Instant Vintage: Pres. Barred from CBC Dinner, Admin. Cries Foul

Last Saturday, President Obama was barred from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner, and the administration is pulling out the race card.  Although President Obama had been scheduled to address the audience, the crowd was instead serenaded by the likes of Michael McDonald and Hall and Oates.  Now, those close to the Commander-in-Chief are claiming that he was not denied entrance because of his racial background.  "This is one of the more racist acts in recent memory," one White House spokesperson said during a Monday morning press conference.  "There's no doubt in my mind that he was denied entry to the event because he is half-white."


Such statements by members of the Obama Administration are surprising given recent events.  Earlier last week, the White House shrugged off reports that racism was fueling some of the acerbic protests against Obama's health care efforts.  Obama himself made jokes about such arguments, going as far as implicitly calling former president Jimmy Carter's assertions about apparent racism asinine.  "I was actually black before the election," Obama quipped during his interview on Late Show with David Letterman.  Now, not only is the Obama Administration crying foul, they're calling members of the Congressional Black Caucus racist.  "There's no doubt in my mind this is about Obama's mother being white," another White House spokesperson added.  "They wanted us to come into the facility through the rear entrance, by way of the kitchen.  They said it had to do with security, but I don't believe it.  In fact, when we got out of the limousine, I heard one of the attendees shout "Go back to the White House, Obama!  You should've heard the way he said 'white.'  I was appalled by the vitriol.  His gators were nice, though."  A member of the security team confirms this version of events, adding that he overheard the doorperson tell officials, "She [Michelle Obama] can come in, but he can't."

Though members of the Congressional Black Caucus could not be reached for official comment, one black Congressperson who attended the dinner was willing to speak off the record.  "I'm not saying we didn't let him in because he's half-white.  But I will say this: On his way [to the dinner] he didn't get pulled over by the police; they escorted him.  How many black men do you know with police escorts and they're not going to jail?  And didn't he have beer with a police officer a few months back?  That ain't black!  I heard he wanted to wear a white bow tie, but his wife had to talk him out of it.  Who wears a white tie to a black tie event?  Somebody who ain't really black, that's who.  He's passing if you ask me."

"We won't stand for this kind of reverse discrimination," read an official White House press release.  "It is appalling that members of government could not only harbor such racist sentiments, but allow them to manifest in such a despicable way.  It is clear that President Obama was ejected from the Phoenix Awards dinner because he is half-white.  The American people should be aware of this horrific act of discrimination, and demand that their representatives both behave and respect the office of the president.  We expect and demand an apology."

When asked by reporters to confirm rumors that the CBC would hold a press conference where would she would admit that denying the president entrance into the event was regrettable, chairwoman Congresswoman Barbara Lee stated plainly, "You lie."

President Obama is in Copenhagen, Denmark in support of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics, and could not be reached directly for comment.