White House Super Bowl Party

Word is that President Obama will be hosting a Super Bowl party at the White House Sunday evening. Invitations have been extended to several members of Congress, Republicans as well as Democrats.

Press secretary Robert Gibbs says it is a way of "bringing people together." Among the guests will be both of the senators and three of the representatives from Pennsylvania — who, presumably, will be rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers — and two representatives from Arizona — who, presumably, will be rooting for the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona Sen. John McCain, who lost the election to Obama last November, is not on the guest list posted by CNN.

Eight other members of Congress will be there, but they have no apparent rooting interest.

Gibbs joked that his deputy will provide the seven-layer dip, but he said no wagering will be allowed.

All the same, it's a good idea for the president to have several people on hand for the game. Remember what happened seven years ago, when George W. Bush was watching a football game by himself?

He choked on a pretzel, fell and lost consciousness briefly. Bush was all right, as it turned out, but the incident was fodder for a "Saturday Night Live" sketch.

Conditions these days are no laughing matter. America doesn't need a president who chokes on a tortilla chip and loses consciousness, even briefly.

If several people are on hand, surely someone will know the Heimlich maneuver and be prepared to use it in an emergency.