WASHINGTON (CNN) - President-elect Obama will host a series of dinners the night before his inauguration honoring Ret. Gen. Colin Powell, Vice President-elect Joe Biden, and his former presidential rival, Republican Sen. John McCain, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced Saturday.
"In these times of great challenge and great change, leadership requires rising above the same old narrow partisanship," the president-elect said in a statement released by the committee.
"Each of these distinguished Americans has spent his life in service to his country, at each and every moment placing the interests of America before issues of political party. That is precisely the spirit of common purpose we need as we begin the work ahead."
The committee said the events will be held at the National Building Museum, Union Station and the Hilton Washington.
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I like John McCain a lot more since he stopped his campaign. A true hero and a maverick. May you have a long, productive life.
That's VERY gracious of the soon-to-be-President!
Let's contact our state representatives in Congress and let them know we are expecting them to work with the new presidents, support him and get our Nation out of the ditch Bush left it in!
THAT'S THE SPIRIT!!!!
Everybody, please let us stop our petty bickering with each other.
It's the politicians in DC who we need to be writing to and posting comments on THEIR websites.
We must hold them accountable. My best interests, my neighbor's, yours, our country's best interests are at stake.
I like this renewal of friendship and fellowship. I like this alot.
What about the distingushed female Americans? Where is their recognition? Pelosi, Clinton, Rice, Albright...
awesome.
Why? What about teachers, doctors, etc.
It is AMAZING how much ego-stroking this poor guy has to do for Washington's elite in order to get anyone to move forward...
Obama is a true american.
After all the things McCain and crew threw around in the election, I would never trust or give the man the time of day, but Obama is obviously a bigger man than I.
Also, as much as I dislike McCain, I have to give credit when due and he did buck the repubs by supporting Obama's plan as opposed to being an obstructionist and yammerin about "tax cuts" being the way out of this mess. He admits there are shades of gray in life and not just black or white, right or wrong and the fact that he did on F&%k the News and left Cavuto with his mouth hanging open in disbelief was even better. For that I have to give him credit,
I still do not trust anyone that tried to sell the half-wit as capable so I do not see McCain as honorable or gracious or trustworthy, but he appears to be more open minded than most republicans when it comes to the fate of America.
Sounds like a busy night for Obama.
President-elect Obama will host a series of dinners the night before his inauguration honoring Ret. Gen. Colin Powell, Vice President-elect Joe Biden, and his former presidential rival, Republican Sen. John McCain, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced
**This is GREAT!!!! Now if Palin Shut her Lying Mouth and move on!!!!
Trying to work together even as the partisans on both the Democrats side, and Republicans side work to undo everything with there retched stubbornness.
powell stinks !!
I can understand Biden and Powell, but why McCain? Maybe he found out "Who is the Real Obama? Joke after the trashing McCain/Palin did to Obama I would invite that Idiot to Jack-in-the-box.
He should be inviting Palin, it was that Idiot that got him elected. I feel he really owe her.
Graciousness is something I have not seen in long while.
I'm sure Sarah Palin figures she gets to attend McCain's party.
I believe McCain being a great man that he is understands that it is the best interest of the American people that he work with Obama to get things done. If he took a hard line and fought Obama on things it just slows any progress down that might have happened, and continues the partisan fighting. I'm betting Obama knows and understands this too.
Almost every decision Obama makes suggests he could go down as one of our greatest presidents.
He gets it – beyond partisanship, beyond past bickerings – he simply understands what the nation needs right now. It's great to have wise leadership again.
What grace !! This is claiming the high ground. We should all follow.
What a great gesture. What a great President he will make. If anybody can pull this country together it is OBAMA. I am so proud of him!
PE Obama seems to be extending an Olive Branch across the isle. I hope it is accepted as we are not in times where there is lot of time to bicker back and forth. We all know the ideas of the failed Bush Administration did not work so it is time to break with tradition and try something different. It is time for a change. Now one thing people resist the most is change but we are at a point in our lives where we must either change or go down the drain.
