White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

The Starts Align at WH Correspondents' Dinner Garden Brunch

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Georgetown was the center of the action today as Hollywood stars Lindsay Lohan, Matthew Morrison, and Chase Crawford joined political stars Valerie Jarrett, Gov. Jerry Brown and Haley Barbour and media hot shots Willie Geist, Greta van Susteren, and Arianna Huffington to support the White Ribbon Alliance and CURE Epilepsy at the 19th annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch.

Lindsay Lohan arrived with Greta van Susteren & John Coale, Kris Jenner and lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley and guests lined up to meet her and shake hands.  After listening to the speeches, Lohan wowed the young volunteers who lined up for photos.

Hosted by Tammy Haddad, Kevin Sheekey, Hilary Rosen, Clarke Camper, Mark Ein, Alex Castellanos, Anita Dunn, Bill Knapp, David Adler, Steve McMahon and Franco Nuschese, guests strolled through Ein’s home and marveled at all the star power.

Spotted in the crowd were Bob Barnett and Elle Macpherson, Kris Jenner, Kate Hudson, Kerry Washington, Tim Daly and Woody Harrelson.

Hosain Rahman from Jawbone donated super-hot Jamboxes to anyone who made a significant donation to White Ribbon Alliance or CURE.  Elle Macpherson used her supermodel moxy to quiet the crowd as she, Rosario Dawson and Willie Geist presented the Jamboxes to the lucky donors including Bret Baier, Steve Schmidt and Steve Clemons.

Also honored at the event were Steve and Jean Case for their innovation and philanthropy and Susan Axelrod for her tireless work to find a cure for epilepsy.  GOP power house Alex Castellanos moved the crowd with his speech about Lauren Axelrod’s struggle with relentless seizures.  Both Susan and David Axelrod had tears in their eyes as Alex recounted the family’s battle with their daughter’s illness.

Steve and Jean Case accepted their award from NYSE Euronext’s Clarke Camper with a beautiful reminder that everyone has the power to help people in need.

You can watch the program from the Garden Brunch tonight on C-SPAN prior to the live broadcast of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Inside the White House Correspondents Association

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For those looking to Washington this weekend for the stars and the CEOS, please remember that this weekend is about the work and journalism of the White House Correspondents who without glamour or glitz toil away to try to explain what is happening at the White House and to try to get the Obama White House to explain what they are doing.

Check out the association’s web site for more on their work and the breathtaking photos taken by their awardees.

http://whca.net/dinner.htm

Variety Weighs in on White House Correspondents' Dinner

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Ted Johnson, Variety’s man on elections and politics, and the creative voice and force behind WilshireandWashington.com sizes up this year’s White House Correspondents Weekend power and prestige.

“D.C. Dinner Mingles Elite and Offbeat
Weekend juxtaposes Pols, Celebs and, yes, even Journos

Hollywood and Washington will mix again at the annual White House Correspondents Assn. dinner on Saturday, and the influx of stars, media types and politicos is certain to create its own share of surreal moments. The purpose of the dinner is to honor White House correspondents in a relaxed atmosphere, but the event has long outgrown the focus on scribes on the beat to become a promotional platform for media outlets and, as such, a spectacle of status, stature and, occasionally, the superficial.

Perhaps no moment captured that facet better than last year when Obama threw out zingers at an ever-so-serious Donald Trump, who appeared none-too-pleased at his table amid what turned out to be the peak of GOP presidential speculation. The irony was made all the more apparent the next day, when U.S. Special Forces killed Osama bin Laden.

Organizers said that this year some 2,700 people are expected at the Washington Hilton for the event, which has sold out for the 20th year in a row. Jimmy Kimmel is the headliner entertainment and President Obama will again deliver a monologue of his own.

A big tradition is for media outlets to draw celebrities and administration officials to their table, and interest in the event has not waned this year. A sampling:

•George Clooney and girlfriend Stacy Keibler, and Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, are among those who will be at Time’s table, along with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

•The ABC News table will include members of the cast of “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town,” Elizabeth Banks from “Hunger Games,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, National Security adviser Tom Donilon, former White House senior adviser David Axelrod and Gen. Ray Odiero.

