January 6, 2009
Posted: January 6th, 2009 11:34 AM ET

From
Young Americans turned out in record number to vote in the 2008 presidential election.
Young Americans turned out in record number to vote in the 2008 presidential election.

(CNN) – President-elect Barack Obama has added more inaugural balls to his list, taking the total number of celebratory events to ten.

The President-elect will host a Youth Inaugural Ball, five Regional balls, and inaugural events for his home states of Illinois and Hawaii on January 20, the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Committee announced Tuesday.

The Youth Inaugural Ball is intended for individuals aged 18-35 and will be held to focus on young Americans and their service to their communities. The regional balls, an inaugural tradition, and the celebrations in Illinois and Hawaii will be held for invited guests only.

"This is America's inaugural celebration in every way," said Presidential Inaugural Committee Executive Director Emmett S. Beliveau. "Young people are more engaged in this country's future than ever before and we want to harness that excitement by inviting them to participate in this historic occasion. In that same vein, we are hosting events to bring people from all walks of life and from across the country – from the President-elect and Vice President-elect's home states, as well as every corner of the nation – to celebrate this country's unity moving forward."

President-elect Obama and VP-elect Joe Biden will attend all ten inauguration events.

Filed under: Barack Obama • Inauguration • Joe Biden


P. Y.   January 6th, 2009 4:38 pm ET

It really is amazing how stupid, whinny and racist some of the bloggers on this site are. First of all, if you can only complain about CNN why do you blog on their site? Go somewhere else. 2nd, I never heard of anybody being hired to criticize the spelling and/or the English of bloggers on the site. If you feel everyone is below you then why aggravate yourself and keep coming back to the site to see all of the mistakes being made. 3rd, learn the real facts before making statements. Why are there so many highly intelligent people out there, brilliant about EVERYTHING in the world, with time on their hands to spend many hours a day on blog sites?
As for Obama's inaugural balls, he deserves whatever he decides to have, to celebrate. People like me are paying for these celebrations, not the tax payers. With the mess he has inherited his celebrations will be short lived.
Wake up America and support this man whether you voted for him or not. As for the idiots, shut up.

THE OLD TIMER   January 6th, 2009 3:58 pm ET

all the dumbies get to look at what will be the ruination of America. They all helped get this jack- elected

Kevin B   January 6th, 2009 3:57 pm ET

PE Obama has his work cut out for him, yet it is not allabout him, it is about everyday americans and what we are willing to do to repair the mess left in the wake of the last administration.

The bottom line is that we are not a red or blue america, liberal or conservative america

We are the United States of America !

Fortunately the majority of youth today understand this concept more than their elders

A Canuck   January 6th, 2009 3:49 pm ET

Mr. Obama goes to Washington.......he has taken a fork in the road.....and life will never be the same for him or his family. It is both sad and exciting.....I wish him well and may God watch over them.

carol   January 6th, 2009 3:48 pm ET

That is wonderful, there were so many young people out on the campaign trail for PE Obama and it's nice to see some recognition for them.....he is someone they look up to and he has inspired so many.
It will be a great honor for them all and I just want them to have a great time on such an historic occasion and one they can share with their children and grandchildren down the road.

Sue   January 6th, 2009 3:36 pm ET

The "Young Americans" who have done service for this country wear military uniforms, not these silly college kids whose parents paid for their trips to DC to drink and dance with you. You are so foolish, Obama, to try to equate college life and getting started with a career to military service where people put their lives on line for the country with very little reward.

Janice   January 6th, 2009 3:15 pm ET

Great idea. And by the way these events are paid by donations. Mine included, twice.

CutlassW-31   January 6th, 2009 3:08 pm ET

If I'm not mistaken, the "official balls" may be funded with taxpayer's money, but out of the huge list of balls being thrown, only 10 are "official" – I'll be at The Green Inaugural Ball (not Gore's because, sadly, that one IS invitation only) but the one at Mellon Auditorium is open to the public.

Cheers!

clifford   January 6th, 2009 3:06 pm ET

The youth voters (18 to 29) know nothing about politics!! see (how Obama got elected.com)

Steph   January 6th, 2009 3:05 pm ET

For those who are complaining about Obama and the number of events...this is the same number of inaugural balls Regan had, four less than Clinton, and only one more than Bush had in '04. Obama has already released the list of people who donated the money for the events. So, get over it already! Hope won. Time to celebrate!

Scott NYC Independent   January 6th, 2009 2:56 pm ET

For all of you that seemed to have missed the segment of your local or cable news last week; PE Obama has released a list of over 550 thousand supporters that donated to his inaugural events. I was one of them and I'm sure none of you are really concerned about my balance sheet so stop hating.

18 year old voter from Jersey   January 6th, 2009 2:53 pm ET

Gina, "Mr. Bush" is still our president so refer to him as president Bush. You do not have to respect the man, but respect the position. As much as it pains me, I will say president Obama until the next inauguration day.

And for all of you who are still feeling the need to put republicans down for their political beliefs, all I have to say is this. For all the hate spewing out of liberals for the last 6 months, you're in no place to talk about hate, fear, or division. You all showed your hate and agism hourly, you employed the fear tactic by shouting how mccain would start world war 3, and by making the comments you guys do about us you show that we are still too divided. Wanna solve the problems in our country? Try working together with us instead of putting republicans down all the time. We feel exactly the same about you as you do about us, but you don't see us going out of our way to make sure everyone knows it.

Hope? yeah right.