PE Obama may not be right with his ideas but two things we all know are that if we do nothing we go down the drain and if we keep doing what we have been doing, which isn't working, we go down the drain. Let's give him a chance. Consider this. Right now it appears he is being crucified by Democrats and Republicans and the man hasn't even taken office yet and yet we gave President Bush 4 years and then another 4 to correct his failures. Everyone is not going to agree with all of what he wants to do but give the man a chance. We risk nothing no greater than what is already at risk.
I guess my spirit is not in the right place... but I only notice things like "how much that will cost" and "how much of my tax dollars is being spent on that."
Seems to me with a lot less money being spent on things like train trip security, Hawaiian vacation security, and special dinners serving expensive dinners to people who ought to feel honored "just to have been nominated," we would all be better off.
Cut the spending for all of this by staying home and doing your work.
(I voted for Obama. I have always felt this way about every president who spends for all this stuff.)
I hope that Gov Palin does not take offense to the dinners giving honor to these men. The last thing we need is for her to be making accusations about McCain being Pals of a guy that is Pals with a terrorist.
Great gesture Obama.
It would be scary to think where we would be right now with McCain and Palin – obviously to a road to nowhere.
Wow...what graciousness. He is amazing and has more forgiveness than I.
How to save taxpayers money:
Of course you and I will pay for these dinners, but why not have all of these people honored at the SAME dinner?
Give up, folks, we will be seeing waste like this forever. Just like the inauguration.......why not a ceremony in the rotunda of the nation's capitol building?
Then a few receptions?
Magnifique! C'est tres bon! What a man – a president like I have never seen! I hope that it goes well. Bon appetit!
If Obama lives up to these comments, he will truly be a great leader. Being able to cut through the partisanship has been a challenge for every president. I believe Obama has the skills to do this and get our country back on track. We need to overlook the disgruntled, partisan talk from those like Mike Dallas and go to work as a country. The issue is not being "Progressive." It is getting our country back to the founding principles laid out in the Constitution that made our country great for 200 plus years. I believe Obama can do this. If he doesn't, we will have 200 years of down fall. We owe it to our future generations to get past the anger and work with our President. We need to look past the political party beliefs to come up with solutions that will put our country back on top in all areas.
A leader leads by example.
Obama is the MAN.
Ooooooooooooooh!!!!! I would love to be a fly on the all when Sarah finds out about this... She's NOT going to be happy she wasn't included... She'e going to be maaaaaaad!!! She's the only one who ran on the tickets who won't be there... The only thing better would be a dinner honoring Katie Couric, Tina Fey & Caroline Kennedy...
LOL!!!!!
Senator McCain is a honorable Man .....His advisors Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt long time protege of Karl Rove screwed everything up ......and don't forget Palin
Under their breath they are saying "you rotten so and so".You have to laugh,cause you know its true.
I don't know.... my feelings abour McCain are mixed.... after all, he nominated that bimbo Palin! And she is still a bimbo who refuses to go softly into the night... she will go out of the limelight kicking and screaming... I know McCain was JUST campaigning and all is fair in love and politics.. but.. *shiver all over" mmmmm....
I am reminded of that old saying, "keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer!"
I admire this bipartisan nod............
What grace, my foot!
Obama shows grace to Lieberman, Hillary, McCain, etc but what about Howard Dean and John Kerry?
As a supporter of Obama, I beginning to wonder if Obama loves his political ennemies far more than his friends... His political ennemies will not support his agenda or vote for him in 2012...
god will bless obama obviously he is another kenndy chidube gi obama ga na eru go my brother i ga chi america
Just maybe PE Obama will be the only president to realy learn from other presidents and therefore structure his presidency accordingly. Read "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin about Lincoln's presidency. Yes the whole Nation has to come together otherwise we never will recover.
Proud American? – that "idiot" help make it possible for you and other "Proud Americans" to sound-off without censorship or imprisonment. You may not agree with his politics, but his service to this country should warrant some respect. Perhaps you’re from John Murtha’s district?
Obama get it! Now if the congress will just get it and start working for the real goverment of this country,WE THE PEOPLE. Congress can learn alot from this man.
president Obama make you feel that i'ts a great time to be American
this gy is more than a president he is a leader.
Makes me really proud to have voted for our new President. He truly understands that we need to get over our partisan differences if we want to solve our problems that is plaguing this nation. What a great example of bipartisanship. Wish you all the best, Mr. President-elect.
