"Take tips, Gentlemen," the President tells viewers as he discusses his first date with Mrs. Obama; "Join them on their next date," urges Obama 2012...In a new video released to woo entries for Obama for America's 'Dinner with Barack and Michelle,' the fifth dinner contest from the campaign, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama discuss their first date in Chicago, and offer romantic advice to viewers.
"Take tips, Gentlemen," the President says to the camera as he winks during the 1:21 minute video.
“It was a cool date, actually. We spent the whole day together,” Mrs. Obama says.
The First Couple's historic 1989 outing was a lunch at the cafe at the Art Institute of Chicago--though onscreen the couple debates whether it was lunch or dinner--and a trip to see director Spike Lee's film Do the Right Thing, which had just been released. It was a day-long date, perfect to set up their new relationship, Mrs. Obama said, which included a stroll along Michigan Avenue as well as their meal in the courtyard at the museum.
"So our first meal was a lovely lunch," Mrs. Obama says, after the President reminds her that it wasn't dinner.
As Mrs. Obama is speaking, her husband interrupts to say, “Art--guys out there, it impresses people, it shows…” before trailing off.
"He [the President] showed all the signs: he was hip, cutting-edge, cultural, sensitive,” Mrs. Obama says, adding "The walk--patient."
"He was showing me all facets of his character," she said.
The Obamas married in October of 1992. Director Lee is now an ardent Obama supporter, and has hosted high-dollar fundraisers for the President at his New York home.
A card flashes onscreen at the end of the discussion: "Want to join them on their next date night?" A second card urges "Enter to win a seat at the table" with the address, BarackObama.com. (Above: the First Couple giggles during the video)Mrs. Obama last week e-mailed supporters urging them to enter the contest, telling them that the President is such a considerate spouse he always shoveled the snow off her car in the wintertime.
President Obama announced via video last week that Mrs. Obama will be his date for the meal he'll share with the three winners of the contest, which was originally scheduled to close on June 30th, but which has been changed to close on June 26th. The winners will be flown to meet the President and Mrs. Obama somewhere on the campaign trail. The approximate retail value of the prize package, taxable to the winners, is $1,600.
As required by law, no donation is necessary to "drop your name in the hat"--there's an alternate entry page for those who'd like to be considered as gratis Presidential dinner companions (and good luck to them).
Mrs. Obama has previously attended one contest dinner, the third, which was held at DC's Boundary Road restaurant last March. The Commander in Beef enjoyed a cheeseburger and fries with the winners of the 'Dinner with Barack IV' contest last week on June 15th, when OFA took over DC's Lincoln Restaurant. The President ate dinner with the four winners of the first 'Dinner with Barack' contest in October of 2011, at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. The second dinner contest was fulfilled with a luncheon; the President took his four winners to DC's Scion restaurant on January 6, 2012.
*Click here for the original Official Rules for Dinner with Barack V.