•The CBS News contingent will include Claire Danes, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger III, Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) Christine Baranski, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Daniel Dae Kim and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

•Newsweek and The Daily Beast will host Reese Witherspoon, Viola Davis and JR Martinez along with California Gov. Jerry Brown, CIA director David Petraeus, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer.

•Others reportedly on tap include Uggie, the dog from “The Artist” (a guest of the Washington Times); Sandra Fluke (a guest of the Huffington Post) and a smattering of young actors hitting their moment, including Josh Hutcherson (a guest of People).

The events preceding the actual dinner start much earlier. On Thursday, Elle magazine, the Creative Coaltion and Lanmark technology host a leading Women in media party. On Friday, The New Yorker hosts a party on the rooftop of the W Hotel, in view of the White House: People and Time host a reception at the St. Regis Hotel; and the National Journal, the Atlantic, Funny or Die and the Impact Film Fund host their annual First Amendment party. Reflecting its growing influence in Washington, including a victory in sidelining SOPA, Google is hosting a WHCA-eve party with The Hollywood Reporter.

One of the longest-lasting traditions is the Saturday garden brunch, which started at the home of producer Tammy Haddad but has grown to the historic Beall Washington House. The event is co-hosted by Haddad, Hilary Rosen, David Adler, Mark Ein and a number of others, and will honor Steve and Jean Case and Susan Axelrod. It is a benefit for CURE Epilepsy and the White Ribbon Alliance.

After the dinner, MSNBC is hosting an after-party at the Embassy of Italy; and Bloomberg and Vanity Fair are hosting an event at the French Ambassador’s residence. ” CLICK for the rest http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053064

Greta Van Susteren: Ten Years of Fearless Interviews

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Go to Gretawire.com and congratulate Greta Van Susteren on ten years of “On The Record” on Fox News Channel.  Greta is still the newest talent on the powerhouse Fox prime time schedule, winning her time slot, batting away competitor after competitor. Typical Greta, no big party celebrating the big day.  Instead she is blogging on Greta Wire…

“Today is the exact day we launched…..February 4, 2002.  Incidentally, right before Feb. 4, 2002, I had just had the bags under my eyes fixed and because I was still swollen, I did still look a bit like the Pillsbury Doughboy, didn’t I?     I got so much media attention for being open about plastic surgery that ON THE RECORD at 10pm got a huge media launch.  Everyone one was talking about it.  It was incredible – even the cover of People Magazine!  Although it was certainly not planned to be a marketing ploy, it ended up being a phenomenal to launch a show.  Even when the critics had something to say about me they mentioned our new show…and mentioning the new show – regardless of what was said – was big for our launch!  It is buzz!  It didn’t matter what they were saying – it mattered that they were saying it and paying attention and telling everyone else about the new show.  Buzz gets everyone paying attention.   No other cable news show has ever gotten a media launch like that and the funny thing?  It did not cost Fox a dime.  It was total luck.  At the time I thought – if only I were smart enough to have planned it to work out this way…but it was just plain luck.

Besides working with great people, and having great friends, I have had lots of luck.  I was extraordinarily lucky to have been chosen by Roger Ailes to anchor the new Fox cable show at 10p.   Frankly, he could have picked a lot of people – there are a lot of good people out there – but he picked me.

I also know and have told ALL OF YOU many times here on GretaWire, you are a GIANT part of the success of ON THE RECORD at 10pm for 10 years straight.  Without you, we would not be successful – and we sure would not be #1 for 10 straight years without you.

And, of course, with GretaWire, I feel like I know many of you and that you are my friends – even on those occasions when you are clobbering me for something I said or did  (and yes, many times I may deserve it.)  But, what is fun is that even when we get into the occasional dust up with each other we all get over it and move on.  I love good strong debate.”

Steve Clemons is ‘Ambidextrous'!

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While WHCI favorite Steve Clemons is gathering a reporting string in China, The Washington Diplomat give him aces in a profile. Writer Michael Coleman describes him as, “employing a mixture of non-ideological intellectual curiosity, a clear, easily digestible writing style and a tireless, roll-up-the-sleeves work ethic, Clemons has gradually emerged as one of Washington’s premier foreign policy opinion leaders.”