See? The idiots in Congress should start taking some notes. Because someone (Obama) is willing to put politics aside!
why would he honor joe dunderhead ? the guy is clueless and he will be have no one to talk to after the coronation..
PE Obama continues to display an ability to recognize the importance of putting country first and building on the goodness and strengths of everyone.
As he said yesterday, there is no one who has all the right answers and the purpose of elected officials is to work together to find solutions and compromises for all Americans.
I hope McCain will be the Obama mole in the Senate. I think McCain didn't like being the Republicans puppet during the campaign. Having Palin forced on him was probably the last straw.
'Humble in victory, gracious in defeat' . Obama and McCain are, can you be too?
This is what I'm talking about! This is the kind of bi-partanship that made me and so many others vote for Barack Obama. God bless the Obamas, and God bless the United States of America!
This gracious gesture has left the usual haters and naysayers speechless....even CNN can't try to create controversy. "country first" ahead of petty partisan politics...the future not the past...something most of the Congress and the media can't quite get!
This is definately a shift away from the childish vindictive behavior the Bush Admin displayed the last 8 years. Remember the whole "freedom fires" instead of french fries when France refused to send troops to Iraq?
Good job! That's what a real leader does. Lay aside petty differences and give honor to whom honor is due.
This is what I'm talking about! This is the kind of bi-partisanship that made me and so many others vote for Barack Obama. God bless the Obamas, and God bless the United States of America!
Barack said, "...we are not as divided as our politics suggest."
Now if the stupid old school, prima donna, old gits Democrats like Reid, Pelosi, Barney, Dodd, et. al., would get out of the way, Barack can get things done.
What about Palin??? This is sexist.....
I am afraid she is going to cry more....
Ha! Ha! Ha!...................
Barack Obama is trying so hard to bring unification amoung our
politicians. He realizes this is the survial of our country.
The republicans must forget party, ego trips first and put the
future of our country as top priority. Will they?
He needs all the help he can get right now,He has to cleanup a mess that Bush is leaving behind.So far,heis starting off alright but,remember.Bush started off already to.
Obama needs to do things like this in order to establish as many allies as he can. Its a good strategy for a man who realizes he is not really equipped with the knowledge needed to lead us out of the current mess we are in as a country. I certainly hope all of these people he is bringing in will act for the good of the county.
What a great gesture,i salute him and i think he has a big heart.He is going to be a great president and will recapture the image of this great nation.
Decency describes President-Elect Obama.
SMOOTH MOVE CAMELOT
By getting "pragmatic Republicans" (not to be confused with moderate Republicans) such as Colin Powell, Chuck Hagel, Bob Gates, and John McCain direct unfettered access to the new Commander-in-Chief, PE-Obama accomplish the following things:
(1.) He signals to both political parties and the rest of the world, that these people have Obama-Biden's ear;
(2.) He further cements his position and power in the ever expanding political ideological middle;
(3.) He makes his leadership team less dependent on the extreme Liberal Left.
PE-Obama, you are truly "The Man".
Great job Mr President Elect you are a good spirit man, thank god for you.
Proud American...its comment's like yours that continue to plauge this nation. Take some advice from Obama...and get over it. McCain was in a campaign...so of course he said some things that some did not like...Obama did likewise.. Its a competetion. However, as an Obama supporter late to the game, lets give McCain credit. He always defended Obama against many errounious charges. McCain has served this country for years and Obama is better than a proud american to be able to let political differances go and honor the work of this man. I like Obama more every day. People...stop the nasty attacks against the Clintons, the McCains and the Palins...and the other side...start trying to respect our next President.
McCain is a good man, and loves his country. He has the potential of being one of Obama's strongest allies.
proud to be your supporter!!!
Proud American,
Even Hillary made statements not enough was known about Obama. Time to let that go.
He is reaching across the aisle and McCain is welcoming him. We have a lot to get done. These are two men with different views but the same agenda. Getting America back on track. God bless them both.
