White House: credit cards accepted

Hospitality comes at a price when asked to dine at the White House.

Obama recently invited four of the top CEO's in America for a luncheon. White House staff collected their credit cards and charged them for the privilege.

As a single female with years of experience in first-dates, this reaffirms my rule (one of them): always bring cash. Despite his svelte appearance, power ties, elite title and command of the world's largest economy and most powerful military, the guy asking you to accompany him for a meal might glance across the table when the check comes and slide it your way.

Four of the most powerful business leaders in America arrived at the White House one day last month for lunch with President Barack Obama, sitting down in his private dining room just steps from the Oval Office.

But even for powerful CEOs, there’s no such thing as a free lunch: White House staffers collected credit card numbers for each executive and carefully billed them for the cost of the meal with the president.

A note, the article goes on to say Bush never charged for meals since guests attended the White House by invitation. He also never had luncheons with CEOs at the White House.

But the Bush administration was so sensitive about appearing cozy with corporate America that another former high-ranking official cannot recall a single instance of President Bush lunching with CEOs in the White House.

Personally, I wonder what those CEOs were thinking. Dining with a guy who demonizes corporate America, profits and capitalism? If you want special treatment, expect to pay for it with large cash donations.