Simply Dazzling: Obamas at Hispanic Caucus Dinner

President and First Lady Obama at Hispanic gala, Sept. 16, 2009POTUS and FLOTUS looked simply smashing at last night's black-tie Congressional Hispanic Causcus Institute gala.

After praising Justice Sonia Sotomayor, as a woman who will influence children for years to come, President Obama said that the day Justic Sotomayor took office was one of his proudest moments. via AP

AP announced that President Obama would speak to health care as his top priority at last night's dinner. In advancing the White House heal care initiative -- one that extends beyond passing health care legislation -- First Lady Michelle Obama will become a leading spokesperson, leading the country into a health-oriented, lifestyle mindset. See Politico's: Michelle Obama Turns to Health Care. A

White House Ramadan Dinner Stirs Up an International Mix of Flavors

Obama Hold Ramadan Dinner

It was no small gathering at the White House last evening, for President Obama's Ramadan celebration. Obama Foodorama calls it a "traditional iftar dinner" and I'll leave the culinary details to them.

This gathering was larger than this spring's Jewish Seder, giving the president the opportunity to bring diplomats, government officials and community leaders together. Even the Israeli ambassador attended.

Asked about the unusual step of inviting the Israeli ambassador to the dinner, the White House described it as a small part of the event. "Tonight was an opportunity to continue the tradition of hosting iftars at the White House, while celebrating Muslim Americans, and tonight's dinner is made up of a diverse group of individuals from business leaders to members of the US military," White House spokesman Thomas Vietor said. "Additionally, we thought it was an opportunity to reach out to ambassadors of nations with sizable Muslim populations, including the ambassadors of France, the [United Kingdom], India, and Israel."

The list of attendees is a good place for me to find new sources of information to support our International Women's Rights channel. I jumped this morning to feature Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, a young woman who broke high school basketball records in Massachusetts before heading to the University of Memphis -- while wearing a traditional hijab.

Abdul-Qaadir on the offensive.The photos of this extraordinary young woman show her with hair covered, but not playing basketball wearing a traditional hijab. Perhaps the preferred ones aren't in Google images.

No matter. To be under 5'5" tall and break WNBA star Rebecca Lobo's high school career point record in basketball is a major achievement. What a positive message for the evening! Anne

Michelle Obama Says to Justice Sonia Sotomayor: 'Come on to my house'

Michelle Obama hosting Sonia Sotomayor receptionThis is the thought that went through my mind, seeing this photo of First Lady Michelle Obama, hosting a reception with POTUS for Justice Sonia Sotomayor this morning. She looks relaxed, as if she's hosted receptions for new Supreme Court justices all her life.

The President once again recounted Justice Sotomayor’s "only in America story," coming from humble beginnings in the Bronx to a stellar career in the law, and her gratefulness for the opportunities her country afforded her along that journey:

Because while this is Justice Sotomayor's achievement –- the result of her ability and determination -– this moment is not just about her. It's about every child who will grow up thinking to him or herself, if Sonia Sotomayor can make it, then maybe I can, too. (Applause.) It's about every mother or father who looks at the sacrifices Justice Sotomayor's mother made, and the successes she and her brother have had, and thinks, I may not have much in my own life, but if I work hard enough, maybe my kids can have more. It's about everyone in this nation facing challenges and struggles in their lives, who hear Justice Sotomayor's story and thinks to themselves, if she could overcome so much and go so far, then why can't I? via White House blog

White House Reception for Sonio Sotomayor

A Day of High Achievers and Medal of Freedom Honors at the White House

POTUS and FLOTUS are entertaining today. This morning our presidential duo will honor Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic to sit on the Supreme Court.

I just found this fabulous recipe for a sweet risotto rice on the trendy BlackBook mag website.

Special rice for Supreme Court Justice Sonia SotomayorConsidering that Justice Sotomayor's reception is in the morning, and there's 1/2 cup of tequila in the rice recipe, I doubt it will be on the menu. I don't think rice qualifies as a Love Potion apphrodisiac, although other ingredients do.

