Obama dines with Oprah on birthday
President Obama and Oprah Winfrey had dinner Wednesday night in Chicago. (PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images)
(CNN) - When you're the President of the United States, your birthday celebrations don't generally involve a low-key evening alone sulking about the loss of your glory days.
President Obama made that point well last night. After a flight from Washington to Chicago, where he was greeted at O'Hare Airport by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn among others, the President took a traffic-avoiding helicopter ride to a landing zone at Soldier Field home of the Chicago Bears and then a motorcade ride to his own home in Chicago's South Side neighborhood of Hyde Park.
But a little more than an hour later the commander in chief was out on the town for dinner at Graham Elliot, a chic Windy City restaurant that bills itself as the city's first 'bistronomic' restaurant. Bistronomic is a term used to describe an establishment that offers four star cooking in a more casual environment.
Oh, and he dined with Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King.
Obama spent more than three hours inside before emerging before a gathering of about 75 onlookers outside the restaurant. The birthday President gave a wave to the cameras before entering his limousine and motorcading home for the night.
this can't be good: greeted at O'Hare Airport by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn among others
the cover story is his birthday, but what is really going on here? any seats for sale? maybe an olympics?
Happy birthday!
BTW, it is none of our business with whom he dines on his birthday.
Good for you Mr. President, I hope that you, Oprah, Gayle, and whoever else was there to help you celebrate your birthday, had a wonderful time.
You're a good, hard-working man. You deserved to be surrounded on your birthday with those that truly wish you well. Too bad your immediate family were not there to share the evening with you, but it's kinda hard to pass up a trip to Spain!
President Obama looks good on his 49th b-day. I know oprah was as happy as a goose kicking it with President Obama. I know one thing Obama is one fine man.
And we the taxpayers of the United States, who are about to see our taxes go up thanks to Obozocare, the failed stimulus that was a sham to pay back unions for stealing the election, those of us who have saved for retirement and are about to see our capital gains tax rise, paid for it. Happy Birthday Obozo,
he had better "live it up" while he can because after Nov 2010 and then Nov 2012 he will be on a strict balogna sandwich diet.
That's how you party in style Mr. President. I wonder did you bring Bo home a doggy bag though.
I am pleased to see my adorable President out on the town for his birthday. If anyone deserves a dinner it is Obama. I love my President and pray daily for him and his family.
Good to see the President able to enjoy his Birthday and may he have many many more.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our best President.
Yeah, he's just a regular Joe. Ha!
Oh boy. Dinner with Oprah.
I sure do hope that President Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King brainstormed ideas on firing up her supporters to get out and vote in the 2010 election. Furthermore, the voters should be encouraged to vote in a knowledgeable mannor and in mass against the right-wing lunatics that have taken over the GOP. In other words, don't vote for a name on the ballot just because you heard it somewhere before. The voters should be encouraged to take a list with them on the people and issues they wish to vote for or against. Personally, my wife & I like the absentee ballot. We research each and every issue and name prior to casting the ballot. Thinking it over carefully. Additionally we NEVER consider what the polls say. People in general will bias their vote towards the perceived 'winner'. That why we don't like polls.
It will serve these ultra-rich people right when they finally realize that Obama's ultimate driving goal is to strip them entirely of their wealth. How they can support him is beyond me.
A politician and a media celebrity – the worst possible combination.
I absolutely love President Obama. Wish he could be the US President FOREVER
Happy Birthday, Mr. President! I'm glad you had a good time celebrating with your friends.
You work very hard on behalf of our country, and so deserve some down time to recharge.
You're a role model for everyone to work hard AND take care of yourself so you can keep up the good work!
nice to see that he can connect with the average american in these tough uncertain economic times..................this guy does not get it
The most influential person in the US dines with.... the President. Ha!
Sounds like a great way yo celebrate. Glad he had a good time, as he should.
Well good for him, after all Obama is a celebrity.........not a leader. Democrats always elect their presidents based on popularity and likeability and NOT qualifications, since it is painfully obvious Obama has NONE
Good for him. I hope he had a great 49th BD. He is a fantastic Prez.
Oh gosh, a Washington politician wines and dines with the rich and famous. The only reason this is news is that Obama somehow managed to brand himself as "different" – "an outsider". He's not. Get over it.
Happy Birthday President Obama – you are the greatest!