Corbett attend White House state dinner honoring German leader
House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, the Grammy-award winning singer James Taylor and Gov. Corbett. What do these individuals and - 217 others - have in common? They were all guests at state dinner at the White House Tuesday night.
Corbett attend White House state dinner honoring German leader
CORRECTION: This blog post has been corrected to reflect that First Lady Susan Corbett did not attend the White House dinner because she had business to attend to in Pittsburgh, according to the governor's press office. Commonwealth Confidential was provided with inaccurate information from the governor's press office on Tuesday.
House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, the Grammy-award winning singer James Taylor and Gov. Corbett.
What do these individuals and - 217 others - have in common? They were all guests at state dinner at the White House Tuesday night.
Gov. Corbett joined President Obama, international dignitaries, Congressional leaders, journalists and others at a dinner in the Rose Garden honoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley said the governor had no particular connection to Germany but was honored to be invited.
From the what's-wrong-with-this-picture department, among those Corbett rubbed elbows with were U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, union leaders and some of the top Democratic fundraisers and strategists.
Corbett witnessed the president presenting Merkel with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the U.S. for her contributions to security and world peace.
Other notable area names on the guest list were former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and his wife Sharon, and Richard Fante, of Newtown Square, CEO of AstraZeneca U.S.
Menu items for the all-American dinner included tuna tartare (from Hawaii), petite filet and Maryland crab ravioli. The White House chef recognized the guest of honor for the dessert course: apple strudel.
According to the White House web site (see state dinner preparations video below), the kitchen staff used very local ingredients, including vegetables and herbs from the season's first harvest of the First Lady's kitchen garden.
It was the first state dinner for a European leader since Obama took office in 2009.
(Photo/Bill O'Leary Washington Post
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