flygirl

Hi

So far I'm coming up against a wall - which I am sure is the point.

I'd like to attend one of Obama's public events - such as a speech, for instance - or whatever else he may do that isn't closed to the press. The White House publishes his schedule but it is by necessity very generic. You always seem to see on the news some lucky tourists running into him at random places like the Mall.

If you did manage to attend an event, be it something at a university, or whatever - how did you go about doing it? Writing your Congress person works for WH tours - but not for attending anything by Obama. I am sure there are security checks up the wazoo, etc.

I did inquire about getting a WH tour and the first thing they ask is your SSN for background checks. As expected.

Thank you for any thoughts.

NewbE

I attended a campaign stop during the last election, but I was volunteering at the headquarters and so knew about it in advance. It was also publicized, though, as campaign events are.

I lived in DC for a really long time, but now that you mention it, neither I nor anyone I knew ever attended a speech by the President except during the inaugural festivities.

Sorry, I got nothin'!

NewbE

Just looked up the President's public schedule, out of curiosity. Wow, it really is vague!

I suspect luck lies in knowing lots of people in the area and hearing about an event through the grapevine and wangling an invite.

He will be more visible once the primaries kick off, but not like when he was running, obviously, and probably not in DC.

Can you donate a large sack of ducats and enter the inner circle that way??

starrs

"Can you donate a large sack of ducats and enter the inner circle that way??"

Yes. That's a good way to do it.


Friends have attended his events in the Atlanta area - and those who got close to him were vetted by the folks at the hosting event. Lots of folks saw him from afar, and a few friends actually shook hands and met him - but they were award winning teachers in the showcased district.

J62

I attended a closed ~200 person event a few years ago at a local college. I was on the invite list as a business partner - CEO was speaking at the same event. The secret service needed names lists w/ SS# well in advance.

janisj

>>You always seem to see on the news some lucky tourists running into him at random places like the Mall.

flygirl

Hello, thanks everyone for your comments. I'm still hopeful I'll turn over a stone on this one!

Christina

I've been to a private event that Obama attended and was keynote speaker (annual meeting breakfast). YOu just had to be a member of the particular advocacy group, it was one that had worked with him a lot and on an issue he cared about. But anyone could have bought a ticket, actually, there are not annual dues to attend the annual meeting. I think Biden came last year or the year before, also. This year it was HHS Secretary, but Elizabeth Warren was at one session. The tickets were several hundred dollars but that was to attend the annual conference for a couple days, not just that breakfast. YOu just had to have ID with you, I believe signed up ahead of time, also, can't recall. There were security screenings like an airport or something (It was in a hotel on Capitol Hill).

But I don't expect Obama is going to be keynote speaker at that particular group's annual meeting again, they were lucky to get him the first time and his term will be up, anyway.

I have been on the mailing list and member of that organization for years, so get all their emails, it wasn't tricky for me to know about it as they announced it months in advance in their email newsletter.

flygirl

Christina, would you mind emailing me privately about that? The organization might have some tips..

I was thinking seeing Hillary Clinton may be easier. Anyone have any ideas about that? I'm starting that search... thanks!

NewbE

Always easier to see a campaigning politician, but again, not so much in DC. When I lived in Minnesota, we saw all the presidential candidates regularly, as well as their celebrity endorsers, and that was super fun.

But anyway, I would think her campaign would have a more detailed schedule of public appearances, because they do want crowds...

O'Malley might be even easier to see, if you are interested.

Christina

I don't think that organization would have tips on how you can go to one of Obama's speeches, they know him and are very prominent politically (it's for people who work in public health, we've been trying to get national health insurance for years), he speaks at various organizations that he cares about and schedules speeches with them. Such as the National Prayer Breakfast, that press club thing, some commencement speeches, etc. So I am not clear on how they could help you run into Obama casually. I know it's hard to get tickets or into some of those big campaign events, also, but that's worth looking into, if he's campaigning for anyone. It's not a secret organization, it's Families USA FWIW. But I don't think emailing them randomly in your quest would be productive, myself. The White House discussed that event on their website, also, it wasn't closed to press or anything

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press...ion-conference

janisj

flygirl, you are beginning to sound like a stalker