From the WaPo, no less:
……But while the online question portion of the White House town hall was open to any member of the public with an Internet connection, the five fully identified questioners called on randomly by the president in the East Room were anything but a diverse lot. They included: a member of the pro-Obama Service Employees International Union, a member of the Democratic National Committee who campaigned for Obama among Hispanics during the primary; a former Democratic candidate for Virginia state delegate who endorsed Obama last fall in an op-ed in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star; and a Virginia businessman who was a donor to Obama’s campaign in 2008.
Here are their stories:
1. Sergio Salmeron: Self-description at the White House: “My name is Sergio Salmeron. I want to find out about health care.”
Salmeron became engaged with the Obama campaign early in 2008, writing on his blog at my.barackobama.com, “We need to mobilize towards changing the trend of ‘2 to 1 Latinos favoring Hillary over Barack.’ Let’s make a resolute commitment… Let’s put the facts on the table, ask the questions, until we understand how this all applies to us. Then strategize [sic] to get the word out to Latinos in America, who want change as much as everyone else.”……
2. Tom Sawner: Self-description: “Sir, I’m Tom Sawner. I’m a service-disabled veteran, small-business owner in Arlington, Virginia. My company, Educational Options, works with public schools.”
According to Federal Election Commission records, Sawner made a $250 donation to Obama’s campaign on Oct. 27, 2008. He also, as he noted Thursday, served as an adviser on Obama’s educational platform committee. He said he was invited to the White House town hall through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Executive Council…..
3. Carlos Del Toro: Self-description: “My name is Carlos Del Toro. I served in the Navy for 26 years, retired four years ago, and started a small business.”
In 2007, Del Toro stood as a Democratic candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, but did not win. A supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic presidential primaries, he backed Obama against McCain in the general, endorsing him in an Oct. 24, 2008 op-ed in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star…..
4. Linda Bock: “My name is Linda Bock and I’m a registered nurse just in Prince George’s County, Maryland — been there 34 years at a free senior health center. And I’m here with my fellow nurses from SEIU.”
Bock, along with her chapter of the SEIU and her son and daughter, helped campaign and canvass for Obama, she said. …..
5. Bonnee L. Breese: “Hi, Mr. President. Thank you so very much for having me, a public school teacher from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, here to be with you.
THE PRESIDENT: What’s your name?
Q Bonnee Breese.
THE PRESIDENT: Good to see you, Bonnee.
Q Thank you. I’m from Overbrook High School. I have to say that, because I know all the children are watching. (Laughter.)”Breese has not donated a reportable amount to Obama, according to the FEC. She is a member of the 11,626-person Pennsylvania for Obama page on Facebook…..
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/03/27/obama_town_hall_questioners_we.html?hpid=topnews
I bet he had his teleprompter on hand for the prepared answers, too.