Ask Mr. Answer Person: "How were tickets distributed to President Obama's speech?"

Mr. Answer Person has been swamped with questions about how tickets were distributed to President Barack Obama's speech in Decorah on Monday.  Lauri e-mailed: "I was wondering how the people were selected to receive tickets to attend President Barack Obama's town hall event at Seed Savers Exchange on Monday."  Judy e-mailed: "I am wondering how the dispersal of the tickets to see Obama was done. They were gone before I realized they were for the offering."  "Dazed & confused" e-mailed: "My sources tell me Luther College received 80 tickets which were distributed through a "lottery", and Seed Savers got the rest (?) How did they distribute them? I know of two college students who got them (fine) and a 76 year old grandmother who hasn't worked in over 50 years, certainly she wasn't a "small business leader", I'm confused. It doesn't seem like a cross of diverse citizens to attend."

Finally, Bob e-mails: "The City of Cannon Falls is giving away tickets to attend Obama's visit, first come, first severd.   Must have ID and you are limited to two tickets.  It's too bad that the city of Decorah could not have been as accommodating."

Mr. Answer Person says: OK.  I understand the frustration of not getting tickets.  But at least let me tell you what happened.  "Dazed and Confused" is correct that Luther College was given 100 tickets, which it distributed to a mix of students and employees.

That left another 400 tickets to the event.  Seed Savers Exchange Executive Director John Torgrimson says once SSE said "yes" to the White House's request to use Seed Savers for the speech, it became the White House's event.

The White House considered the speech in Decorah a "private event," unlike the appearance in Cannon Falls, which was considered a "public event."  The White House gave out tickets to local politicians, then decided to invite Seed Savers members living within 60 miles of Decorah.

Torgrimson also wants to set the record straight on another issue--Seed Savers Exchange does not endorse political candidates and would welcome any sitting president to Seed Savers, whether Democratic or Republican.  Having the speech take place at Seed Savers was no different than having it take place at Luther College or Decorah City Hall--Seed Savers provided the facility and the White House handled the rest.