Scott NYC Independent   January 6th, 2009 2:51 pm ET

Since PE Obama's successful landslide electoral college win; I love saying that, his transition team has been accepting donations from Obama supporters for all inaugural events. You see one thing about Obama supporters that was lacking in every other candidates campaign – we put our money where our mouth is. We gave to him generously because he spent our money wisely and in ways we approved of. Unlike other unnamed candidates that use money to launch deceptive and misleading negative ads. I made a donation but I don't care for crowds however, if you were to attend I would sincerely hope that you have a great time. Its on us – his supporters, so you don't have to worry about where the money is coming from.

Corey   January 6th, 2009 2:45 pm ET

Ok a short rant.....I am amazed at how many people just want to spew venom so badly that they will pay no attention to facts or law to make a point. The money comes from his funds and donations. There are also voluntary tax payer donations that people give for these things. Ok....onto another rant it annoys me that people are up in arms about "pay to play" when people are expecting the very same thing when they vote for a person. They sell their vote for a favor or item in the future. Everyone one does it from unions, big oil, small business, evangelicals, you name it... everyone does it and the lines are often cloudy between legal and illegal. Is it right? Not often but...everyone has dirty hands.

Scott NYC Independent   January 6th, 2009 2:44 pm ET

PE Obama and VPE Biden will attend all "10" of the balls. OMG, I would not like to be either one of these guys the morning after. Not to mention the fact that two of them will require travel to two different time zones.

Uncle Fester   January 6th, 2009 2:40 pm ET

J.P.. January 6th, 2009 12:20 pm ET

Ah yes, the first annual meeting of the Hitler Youths

I'm afraid you have the wrong party JP

HouseDiva   January 6th, 2009 2:39 pm ET

yea..i'm a youth! :)

JOHN   January 6th, 2009 2:26 pm ET

I've never seen hatred and negativity produce anything positive. Sorry those who are offended by Obama!

New Yorker   January 6th, 2009 2:25 pm ET

The country is on the brink of a depression and it's time to have a multitude of parties? any excuse will do? Obama continues with his foolishness: give the kiddies what they want so they will continue to support him. Make sure they get everything they want.

Kevin B   January 6th, 2009 2:11 pm ET

Wow, the bitterness here is palpable, these events are not coming from tax payers but private donations.

Mari- your right; hope won out over fear, division and hatred !!

Some of you need to try to be more optimistic regarding the future of the nation, otherwise you do the terrorist work for them. Surely we have all had enough of the present administrations failures, Bush and co have set the bar so low thast Obama's administration can not do any worse.

Gina   January 6th, 2009 2:07 pm ET

These events are paid for through donations to his inaugration and a standard amount allotted from the taxpayers for every new president. Please do some research before you make "uninformed" comments.

Mr. Obama is our new president, whether you voted for him or not. It would do everyone well to wish him the best for our nation/world. If he fails, we fail. I think that has been proven with Mr. Bush. Look for the positive and hope that the Obama administration learns from the negative.

arc, Lugano CH   January 6th, 2009 2:04 pm ET

J.P.. January 6th, 2009 12:20 pm ET
Ah yes, the first annual meeting of the Hitler Youths.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wasn't aware that the Young Republicans were hosting a ball.

Forget the silly Ball, life-winner, you'd probably feel more at home hanging effigies of President Elect Obama from trees like your kind does in KY.

Tu es un imbecile.

Virginia   January 6th, 2009 1:56 pm ET

How are all these celebrations for all people when the newly elected elitist government makes all these balls "by invitation only". I figured that there would be more openness. Is this a way to make sure that only certain people attend?

Sherrol in Canada   January 6th, 2009 1:44 pm ET

Where did my previous comment go????

Larry   January 6th, 2009 1:31 pm ET

I say these guy's have no balls!!! Save the money ,we're going to need it !

naqib   January 6th, 2009 1:26 pm ET

Nice... some of us are hurting due to this economy... and he's throwing 10 parties at our expense. Way to be in touch with the people... same circus... brand new clowns.

Bridgette-PA   January 6th, 2009 1:24 pm ET

FUN, FUN, FUN!

AJ   January 6th, 2009 1:17 pm ET

He'll keep adding events so that folks can go and feed his ego.

Nimi from NY   January 6th, 2009 1:16 pm ET

I love it. I wish I could be there.

Mike, Syracuse NY   January 6th, 2009 12:47 pm ET

What happened to the ball that was supposed to honor the military?

Nia Hussein- Phoenix, AZ   January 6th, 2009 12:44 pm ET

WOOOHOOO!! I'm still considered a youngster!!
On another note I think this along with the Military Family Inauguration Ball and the Nieghborhood Inauguration Ball are fantastic ideas!

Jazz   January 6th, 2009 12:32 pm ET

This is a good thing but how will they attend all sessions and make their own?

Kevin B   January 6th, 2009 12:21 pm ET

This is a great idea and will excite the youth into seeing their interested are represented the political process going forward

Enough of the tired old men running the nation based on thier greedy, myopic world view.

Once again, way to go team Obama !

J.P..   January 6th, 2009 12:20 pm ET

Ah yes, the first annual meeting of the Hitler Youths.

ree   January 6th, 2009 12:03 pm ET

Who is paying for all this? Sure hope it's not us. I can't afford it. Obama should pay with all his money that he has left over from his campaign.

Sherrol in Canada   January 6th, 2009 12:00 pm ET

Looking good!!! I hope everyone can appreciate what I believe PE Obama is trying to achieve, that of showing his appreciation for the young americans who supported him so passionately during his campaign. In doing so he hopes to continue to keep their support and keep them engaged.

I salute you Sir, Pres-elect Obama.

18 year old voter from Jersey   January 6th, 2009 11:55 am ET

talk about full of himself...

Mari   January 6th, 2009 11:49 am ET

Great idea! We need to encourage our youth to serve their Nation!

HOPE WON......... HOPE TRUMPS FEAR, LIES, HATE & DIVISION!!

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