Read the full profile here.

Steve Clemons with writer Dustin Lance Black and Andrew Oros

Latest from Iowa in the Final Countdown Before the Iowa Straw Poll

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The Huffington Post‘s Jon Ward reports that Texas Governor, Rick Perry’s likelihood of showing up at Ames is 50/50, according to Craig Schoenfeld who quit the Gingrich campaign earlier in the year to join Americans for Rick Perry.  On August 13th, Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, will host a straw poll which may determine a frontrunner in the 2012 GOP Presidential race.

Read the whole article here.

Hawaii Gearing Up for APEC 2011 Goody Bags & More!

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Do you have your tickets for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit (APEC) in Hawaii yet? The State of Hawaii economic development and tourism teams are over the moon about this amazing opportunity and have been aggressively courting all the attending countries.  Look for lots of care and hometown pride from both the President and First Lady.  APEC United States 2011 will be a series of meetings of the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies held around the United States in 2011. It will culminate in the 19th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting held at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu Hawaii from November 12–13, 2011. The United States last hosted an APEC summit at the 1993 summit. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host the other leaders and spouses.

One of the opportunities is to showcase the products of Hawaii with an incredible “Gift Bag”. Here is the RFP.

The APEC 2011 Hawaii Host Committee is seeking qualified vendors to supply and showcase their products or services for distribution in the form of hospitality gifts to 11,000 government officials, business leaders and global media during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week events. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued by the Host Committee on July 12, 2011.

“In addition to showcasing Hawaii as a premier global meetings destination, APEC 2011 will present an opportunity for us to introduce Hawaii products and services to an international audience,” said Peter Ho, Hawaii Host Committee Chair.  “Through this RFQ, the individual products and services supplied will further highlight Hawaii businesses and industries, as well as represent the aloha spirit and hospitality of our islands.”

The scope of work desired for this procurement is as follows:

Qualified and reliable suppliers must be able to supply goods or services in tangible product form in the following categories, including, but not limited to:

  • Coffee;
  • Chocolates/macadamia nut products;
  • Hawaii snacks;
  • Beverages;
  • Soaps, lotions, oils and other bath products;
  • Arts and crafts;
  • Sports and/or beach items;
  • Music;
  • City guides (containing no third party advertising); and
  • Gift certificates for goods or services ($50 minimum retail value amount, with no purchase required).

Product Specifications:

  • Packaged goods must bear no loose-leaf collateral;
  • No promotional trial size items; and
  • Items are to be no larger than 22”L x 18”H x 3”D (Size of Hospitality Gift Bag).
  • The selection of suppliers will be based on overall bids received and how each item contributes to the aggregate of products to be inserted into hospitality gift bags. Suppliers must be able to supply a minimum quantity of 500 items to be considered.

Interested suppliers can obtain a copy of the RFQ by emailing the APEC 2011 Hawaii Host Committee at rfq@apec2011hawaii.com. Please indicate the company name, contact name, contact phone, facsimile, address and email address. The deadline for RFQ submissions is July 29, 2011 at 4:00 p.m., with supplier selections being announced on August 15, 2011.

[Read more…]

Alec Baldwin: NYC Mayor?

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With New York Rep. Anthony Weiner’s political future unknown, perhaps the most interesting development is the possibility of actor Alec Baldwin trading in “30 Rock” for the Gracie Mansion. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is not running in 2013 and now that Weiner, the leading candidate, is in texting turmoil that leaves the field wide open. Read The Daily exclusive here to see what the actor’s friend said about Baldwin stepping in as a high profile Democratic candidate.

Ailes: Clinton to Fox?

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In a recent interview, Fox News President Roger Ailes seemed to shift from his traditionally conservative stance and may have developed a bit of a soft spot for some top Democrats. In an interview with Howard Kurtz, Ailes – the man who put Sarah Palin back on television – even said he’d hire Hillary Clinton: “She looks unhappy at the State Department. She’d get ratings.” See the full story on The Daily Beast here.