Will Anyone Try the 'Fancy State Dinner In Hard Times' Angle? They Did in 2001

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Will anyone try to spin the Obamas' first state dinner (with Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh) as a ritzy affair utterly clashing with today's hard times? They did with the Bushes in 2001, as we reported in the September 11, 2001 morning Cyber Alert. MRC's Ken Shepherd found Newsweek magazine's snarky Conventional Wisdom box introduced its up and down arrows with this Bush-bashing blurb:

The Bushes held their first state dinner. POTUS served buffalo meat, wore cowboy boots and welcomed Clint Eastwood. Meanwhile, the rest of America priced horse meat.

On Tuesday's Good Morning America, two ABC personalities expressed their excitement about being on the Obama guest list:

CLAIRE SHIPMAN: Of course, we're all looking forward to see what magic will happen tonight. And if anybody has any complaints about not being on the guest list, Mrs. Obama makes all of the final decisions. But I know there's one lucky person up there in New York who is on the guest list. Our own Robin Roberts. Robin, looking forward to it?

DIANE SAWYER: Expect dancing until dawn?

ROBIN ROBERTS: I still haven't picked out my dress. I'm a little -- I'll have to get one on the way to the airport. Should be a wonderful night. Thanks for giving us a sneak peek. I'll see you there, Claire. Thank you.

As you may recall, Shipman will attend as the wife of James Carney, Vice President Biden’s communications director.