I will be making this New York-conceived recipe: Inspired by the bold fare at West Village rice haven Risotteria and a recipe by Gottino chef Jody Williams, this spicy and somewhat sweet risotto combines traditional Latino ingredients like bananas, tequila (you could definitely substitute rum), fresh corn, cilantro, chilies, and a makeshift lechon (roasted suckling pig) in a politically correct attempt to titillate both taste buds and minds.

Global Medal of Freedom Winners

Later today, President Obama will honor 16 global  'Change Agents' with the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Six women will receive the honor; Nancy Goodman Brinker, Billie Jean King, Sandra Day O'Connor, Chita Rivera, Mary Robinson, and Janet Davison Rowley. Read all that news on RedTracker, Aug. 3, 2009,

Dr Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and microloansAlso honored will be Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank. Anne of Carversville encourages our friends to support Dr. Yunus. See also RedTracker: Hillary Clinton's US State Department Gets Cozy with TED and Microfinance.

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OK -- So There Were 4, Not 3; They Changed the Table Arrangement; What's the Big News

UPDATE 1:17 pm: Having listened to Sergeant Crowley's press conference last night, I think he would give a 'thumbs up' to Professor Gates's reflections just posted in the NYT about last night's get together.

Professor Gates does walk an extra mile in his comments, saying that over the past week, he has reflected on the “the contributions the police make” and had "come to appreciate them more."

Sergeant Crowley did not express any reverse sensitivity, but did say that he needed a few days off to refect on all that has happened.Crowley did speak of future meetings with Professor Gates and opportunities for the two of them to work together in some way, advancing a better understanding of how we can learn and live better from this national experience.

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Original Post:

My apologies for getting the table setup wrong. I believed Fox News, and that is the truth.

Actually, it was a good idea not to spread previously bad karma on Sasha and Malia's swing set. Why get a classic American icon like a picnic table involved in a racial brouhaha?

via Sydney Morning HeraldOk, so the setting was white table and Joe came, too. I was worried about the body language and seating arrangement, but Chris Matthews says it was necessary for the photo ops. Not sure, Chris.

Now this is a mighty nice photo!

President Barack Obama, Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sergeant James Crowley walk from the Oval Office to the Rose Garden of the White House, July 30, 2009. Official White House Photo by Pete SouzaI heard Sergeant Crowley's news conference afterwards, and I conclude that "a star is born'. He was masterful: poised; circumspect; articulate; empathetic. Expect him to run for public office.

What else are people saying? Back in 15. (I'm deeply involved in Lubna's trouser spectacle and new word from the Vatican.) Anne

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Lucia Whalen Holds News Conference; General Powell 'Talks Turkey', and Pundits Pontificate in Advance of the Picnic Table Talks

We have on our hands an Energizer bunny story, with the Gates case. It just keeps going and going.

POTUS is speaking now, so no live coverage of the Lucia Whalen news conference, in progress at Cambridge's Fresh Pond Mall.

Anne's Daily Gumbo, Sasha and Malia Now Able to Get Away from the Washington Crowds, March 5, 2009It seems that Whalen won't be joining the boys for a beer tomorrow evening 6 pm, at Obama's South Lawn picnic table. And neither will General Colin Powell, who lent his insights into the discussion on Larry King last night.

Who knew that Sasha and Malia's 'getaway' would take on such a prominent place in the annals of American history.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said it would be a "poignant" photo op proving people can discuss their differences. "There's no formal agenda other than cold beer," he said. via NY Daily News

Retired general Colin Powell on Larry King, Tues. July 28, 2009General Powell maintained his normal, circumspect composure, suggesting that Professor Gates might have considered whether 'now' is the time, to go for the jugular on racial profiling (my words, not General Powell's.)

On the other hand, General Powell seems to agree with level heads like mine, that "once they felt they had to bring Dr. Gates out of the house and to handcuff him, I would have thought at that point some adult supervision would have stepped in and said, 'OK, look, it is his house. Come on, let's not take this any further. Take the handcuffs off. Goodnight, Dr. Gates.' " via Boston Globe

When asked if he had been the victim of racial profiling, General Powell said "yes", sharing with Larry King his own experiences of trying to convince people that he really was a national security adviser to the president of the United States. Anne