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Celebrities, Bundlers Dine on Your Dime at State Dinner

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    Nile Gardner of the Heritage Foundation breaks down the cost and the fundraisers who attended the State Dinner hosted by President Obama

  • Duration 4:39
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-- -- The president's state dinner a lavish affair last night among the attendees were big name celebrities like George Clooney.

Some of the president's top fundraisers.

All timing and -- -- -- Here to weigh in as Nile Gardiner of The Heritage Foundation thanks so much for joining us I mean the -- on this likely.

Are pretty astounding to people that -- there.

Are bought dollars they represent you know raking in money from their friends they represent about eleven million dollars.

Raised for the Obama reelection campaign.

But they're at a state dinner.

With the British prime minister.

And to -- it seems like a reward for having donated to the president but it's on tax dollars is that right.

Yes exactly and I think that loss might -- state -- I was -- of polka.

Exalt polite think all of and abuse of how -- you -- presidency offer rule 41 out of the 364.

Invited guests last night -- major Dennis of the Obama reelection campaign.

This was a state dinner at taxpayers' expense -- probably -- one and a half a million.

But the lowest -- -- dinner last night.

And -- evolves that essentially rewarding some of his top indebtedness.

Frey did -- has fueled a bounce.

By the Anglo American special relationship but he turns it into -- the political sort of campaign prop.

As -- well I think that's very very distasteful.

Yet -- and I mean it's not like of course other presidents have done this this is not just a Democrat they Hampshire Republican presidents have done -- it's not usual it's just that.

It's not right I mean when you look at the added these are times were supposed to be you know showing austerity and restraint instead they're having Chris Howell a bit with a potato cross.

Bites in Wellington which.

Sounds existing red wine reduction French beans.

-- -- here we go here's the menu up for the state dinner last night.

Did.

They worry about the PR backlash because -- I have already heard a lot about this so far this morning were they thinking about that do you think.

They should be worrying about the PR backlash -- rule.

United States now has a fifteen trillion -- debt.

Which Barack Obama so -- -- a great deal towards a prime minister David Cameron has presented himself as an austerity.

Prime minister.

And yet so he was Flynn they've -- -- force one to attend college -- -- game.

Crates taxpayer's expense this of the flights and -- -- about half a million.

US dollars.

And this isn't really the right message be sending at a time when governments need to be costing government expenditure especially BUS government.

This is a big government administration.

That the spent money like water.

I think that a -- -- the wrong signals.

This week and also of course they views the British prime minister has an election a -- And that I think is certainly on dignified.

It's a distasteful.

And -- -- together cool this is an administration.

That has insulted Britain on many many occasions as of the cup especially given its now -- -- burning -- the red call that the British prime minister in an election year.

While -- I backing up for a second to -- that David Cameron flew here and Air Force One.

-- David Cameron was actually flows into.

20 Hoya has I crucial swing state freight coated -- -- game two nights ago abide by the president.

That trip alone -- least half a million dollars probably up up up to a million dollars -- -- security calls as well.

And the school -- the primus was ready yet being used I think by the president -- -- election purposes -- -- slicing golden rule the Obama strangeness demonstrated once again yeah but doesn't really have a great deal of concern for.

You know I -- is in all seriousness I'm not being sarcastic at all do you think that a state dinner serves a purpose vs just having a meeting.

And you may be a photo opportunity afterwards is there a value to spending half a 1000002 million dollars on the dinner.

I think that's it would have been -- considering the huge amount all of dissipate the US and UK have.

Considering the fact the tens of millions give unemployed here in the United States.

Full the prime minister and the president -- -- give sat down -- simple dinner and discuss the key issues notably of course cutting government spending and reducing the debt.

Yeah it's just frustrating to see my tax dollars spent that -- as I'm looking at this video of this lavish dinner.

It is really irritating Nile Gardiner thank you so much for joining us today we appreciate it.