A large private party planned for President Obama’s 60th birthday on the Vineyard this weekend has been canceled amid fierce public backlash and rising Covid cases, as the Delta variant spreads on the Island. The party will be scaled back to family and friends, according to a statement.
A large private party planned for President Obama’s 60th birthday on the Vineyard this weekend has been canceled amid fierce public backlash and rising Covid cases, as the Delta variant spreads on the Island. The party will be scaled back to family and friends, according to a statement sent to the Gazette Wednesday morning.
“This outdoor event was planned months ago in accordance with all public health guidelines and with covid safeguards in place,” the statement said. “Due to the new spread of the delta variant over the past week, the President and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends. President Obama is appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon.”
The statement was provided to the Gazette by Edgartown town administrator James Hagerty, who confirmed that it was sent to him early Wednesday morning by a staff member for the Obama family.
The Obamas had been planning to host hundreds of people at a grand bash at their sprawling home on the Edgartown Great Pond. Reports about the celebrity-studded party were spreading like wildfire on social media and across the Island all week, with no public statement from the Obamas or confirmation of the details.
A request for a public statement from the Gazette emailed to the Obama office early Tuesday morning went unanswered all day Wednesday.
Instead, communications staffers and party planners kept close guard over information regarding the event, shuttling a vague statement through local town officials even as concern about Covid-19 cases climbed regionally and on the Vineyard.
Speaking to the Gazette by phone Tuesday, Mr. Hagerty said that he had been bombarded throughout the day with calls from almost every national media outlet regarding the event.
“And international,” he added.
He confirmed the party, but did not know any details other than that planners had hired a Covid coordinator and that the event would comply with federal, state and regional public health regulations.
“I’m in touch with the Covid coordinator overseeing protocols for this outdoor event, and have been briefed on their plans to comply with all CDC, state and local guidance,” Mr. Hagerty said in the prepared statement Tuesday.
But those plans changed in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, when organizers sent a contrite dis-invitation to prospective guests, time-stamped at about 2 a.m. and headed, “With Regrets: An Update on 44x60 Plans,” saying the party would be significantly scaled back amid concerns about the Delta variant and Covid spread.
The Gazette obtained a copy of the email,
“Please accept our apologies for not having you with us to celebrate this occasion in person and for any inconvenience this has caused. Please know this is done with great regret,” it said in part. ”At the end of the day, the safety and well-being of friends, family, and community will always be the Obama’s top priority — and they are eagerly looking forward to seeing everyone again sometime in the near future.”
It continued:
“Please know how grateful President Obama is for the love you’ve shown him as he approaches this milestone birthday and we appreciate your discretion given the level of scrutiny on this event.”
President Obama turns 60 today, August 4.
Comments
Given the current pandemic
Mark VHGiven the current pandemic environment, the decision to scale back the celebration is the correct and responsible one to make. I’m sure all the Trumpies, both islanders and “wash-a-shores”, out there won’t resist the opportunity to be more expressive about their opinions.
What’s their version of
Curious EdgartownWhat’s their version of ‘scaled back’ from 400 guests and 200 staff? Just curious.
A party is but for a day, but
Harry Seymour Oak BluffsA party is but for a day, but public acrimony can stain what has taken a lifetime
to obtain. Fame will always be theirs, but so to the respect for being such a class act.
Your first sentence was close
Elizabeth VHYour first sentence was close to being a haiku. Very poetic.
Thanks President and Mrs
Ginny islandThanks President and Mrs OBama. As strong as your desire was to party with your friends, I am so glad that you have decided to cancel. This demonstrates the characteristics of consideration and respect (as well as common sense) that we have always associated with you and yours. This island is already over loaded and the prospect of all the extra visitors and their entourages, not to mention the private jets and cars, plus the Covid worries. The teaching moment is that this was the wrong party on the wrong location at the wrong time -- for many reasons. It reminds me of all your intellectual and leadership qualities that won my vote back in the day. Happy Birthday (and many more) and again, thanks for doing the right thing.
It’s hard to believe they
Carole Oak BluffsIt’s hard to believe they will cancel this event on such short notice. Guests are already here (and they won’t likely turn them away!), caterers hired, electricians, musicians employed, etc. etc. This is a publicity stunt to avoid further criticism. Note that there are no new numbers now published, but their “friends” are certainly in the hundreds. Selfish, to say the least, on this island that already is strained and overpopulated this summer. I maintain that if the Obamas love this island the way they say they do, they wouldn’t bring so much notoriety to it.
