Approximately 250 guests dined on baked eggs, berries and organic coffee at a brunch with First Lady Michelle Obama at the Claremont Hotel today in the first of two stops in the Bay Area for the first lady in her round of campaigning efforts for her husband’s re-election.
Following a half-hour speech that focused on her husband’s goals for his second term, Mrs. Obama attended a luncheon at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in the Merchants Exchange building in San Francisco.
Despite several attempts to gain access into the breakfast at the Claremont, The Daily Californian was unable to attend the event without purchasing a ticket — for which prices began at $1,000.
Upon hearing word of Mrs. Obama’s impending visit last week, The Daily Cal contacted The Office of the First Lady to try and gain access inside the event. Over the course of a four-day discussion via email and by phone, the office eventually told The Daily Cal the following on June 9:
“Good morning,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the First Lady’s visit to the Bay Area. Unfortunately, the First Lady’s events in San Francisco and Oakland on June 14, 2011 will be print pool only.
Thank you for your interest,
Press Office of the First lady”
Local news website Berkeleyside did purchase a ticket to attend the event, according to the site’s post.
According to the Oakland Tribune, which also attended the event, proceeds generated from the event supported the president’s re-election campaign as well as the Democratic National Committee. Ticket prices ranged from $1,000 to $25,000.
J.D. Morris is an assistant news editor.
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We must vote these ineffective clowns out of office. Worst prez since Carter.
Until action is applied by the University of California (UC)
Board of Regents to chancellors, like Birgeneau, UC shouldn’t come to the
Governor or public for support for any tax increase.
(The author has 35 years’ consulting experience, has taught
at UC Berkeley (Cal)
where he observed the culture & way senior management work)
Cal. Chancellor Birgeneau ($500,000 salary)
has forgotten that he is a public servant, steward of the public money, not
overseer of his own fiefdom (these are not isolated examples): recruits (uses
California tax $) out of state $50,000 tuition students that displace qualified
Californians from public university education; spends $7,000,000 + for
consultants to do his & many vice chancellors jobs (prominent East Coast university accomplishing same 0 cost); pays
ex Michigan governor $300,000 for lectures; in procuring a $3,000,000 consulting firm he failed to receive
proposals from other firms; Latino enrollment drops while out of state
jumps 2010; tuition to Return on
Investment drops below top 10; NCAA places basketball program on probation,
absence institutional control.
It’s all shameful. There is no justification for such
practices by a steward of the public trust. Absolutely none.
Birgeneau’s practices will not change. UC Board of Regents
Chair Sherry Lansing and President Yudof must do a better job of vigorously enforcing
oversight than has been done in the past over Chancellors who, like Birgeneau,
see the campus as their fiefdom.