Michael Barone Meets Barack Obama

By Michael Barone, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

Yes, it's true that I attended a dinner party at George and Mari Will's house last night with other conservative writers and Barack Obama. No, I'm not going to write about any of the details here; it was off the record, as such gatherings must be, if people are to get above the level of frankness that obtains in public statements. But my observations will affect my writing in the weeks, months, and years ahead. A miffed talk-radio host notes that George W. Bush and previous Republican presidents did not dine with liberal journalists on coming to Washington. That's not entirely true: The late Katharine Graham invited the Reagans and the George H. W. Bushes to dinner and cultivated a friendship with Nancy Reagan. But evidently no liberal journalist thought to send an invitation to the now outgoing president. Perhaps one should have.

--Read more by Michael Barone .

--Read more from the Thomas Jefferson Street blog .

--Read more about Barack Obama .

By Michael Barone