Honor or gimmick? Or both?

[Amelia]

Honor or gimmick?

Save Award | The White House

From my email inbox this morning:

Good morning,

I want to introduce you to a few federal employees who are serving our country every day, and who are thinking about ways to make sure your tax dollars aren't wasted.

Yesterday, President Obama announced the four finalists for the 2011 SAVE Award, an annual contest for federal employees to submit their ideas for cutting costs by making government more effective and efficient.

We need your help to determine this year's winner – help us choose who gets to discuss their idea with President Obama.

Cast your vote for the winner of the SAVE Award:


<snipped>

All their ideas help to save taxpayers money and make sure the government better serves the American people. And this is a chance to make sure that each of them is recognized for their foresight and creativity.

But only one of them will get a chance to sit down with the President and present their proposal. And it's up to you to choose who that is.

Vote on the SAVE Award today:

Save Award | The White House

Sincerely,

David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President

If I were a Democrat would I find all the president's races and contests exciting and energizing?

I really can't tell if my cynicism is partisanship or old age or what ....


Do Democrats on the forum think they're a great way to get people engaged? And other glowing words I can't think of right now?

 

[California Girl]

What a crock.

 

[Amelia]

My latest note from Barack:

You and a guest


Amelia --

A few Thursdays ago, I had dinner with four Americans named Ken, Casey, Juanita, and Wendi -- the winners of the campaign's first Dinner with Barack contest.

I loved getting to know each of them.

We're taking names for the next dinner starting now, and this time I want to add a new feature: If you win, you can bring a guest.

Chip in $3 or more today to be automatically entered to win a spot for you and a guest at the next dinner.

The folks who this election is all about tend to fall under the radar of the D.C. pundits and traditional news media.

They're people like Juanita, who helped put her three sons through college on a teacher's salary while saving what she could for retirement.

Like Ken, a single dad who stood by his mother as she fought insurance companies while battling two forms of cancer.

They're like Casey, whose three young kids may not yet appreciate what courage it took for their dad to take a chance and start his own business.

And Wendi, an artist and third-generation teacher who canvassed, marched, and phone banked in Indiana in 2008, the year her home state defied the traditional electoral map.

These people weren't just there for themselves -- they were representing you, this movement, and the folks I go to work for every day as president.

These dinners are important to me because I want to spend time whenever I can with the people who sent me here. They're proving wrong the conventional wisdom that says campaigns should cater to Washington lobbyists and powerful interests. And they're an important reminder that this movement -- and my presidency -- have never just been about me.

I'm proud that we're choosing to run the kind of campaign where a dinner like this isn't just possible, it's a regular thing. And next time, I don't just want to meet you -- I want to meet someone else in your life.

Donate $3 or more, and start thinking about who you'll invite to dinner:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Thanks for being part of this,

Barack

So, looks like he's willing to have dinner with multiple people as long as they give him money.

But if they're only contributing ideas for helping the country save money, then four is too many to invite. Gotta whittle it down to one.

 

[Amelia]

Hehe, even Chris Matthews is annoyed by all the little cutesy updates we get from our dear leader:

Matthews blamed technology &#8212; specifically email and social networking &#8212; for the disconnect between Obama and his administration and the American people, urging Obama to step out from behind his keyboard and shake some hands.

MSNBC's Chris Matthews Turns on Obama

 

[Katzndogz]

He's selling dinner with HIMSELF!

That has got to show some real respect for the office.

 

[California Girl]

Classy shit from this Administration. And... for the record... from any Administration.