Peak Behind the Curtain: White House Snafu Releases Behind the Scene E-Mails

The most tech savvy white house ever marches on. Its interesting and somewhat disturbing at the lengths staff will go to make sure the photo-op has the right look, not that any party is above such things mind you:

One staffer, recommending changes to that line, wrote to "put more emphasis on the real people aspect of this."

The draft version said Obama will talk "with his economic team," and also attending the meeting "will be a handful of households." The final version took the emphasis off the economic team and said "Attending the meeting will be a handful of homeowners ... as well as members of President Obama's economic team."

The draft schedule also showed the president hosting Seder to celebrate Passover. The dinner was marked "closed press," meaning no reporters allowed.

One staffer asked, "Can we remove the dinner at the end of the day?We put it on yesterday's deal -- so folks already know that it's happening. They'll wonder why it's not listed if we don't include it on there," another staffer replied.

The staffer who asked to remove the dinner from the schedule replied, "Apparently Jewish here and in neighboring states are now calling wondering why they have not been invited."

The dinner was not listed on the final schedule.

In another exchange, one staffer recommended nixing a line about Obama meeting with leaders from the Veterans Service Organizations and Military Service Organizations since the president was now meeting with them before his remarks in an event closed to the media.

"Can we keep it and just change it to say before. Its good for us to say we are meeting with them," another replied.

I am guessing the "Jewish" were referring to the presidents Seder dinner. I also like how they are trying to stress "real" homeowners to show the president cares. As for the veterans line, why wouldn't they change the line and make it past tense, seems silly.

some examples

From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 6:55 PM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: RE: DRAFT: DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2009

Apparently Jewish here and in neighboring states are now calling wondering why they have not been invited.

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From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 6:53 PM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: RE: DRAFT: DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2009

We put it on yesterday's deal - so folks already know that it's happening. They'll wonder why it's not listed if we don't include it on there.

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From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 6:53 PM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: RE: DRAFT: DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2009

Can we remove the dinner at the end of the day?