahctor...I love bonfires! But somehow I do not think the White House would honor your beliefs in such a manner. Along with you I am wondering if Christians and Jews are going to be 'honored' by this man with a seder on Passover? Along with the Hindu's & Bhuddists. I know you are not a Christian...but are you familiar with the prophecy in Revelation that there will be a one world religion...right up there with a one world government?
2 people like this
• United States
2 Sep 09
I agree with you, OUR MONEY which is being spent on this event to kiss up to his "muslim brothers" certainly could be better spent helping hungry Americans. Why should WE have to pay this?
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Sep 09
Damn right! Again we agree!
2 people like this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
2 Sep 09
I am tolerant when it comes to religion. But isn't it a big liberal thing...that they used to shout about all the time...to not mix religion with public affairs? I mean...the President is free to believe what he wants...but to sanction a specific religion with a state affair. And I have to wonder how the families and friends of those killed on 9/11 feel about this? How did we go from saying never again...to hosting them at the White House honoring their religious beliefs? Maybe he's just sucking up like you say....but I don't think that is good politics or good PR for Obama. Does he not care what we think? Obviously not. Don't get me wrong...I know not all Muslims are terrorists...but this sort of feels wrong to me.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Sep 09
debrak....well said ...thank you
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
2 Sep 09
OMG what a list of names and someprofessors in our school!? and putting all these people togehter that are fighting each other is he mad!? I am thinking there is to be alot of turn downs on this. and yup he could spend this money to put food on tables here and get jobs put out there for people to go back to work. I think he is tring to break the country more! by doing this. Just another cowtoe to the Muslims when he should be making sure the Americans are working and getting the economy back in order! grrrrrrr
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
2 Sep 09
awwww thanks!
• United States
2 Sep 09
Right on the ball Lakota!
• Philippines
2 Sep 09
So there shouldn't be any Christmas or Easter celebrations either.
• United States
3 Sep 09
Not to worry you will never ever see a Christmas or Easter celebration in an Islamic country hosted by the Leader.
• United States
5 Sep 09
It's always a Christmas celebration in Morocco... red and green everywhere. LOL
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
3 Sep 09
I think it's a great idea. I'm always encouraged when my government is using money for productive steps toward peace such as these. Just imagine how much money and most importantly people's lives we could save by things such as this through the avoidance of milatary use. On the other hand, I really think you're onto something with feeding out of work Americans, although many would argue that too much is being done in that respect. These White House dinners are ghastly expensive and to think of how many people could be fed with what they spend on them is really disheartening. What's even more disheartening is the fact that the United States spends almost as much on military than the rest of the world combined. I'd much rather money be spent on peaceful dinners that could actually contributed to comprehensive peace.
1 person likes this
@jonakyl (493)
• United States
2 Sep 09
I really hate defending Obama, but will there be this must outrage when there is likely a Christmas dinner being held as well? Plus the money spent to put up a big Christmas tree, decorate, and power all the lights on it?
• United States
2 Sep 09
jonakyl Are you for real? You compare a Christian celebration in a predominantly Christian country (USA) with an Islamic highly religious ceremony in the country where Islamic terrorists have killed and will continue to kill Americans!!?@!! I am shocked with your comparison. I lived for 4 years in a Muslim country and I can assure toy there never was or ever will be a Christian (Christmas) celebration hosted by the Muslim Leader!!
@jonakyl (493)
• United States
2 Sep 09
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2009/08/26/news/doc4a956f1711d37389015039.txt Whether he celebrates it or not, it appears there will be money spent on it. I would be surprised if there isn't also a Christmas dinner at the White House. So will this create as much outrage as him spending money on dinner for Ramadan?
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
2 Sep 09
Once again letting the American people know what he thinks us.
• United States
2 Sep 09
That is how I feel about it too and it does not feel good!
@AmbiePam (85271)
• United States
4 Sep 09
Are you kidding? Are you freakin' kidding me?
• United States
4 Sep 09
Sorry but I am NOT freakin' kidding you!
@clrumfelt (5490)
• United States
2 Sep 09
I agree it was a big, big waste of our tax $$. I also heard there were a few radical militant Muslims in attendance there. Some from the "brotherhood" a radical terrorist organization that trains militants for Al Quaida and Hamas. Good goin', Prez.
• United States
2 Sep 09
1 person likes this
@Quiplet (255)
• United States
2 Sep 09
I don't like disagreeing with my conservative friends, but President Bush gave thanks to the many ways Muslim Americans benefit America. Each year he hosted a similar dinner. See weblink voice of America. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-09-18-voa3.cfm?moddate=2008-09-18 I can't say if the guest list was the same... that would be worth investigating, huh?
• United States
2 Sep 09
I happen to be (was) a registered Democrat until O(NO)bama came on the scene. However what Bush did was not when one million Americans were out of work. the Nations debt had skyrocketed he did not use out tax dollars to celebrate Ramadan. So I personally could care less if the guest list was the same IMO Obama is still making very bad decisions by honoring Islam with my tax dollars!!!.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
2 Sep 09
Once again...I have to say that Bush and Obama were playing for the same team. But then I was called a conspiracy nut. When will people wake up to the fact that there is something bigger behind this than Republican/Democrat ideology?
1 person likes this