World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. CEO Linda McMahon and her husband, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, appear in the ring during Vince McMahon's 64th birthday celebration at the WWE Monday Night Raw show at the Thomas & Mack Center August 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images.
Vince McMahon must be reading from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War.”
Why else would the swashbuckling World Wrestling Entertainment boss and husband of U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon invite Michelle Obama — that’s right Michelle Obama — to the wrestling empire’s corporate headquarters in Stamford on Monday?
No joke. He did.
You see, Obama is doing a fundraising reception at the Palace Theatre that morning for Richard Blumenthal, Linda McMahon’s Democratic opponent. To those of you not familiar with the lay of the land, the Palace Theatre is all of 1.6 miles from WWE. What’s 1.6 miles when you travel with the Secret Service?
WWE put out a press release this afternoon saying that Vince McMahon extended the invitation to the first lady to discuss WWE’s corporate outreach initiatives. These programs include outreach to at-risk youth, support for military troops and their families and partnerships with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Young Adult Library Services Association and others.
“Given President Obama’s previous appearance on ‘Monday Night Raw,’ and WWE’s dedication to giving back to the community we welcome the opportunity to speak candidly with the first lady and educate her about WWE’s initiatives that focus on children and families,” Vince McMahon, WWE CEO and chairman, said in a statement. “We hope to learn more from the first lady about the important initiatives she is leading.”
Wonder if they will be serving cucumber sandwiches?