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Author Topic: W.H. makes CEOs pay for lunch  (Read 2014 times)

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Offline Chris_

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W.H. makes CEOs pay for lunch
« on: July 31, 2009, 11:42:21 AM »
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W.H. makes CEOs pay for lunch

Four of the most powerful business leaders in America arrived at the White House one day last month for lunch with President Barack Obama, sitting down in his private dining room just steps from the Oval Office.

But even for powerful CEOs, there’s no such thing as a free lunch: White House staffers collected credit card numbers for each executive and carefully billed them for the cost of the meal with the president.

The White House defended the unusual move as a way to avoid conflicts of interest. But the Bush administration didn’t charge presidential guests for meals, one former official said, and at least one etiquette expert found the whole thing unseemly – suggesting it was a serious breach of protocol.

“I’m sure they have their political reasons for doing that, but I think it’s not what quote, hospitality, unquote is all about,” said Letitia Baldrige, who headed Jacqueline Kennedy’s White House staff in the early 1960s. “We’ve got to relax about this. To have people to the White House and worry about the price of things is laughable.”

*snip*

From time to time, White House guests are asked to reimburse for their meals, the reasons include ensuring there is no conflict or appearance of a conflict,” said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki. “That is consistent with our tough ethics rules and we will continue the practice when appropriate.”

The former senior Bush administration official said meals with the president were covered by official entertainment expenses that fall under the Executive Residence budget or the White House’s annual account. But the Bush administration was so sensitive about appearing cozy with corporate America that another former high-ranking official cannot recall a single instance of President Bush lunching with CEOs in the White House.

Wonder what he charged for those beers yesterday.   :whatever:

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Offline NHSparky

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Re: W.H. makes CEOs pay for lunch
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2009, 11:42:51 AM »
You can take the hoodlum out of the ghetto....
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: W.H. makes CEOs pay for lunch
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2009, 12:10:54 PM »
Quote from: NHSparky on July 31, 2009, 11:42:51 AM
You can take the hoodlum out of the ghetto....

The only time Barack has been anywhere near a ghetto was to register winos as Democrats in his "Community organizer" days.  He probably has less in common with Black ghetto dwellers than most of the Whites on this board do.
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Offline Wineslob

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Re: W.H. makes CEOs pay for lunch
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2009, 12:33:31 PM »
How gauche!
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Offline Chris_

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Re: W.H. makes CEOs pay for lunch
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2009, 01:01:05 PM »
Quote from: Wineslob on July 31, 2009, 12:33:31 PM
How gauche!
Do you suppose they charged for parking too?
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Offline JohnnyReb

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Re: W.H. makes CEOs pay for lunch
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2009, 02:10:21 PM »
Quote from: lug-nut on July 31, 2009, 01:01:05 PM
Do you suppose they charged for parking too?


Cartoon idea.

The next president dangling the keys to the presidents limo and telling Obama, "Here boy, park my car."
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