Some brats, a couple six packs and White House admission

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By Marie Rohde

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says jokingly that when he got his invitation to a Super Bowl party from the White House, he asked, “What should I bring? Some brats? A couple of six packs?”

Barrett scored a coup with an Evite to the big game when he was asked by Barack and Michelle Obama to join them. Several other Wisconsinites will be there as well, as will a few from Pennsylvania, including Lancaster Mayor J. Richard Gray.

One Wisconsinite not making the trip east is Gov. Scott Walker. He’ll be cheering from inside the stadium as the Packers take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Barrett might have gotten the better deal: Entertainer Jennifer Lopez will also be at the White House.

The invite said the dress is casual, but Barrett said he would opt for khakis rather than jeans, topped off with some appropriate Packer attire.

“I won’t wear cleats or a cheesehead,” Barrett said, adding that he was paying for the trip himself.

Barrett said the White House invite was for two, and he decided to take his son, Tommy. Tommy was at first reluctant. “He wanted to really cheer,” the mayor said.

Although Tommy is the oldest of the Barrett children, the mayor said he had some second thoughts when one of his daughters expressed interest in going.

“I said, OK, name four current Packers,” Barrett said. “Let’s just say Tommy is going and leave it at that.”

Barrett said he is taking several gift packages of sausages from Usinger’s and Klement’s.

Marie Rohde is a staff writer at The Daily Reporter. She’ll be watching the game from … who we kidding, she’s going shopping Sunday.