Did he get a permission slip from the UN and NATO first?

Still waiting to see Bush Jr's.

That he didn't even bother to do a meet and greet outside in the nation's largest African-American community speaks volumes, no?

It does say a lot, but it probably doesn't say what you're implying it says.

I think that there are very real reasons to take issue with this dinner (and the President, and the direction of our country, in general), but most of the ones I am seeing and hearing are misguided.
I agree with those who point out the glaring and ugly truth about wealth disparity in America, and the seemingly absurd $30000 pricetag for a dinner in an economically depressed neighborhood (resident-wise, anyway). On the other hand, these dinners are not about the public or about the neighborhood. They are about party politics, and, regardless of how scummy those local politicians in attendance may be, they are the president's local 'colleagues'.
Had the White House (or the DNC, or whomever) chosen the Meatpacking, or Wall Street, or the UES, then there would have been lots of other perceived reasons to criticize and take offense.

The woman protesting the event obviously has no idea where Libya is or what their politics are. I challenge her to find one significant way in which Libya is politically, culturally or historically tied to any of the western sub-Saharan countries to which African-Americans typically trace their roots (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, etc). Her argument is analogous to Americans in Wisconsin of Norwegian descent getting up in arms over a Presidential visit to St Olaf after commencing a military action against Belgium.

Personally, I'm offended by the fact that Rangel gets to eat in restaurants at all.

Is this the first time you've ever heard of an American president holding presidential events and dinners?

Did you mean to reply to me? I don't understand how this is a response to what I wrote.

I think you have no idea where Libya is. Not only is it physically located on the continent of Africa, but Libya is also a member of African Union, which contains all the countries of Africa except four. What happens in Libya affects all the other countries in Africa.

I know exactly where Libya is, and I have done extensive (albeit academic) research on "Africa", which is a massive continent comprised of many countries with separate traditions, religions and ethnicities.
Please explain to me how "what happens in Libya affects all the other countries in Africa". And please don't base your argument on the African Union- it actually makes the European Union look like a cohesive governing body over a group of cooperative, similarly-focused nation-states. Basing your argument on the AU would be analogous to and carry the same amount of weight as the (absurd) argument I gave above regarding midwestern Americans of Scandinavian descent and Belgium.

And if he had it in a fancy neighborhood it would be elitist. No-win scenario.

Red rooster is pretty fancy, actually.

What about being happy that he picked a Harlem establishment to have the fundraiser in? It gives money to the restaurant and a lot of press. I could imagine those same people would complain If he hadn't had it in Harlem.. Ugh, people

Except red rooster isn't really part of Harlem culture, even if it is in the neighborhood. He should've taken them to Jacob's up the street.

Happy that he comes to Harlem for 30000 a plate dinner? Uhh, not that type of thing does not make me happy.

You're ignoring the fact that Nelly Bailey has made a career out of being upset.

thank you. nelly bailey has been getting a lot of airtime lately bashing Obama in the media yet he spoke very clearly yesterday about his vision of the country and placing the blame for many of the countrys' ills right where they belonged...at the hands of the republicans. someone said that they want him to snap his fingers and make everything right but it doesn't work like that, so people like like bailey who have nothing positive to add to the dialogue need to sit down somewhere and shut up

You're ignoring the fact that Øbowmao had a fund-raising dinner with Charley Rangel who, if he were anyone else WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT OF CONGRESS for being the corrupt tax cheat sleaze who wrote all these freaked out tax laws (that let GE, BIG OBAMA DONOR) get away with not paying taxes while the rest of us are SCREWED.

If this had been Bush there would be ONE HUNDRED POSTS calling for his assassination.

What the hell does 'Øbowmao' actually mean? How'd you derive that? I'm curious because I've seen a whole lot of permutations of his name from political hacks, but not that one.

Please, share with the group.

Absolute zero and asians. And Blacks.

Øbowmao???