withIn the wake of complaints via Republicans that they never show up to anything else President Obama invites them to (or one thing like that), the President tapped Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to position together a guest checklist for a Wednesday evening dinner at Washington’s Jefferson Resort. Among the scant important points to emerge from the 2 hour-plus dinner Wednesday night time is the fact that President Obama paid for the dinner with twelve Republican senators out of his personal pocket, and that Sen. John McCain concept the dinner went “just positive.”

Pool stories from the dinner point out that details of the dinner have been tightly guarded, even though they are certain to go with the flow freely toorrow, when the members themselves commence to tell the tale. Thus far, though, we know that the dinner used to be attended through the President, and Senators Lindsey Graham, Bob Corker, Kelly Ayotte, John McCain, Dan Coats, Tom Coburn, Richard Burr, Mike Johanns, Pat Toomey, Ron Johnson, John Hoeven, and Saxby Chambliss.

The dinner started out at about 6:30, and apparently didn’t start to interrupt up until around eight:40, when Sen. John McCain was once noticed leaving, telling newshounds the dinner went “just tremendous,” with a thumbs up. A senior White Home professional later informed the pool “The President greatly enjoyed the dinner and had a excellent change of ideas with the Senators.”

In addition they revealed that the President paid for dinner out of his own pocket, which is not any small thing. The tasting menu at Plume, the restaurant at The Jefferson, runs $275 a pop for the “Top class Wine Experience” (and if there’s anything Republican Senators revel in, it’s top class wine), this means that, together with tip, President Obama most likely dropped in excess of four grand on dinner. Apparently, this entitles you to, among other things, something known as a “pre-dessert,” which seems like one of the best thought somebody ever had, ever.

The cynical view of this dinner is that it’s only a piece of political theater, designed to make President Obama appear reasonable, and to make Republicans look like they don’t simply hate the President, but there’s every probability that in a setting like this, given the President’s substantial non-public appeal, that some just right would possibly come of this. Time will inform.

From the White House press pool:

Pool Record #1: Motorcade is off and rolling at 6:20 pm to the Jefferson Resort with nary a flurry in sight on this non-snowquester evening.

Pool File #2: Motorcade arrived at Jefferson Resort, simply blocks from the White House, at 6:25 pm on a drizzly cold night. Pool is holding in a sideroom that appears to be a library– lots of outdated books and darkish wooden,low lighting.No word yet on the place the president and senators are eating.

Pool Report #three: The White House is treating the dinner important points as state secrets and techniques.Up to now, it received’t ascertain which senators were invited or which senatorsattended, who paid the invoice or even where within the Jefferson Lodge theyate. There is a restaurant on the hotel — Plume — however no phrase whether or not POTUS and the GOP senators ate there or in an individual room.I’ll mean you can be aware of if the information black-out changes.Pool stated a bunch of reporters gathered across the road from the hotel on the corner of M and sixteenth St. They might be able to seize the senators on their means out the door. Pool used to be whisked away within the motorcade.

Pool Document #4: Pool witnessed McCain walked out of the mtg at 8:41 pm. A reporter requested how the assembly went. McCain mentioned simply fine and flashed a thumbs up. Coburn and different senators, Burr, Toomey and Corker emerged.Coburn made the identical gesture — a thumbs up sign. Motorcade is off, headed back to the White Home at 8:43 pm.

Pool File #5: Motorcade is back on the White House at eight:forty eight pm and we’ve got a full lid. Btw, poolers additionally spotted Sen Ayotte leaving the Jefferson so reports that is used to be an all-male night are false. There used to be as a minimum one woman present.

Pool Document #6: The White House stated POTUS paid for the dinner.

Pool Record #7: From a senior administration legit: “The President greatly enjoyed the dinner and had a good exchange of ideas with the Senators.”

The White Home additionally named the dinner attendees: Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Bob Corker, Senator Kelly Ayotte, Senator John McCain, Senator Dan Coats, Senator Tom Coburn, Senator Richard Burr, Senator Mike Johanns, Senator Pat Toomey, Senator Ron Johnson, Senator John Hoeven, Senator Saxby Chambliss

Pool Document #8: The White Home says POTUS paid for the dinner out of his personal pocket. Rather then the additional details provided in pool record #7, no further small print are expected.