The email subject line read “You’re not gonna believe this!”
In the body of the email was a link to this HuffingtonPuffington Post story publicizing a dinner between President Obama and GOP Senators at The Jefferson Hotel Wednesday night. As a guest of The Jefferson Hotel since Sunday night, I had a prime spot outside the hotel, but more importantly, inside the hotel lobby.
Here’s a picture taken from the Book Room window looking out onto 16th St NW prior to the event.
And yes, it’s blurry but that’s Ron Johnson and Lindsay Graham walking through the lobby towards the Book Room at approx. 6:07 pm:
Fox News and other major news outlets have reported the names of the Senators who dined & drank with the President last night; Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey, Arizona Senator John McCain, Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson and South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham.
Here’s a really terrible picture of Tom Coburn and Lindsay Graham (taken at approx. 6:22pm) as they walked from the Book Room and through the lobby towards the dining room entrance:
Neither Minority Leader Mitch McConnell nor Minority Whip John Cornyn were spotted inside the hotel.
But you know who WAS in the hotel?
Although I could not snap a photo of her, Democratic Strategist Penny Lee walked past me shortly after Senators Coburn & Graham. Penny, if you don’t recognize her from Fox News appearances, served as a top communications and political adviser to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Additionally, she was the Executive Director of the Democratic Governors Association. In that role she oversaw 38 statewide elections and helped Democratic governors regain the majority of statehouses for the first time in more than a decade.
Maybe someone at Fox News will ask Penny Lee what she discussed with the GOP senators before they dined with the President last night.