Notoriety? I think you're
DownislanderNotoriety? I think you're confusing him with the other guy. I can't believe all the gnashing of teeth over a private outdoor party that follows all of the CDC and state recommendations. Which is more than I can say for the thousands of people clogging the streets, restaurants and bars on any given night. Next you all will want people to just mail their wallets to us.
Happy 60th Bornday and Many
Dee Marshall HamdenHappy 60th Bornday and Many Happy Returns former President Obama. Enjoy your small scale BD with your family and friends on your private property on Island. As usual , a class act to cancel a larger celebration out of concern, health, and safety of others. Thanks for taking the lead and maybe others will do the same ... ie Blues Festival etc.
I don't know whether the
Jose Oak BluffsI don't know whether the decision to curtail this large gathering was the correct one or not. Why is it not OK to host an outdoor party for 500 people on a large estate when it is OK to go to a ball game and sit shoulder to shoulder to tens of thousands of screaming fans for hours on end? Is the passion behind the comments to this article driven by “science” or rather by political leanings?
We Americans are terribly divided along political lines. It is destroying our country and our ability to hold a rational dialogue and find common ground. I believe that if President Trump were to give a comparable party on MV, there would be lots of finger wagging from the Liberals on this Island about why the former President and his guests were science deniers, Neanderthals and tone deaf. Conversely, if President Obama holds a large party, there is an equal amount of screed from the more conservative elements among us about why it is a potential super spreader event, full of hypocrisy and should never happen because people will get sick and die. All this back and forth will occur while there will be a full house at Fenway Park tonight, and lots of two hour dinners in crowded restaurants.
The motivation to support or reject the large birthday gathering seems to have less to do with “following the science,” and more to do with what side of the political isle we are on. We’ve stopped listening to each other as we tow some "party line.” Our geopolitical enemies are watching with glee and disbelief as we weaken, with our own hands, the greatest human experiment ever attempted. I long for the days when E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one) was more than a slogan.
Happy Birthday, Mr. President, and many many more happy and healthy ones together with your family.
The public has a right to
patrice bostonThe public has a right to know how many people are involved in the "scaled back" version of his party for himself.
Do they? From all reports
Mark MeliaDo they? From all reports everyone was to be outdoors, vaccinated and MV is not a Covid Hot Spot so they are following all the CDC guidelines. So given all of that where does the publics right to know come into play?
Please forward me the guest
Steve EdgartownPlease forward me the guest list for your next party.
My remarks are wholly non
Lorraine EdgartownMy remarks are wholly non political and just plain practical. We have a small hospital, the last numbers I recall were: 27 beds, 3 ICU. This was a few months ago. Now, if five hundred to six or seven hundred people descend on the island, during the season, those of us who may need the hospital due to chronic conditions, emergency situations, reactions to cancer treatments, or the like, need beds, what happens if there is a food borne illness at this massive party? or, an accident involving a number of people? This would not bode well for the tax paying residents of the island. It is wonderful to have a joyful celebration for one's birthday, but perhaps this party could be held in Washington DC where there are many hospitals with facilities for emergencies? I understand wanting to share one's new dwelling with loved ones and friends, but perhaps the venue is a bit of an issue. It was a good decision to scale down the festivities for all concerned.
What about the thousands of
Mike SomewhereWhat about the thousands of people that come here daily wearing no mask. Sounds like you are are saying that everyone should stay away. Good luck. Private gathering, private estate, isolated. Stop being a hypocrite. What about the concert 2 weeks ago- over a thousand. Circuit Ave - any night. Now if you choose to compare these are far more irresponsible to say the least compared to this private event. Wear a mask, wash your hands etc.
Has it somehow escaped you
David EdgartownHas it somehow escaped you that tens of thousands of seasonal visitors have already descended on the island this summer? Worrying about a few hundred more seems ludicrous.
I will probably get some
AB OBI will probably get some flack for this, but I feel badly that they have scaled the party back. It was out side, on their property and people needed proof of vaccination, and could turn down the invitation if they so wished. Any servers that didn't want to work could step back. I have a feeling that most of them would have wanted to show up. I sure wish that I'd been invited!
So far so good. Again, you
Ginny IsladSo far so good. Again, you made the right, the graceful and the honorable decision for you and yours, and for those of us who live here as well. Would that others -- with less scruples (actually no scruples) can't see that their unprincipled and undisciplined behavior is egregiously reprehensible. The fact that they can impact my/our/your lives with their selfish behavior is beyond shameful. Party on with a few good friends -- you will have a much better time!
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