They said/We said: Was Anna Wintour’s pro-Obama video inappropriate?

In what must be a first, an invitation to dine with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is being viewed as inappropriate. The sponsored-by-Obama video invitation, which was released last Friday, shows Wintour in a Thakoon-designed Runway to Win scarf as she encourages Barack Obama supporters to enter for a chance to win seats at a Sarah Jessica Parker–hosted dinner, which Michelle Obama and Wintour will also be hosting.

So, what’s inappropriate about that? A report released on the same day as Wintour’s video detailed the dismal numbers of unemployed Americans. Unsurprisingly, the Republican Party was the first to point out the unfortunate timing, lampooning the Wintour video in a video called “Meanwhile.” As Wintour’s video plays in one corner of the screen, unemployment numbers before and after Obama’s presidency flash under the title “Meanwhile…” in the opposite corner.

“There couldn’t be a better demonstration of this president’s misplaced priorities than a glitzy fundraising video release on the same day that marked more unemployed Americans,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. “It’s more than obvious that this president just doesn’t get it.”

While it’s true that the Obama campaign’s timing wasn’t spot-on in this case, will this really affect voters’ confidence in their current president? It’s important to note that both the Democratic and Republican parties have their own sets of supporters, and both organize celebrity-run dinners to bring out voters. Mitt Romney’s campaign has been promoting the “Dine With the Donald” dinner, which gives supporters a chance to rub shoulders with the business tycoon. Before the Wintour-Parker-Obama trifecta, Democratic Party supporters had come together under George Clooney’s roof as the long-time Obama supporter hosted a campaign dinner.

Does the release date of Wintour’s video show that the president is out of touch with the average American, or is the Republican Party simply using this as a convenient opportunity to take a jab at their political opponent?

THEY SAID…

Huffington Post Style: “The most intimidating dinner invitation ever, care of Anna Wintour.” [Twitter]

Juan Williams: “Let’s have someone who reeks of ornamental excess announce that the peasants can have a place at the table. It’s just unbelievable.” [Jezebel]

Erin Gibson: “I decline your dinner invitation, Anna Wintour.” [Twitter]

WE SAID…

Jacquelyn Francis, executive editor: “Campaign tactics like this (used in Canada and U.S.) are all about taking people off of the issues at hand rather than facing the issues at hand. But I get it, this is the nature of the beast. That being said, if I were an American voter, SJP and Anna Wintour–approved fundraising (BTW: fundraising is beyond crucial in the States) wouldn’t make me feel a multi-millionaire is particularly connected to the average unemployed American either.”