Like a Real Housewife of New Jersey, Arianna Huffington was flipping tables, well, at least metaphorically.
Because like most media organizations that placed a bid for White House Correspondents dinner tables, the Huffington Post founder didn’t get her way.
“She was not happy,” an insider told Yeas & Nays.
Being a new member to the White House Correspondents Association, this is the first year the Internet news site will have presence at the dinner.
Huffington asked for three tables, and on the assumption that her wish would be granted, invited 14 celebrity guests in advance, but only got one table.
“Many organizations ignored our blanket warning to all — to not invite guests until they know their seating capacity,” Edwin Chen, president of the White House Correspondents Association told Yeas & Nays. “Now some must disinvite people. This is a regrettable situation, but it’s not one of our making.”
Although HuffPo didn’t heed the warnings, the association was forgiving and provided them with additional seats.
“The WHCA has been extremely gracious throughout the whole process, especially given all the pressure they’re under to keep everyone happy,” Mario Ruiz, Huffington Post vice president of media relations told Yeas & Nays.
And it’s a good thing they were, because the Huffington Post is bringing an A-list set: Former White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, Sheila Bair, actors John Cusack and Scarlett Johansson (who’s bringing her brother Hunter), satirist Bill Maher and Twitter co-founder Evan Williams and his wife, Sara Morishige Williams.
The demand for tickets this year was the highest in the White House Correspondents’ Association 96-year history. As a result of the demand, most organizations took a hit, especially the international press. Outlets like the London Daily Telegraph were squeezed, but Chen told Yeas & Nays there will be more foreign press in attendance than in years past.
Insiders say new additions to the White House Press Pool like the Daily Caller, Talking Points Memo, Huffington Post, Ebony and Essence have caused the overcrowding.
Follow Tara Palmeri on Twitter
Follow Nikki Schwab on Twitter
Follow Yeas and Nays