SMOOTH MOVE OBAMA
By getting "pragmatic Republicans" like Colin Powell, Chuck Hagel, Bob Gates, and John McCain direct unfettered access to the new Commander-in-Chief, PE-Obama accomplish the following things:
(1.) He signals to both political parties and the rest of the world that pragmatic Republicans NOT enslaved to "absolute political dogma" will have the Obama-Biden ear;
(2.) He further cements his position and power in the ever expanding political ideological middle;
(3.) He makes his leadership team less dependent on the extreme Liberal Left.
PE-Obama, you are truly "The Man".
McCain has given up more than most of us will ever have to in the prime of his life for his Country. This is an honor he deserves.
OBAMA doesnt have to prove HIMSELF by honoring this former rival or by appointing Clinton as SOS. He does so because he knoes these two are also GREAT Americans.
And he has done some pretty slick things to get elected to office in the past.
Good for PE Obama!
Let them eat cake.
One simple term to describe President-Elect Obama: Intelligent gentleman that gets it...
John McCain is most deserving of this dinner. President-elect Obama is a true leader who knows that Americans need to be united if we are to survive the hard economic times ahead, much less the turmoil of worldwide problems and the nation's security. He has extraordinary grace and insight, and recognizes reconcilation is what the leaders of our country need, not more bitter partisanship.
In addition, let's not forget that John McCain is a true, bonafide American hero who spent five long years as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton, being tortured hundred times worse than prisoners at Guantanamo Bay could ever be. So stop your griping, McCain haters. He deserves this honor by P.E. Obama, and I am proud of our new president for having the grace to honor his opponent after an extremely difficult campaing.
I did not vote for John McCain, but he has been, and always will be, a true American hero in my eyes, and those of millions of other Americans.
Thank you, Don. The Candidates know the Game well enough and know that once the Election is over, the Election is over.
Obama isnt stupid enough to get his feelings hurt.
And yes, McCain has defended Obama against many attacks about his name and heritage and has SERVED his Country and his People very admirably.
Palin did what she was told when she was attacking in the end. She didnt have much of a choice, and it is not like there was no basis at all for it.
Sitting in a pew cluelessly for 20 years was the lamest thing to ever come out of Obama's mouth for starters, and he is a VERY SMART man. That comment turned him into a sitting duck.
And he knew it, so should all of you.
The Obama's are such a breath of fresh air. there's just no way to discribe the good feeling. I'm just hoping the Palin's are not going to show up to darken the glow given off from the Obama's and the Biden's. That is being too big of a man! Your supporters don't want a cloud hanging over your biggest and best time (except marriage and birth of the girls) of your life and ours!! I can see giving time to McCain. He tried to tear you down, but you could see his heart wasn't in it. When he was in Mn he did say you were a good man.
Obama is a slick talker and manipulater. Thats it! Knows nothing, just wants to make you think he does. I am a democrat, but McCain was the more experienced and better man. I would have felt much safer with McCain. Obama scares the @@@ out of me. He won't stand up to anyone.
He's going to take them to Burger King so Obama can wear a paper crown and say " I'd be the king of rap now".
He should be inviting Palin, it was that Idiot that got him elected. I feel he really owe her.
Hosting three dinners the same night in three different locations? When's the poor fella going to have a chance to actually eat?
This is a great move. I am more impressed with Obama every day. This is better than Bush giving the 'Medal of Freedom' to empty suits.
These men along with many others deserve to be honored. They have served our country well. The fact that McCain was invited shows Mr. Obama is a man of character.
AMERICA FINALLY HAS A MATURE LEADER, IN PRESIDENT OBAMA.
CHANGE HAS FINALLY COME!
We voted for Obama but we sure hope that this dinner that he is planning to honor Powell, Biden, and McCain doesn't include aqua net hair spray Palin Jim Hall Kansas City Missouri
I was always a big time Obama supporter.
To tell the truth, I also like John McCain quite a bit. John is one of America's GREATS. Despite some of the differences between the parties. John McCain always had the interest of the United States on his mind. (Except of course when he picked Palin, just a Senior Moment I guess).
Obama, Clinton, McCain, Powell. These folks will help restore America to its former Greatness.
Again, isn't it strange how Proud American is able to get so many of it's childish posts on these bloggs. How many of you have had your posts dropped if they do not contain hateful leftist rants????