Sorry, We’re Booked, White House Tells Obamas

[avaistheone1]

December 12, 2008, 1:11 pm

By Helene Cooper
CHICAGO—The White House has turned down a request from the family of President-elect Barack Obama to move into Blair House in early January so that his daughters can start school on January 5.

The Obamas were told that Blair House, where incoming presidents usually stay in the five days before Inauguration Day, is booked in early January, a spokesperson to the Obama transition said. “We explored the idea so that the girls could start school on schedule,’ the spokesperson said. “But, there were previously scheduled events and guests that couldn’t be displaced.”

It remained unclear who on Bushes guest list outranked the incoming President.

“It’s not a public schedule,” said Sally McDonough, spokeswoman for First Lady Laura Bush, in refusing to disclose who was staying at Blair House. “It’s not a question of outranking the Obamas. Blair House will be available to them on January 15.”

Ms. McDonough said “there’s nothing more to say other than that it’s not available and won’t be available until January 15.” She added that “you’re trying to make a story out of something that’s not a story.”

Mr. Obama has been staying in Chicago with his family since the election; the Obamas have decided to send their two daughters, Malia and Sasha, to Sidwell Friends School in Washington.

Obama transition officials said that the family is considering other housing options and are hopeful the girls will not miss the start of school. “The White House has been extremely accommodating to the Obama family needs — and the entire process has been smooth and friendly,” the transition official said.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/sorry-were-booked-white-house-tells-obamas/




~In the spirit of the season the Bushs tell the Obamas there is no room at the inn for them and for their children.

[phantom power]

1. For fun, let's play What If It Were A Democrat...

What if it were a Democratic president, telling a Republican president-elect that it was booked?

Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Fox News, and every other wind-bag in GOP noise machine would be staging a 24/7 screaming session about Evil Democratic Partisanship.

[avaistheone1]

3. The right would be all over this if a Democrat president tried to pull such a stunt.

[AspenRose]

5. They would be standing in front of the White House, protesting

Oh, wait...

Does "get out of Cheney's house" ring any bells? :crazy:

[spanone]

10. that's because the 'librul' media sucks

[angstlessk]

30. Weren't there some reight wing idiots in front of Al Gores residence

calling for him to leave so evil dick, cheney could invade the vp's home?

On Edit: forgot the comma between dick and cheney..forgot his name was richard

[dipsydoodle]

2. Maybe some complete bastards

booked the rooms out of spite.

[AspenRose]

4. No room at the inn, that's a good one

:rofl:

They can come stay with me. We have treats! :hi:

[FrenchieCat]

6. and they may now find themselves in a manger!

Too bad Michelle isn't pregger! :rofl:

[leftynyc]

7. Why would we expect anything

else from a small petty person like the chimp?

[Doctor_J]

8. A tiny, pathetic loser to the end

I can't until we get news * has cirrhosis of the liver.

[Mugweed]

9. Maybe Prince Bandar

is over for another hand-holding smooching session with Georgie.

[DU9598]

11. Well, you don't expect Laura to stay in a hotel?

Weren't there rumors that she moved out on George after 2004 and was living in the Blair House? It's our house, the logs should be public, right?

[niyad]

13. I heard she was staying at the mayflower--and wanna bet she lives in that dallas mansion alone?

[liberalmuse]

12. Probably the bin Ladens.

They seem to get treated better than any American by the Bushies.

[polichick]

17. I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised.

[Arugula Latte]

14. Classless assholes to the core.

[LaydeeBug]

15. This is not as bad as Nancy asking Rosalynn to move out early so that she could redecorate. nt

[DemBones DemBones]

29. Or Ike refusing to go in and have coffee with Harry and Bess before

they rode to the inauguration together. I'm surprised Mamie let Ike be so rude.

[Synnical]

16. booked for “receptions and gatherings” of outgoing members

That's more important than the little girls' education!

[LynneSin]

18. What's really sad is this is all about the girls with their school starting

And Bush is being the big bully

[ObamaKerryDem]

19. Well, from everything else we know and have seen of Bush..

and his ilk, it probably WAS intentional. He always has to get the last word. How petty and childish for an outgoing president...oh wait, why am I not surprised.... :eyes:

I will be SO glad when that asshat's plane lifts off to Texas..

[tammywammy]

20. Legitimate request and it was a legitimate denial

No biggie.

[avaistheone1]

21. True. And that inn under the Bethlehem sky was probably legitimately booked 2,000 years ago too.

:think:

[tammywammy]

22. If it's booked it's booked

They weren't expecting the Obamas to move in until Jan. 15.

[WinkyDink]

23. "Booked"?? Is it a HOTEL? Or can the sitting President, you know, TELL the "bookees", "Sorry"?

[tammywammy]

24. Sorry, I just don't see the big deal

The Bushes already have plans for its use. While I don't like Bush, it is their right to use it. The Obamas can stay at the Hayes Adams or Mayflower.

[CreekDog]

31. who said its a big deal?

they could have accomodated him because Blair House said the residence was available (rather than the meeting area).

secondly, though they don't have any dignitaries using the residence scheduled, aren't the Obama's equivalent of some foreign minister somewhere? perhaps a step above?

sheesh.

this is one of those instances where all things being equal, i could give the White House the benefit of the doubt, but why the hell should i?

they're jerks. they can get other people to defend them. WE don't have to.

i understand fairness but i'm not being played for a fool.

[kiva]

26. Ummm...why would he need to do that?

Presumably he invited them, he has the place until January 15. Would it be a good gesture for Bush to make the house available to the Obamas? Yes. Do I really think Bush in interested in good gestures? No.

[WinkyDink]

28. Um....I'm saying the same thing: Make "a good gesture" towards the Obamas.

[kath]

33. The thing is, the article I read said that it's NOT booked, per Blair House staff.

[mkultra]

34. agreed, they are giving it up 5 days prior as is custom

canceling existing schedules should not be expected.

[Synnical]

27. Oh, it really isn't, it's just emblematic of the Bush Admin

And the Neo-Cons in general.

"Move on, there's no story here."

No Torture
No Treason
No Stolen Election
No Misconduct
No More Habeas corpus
No More Posse Comitatus

No More Constitution

We The People - No More

No Biggie.

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[firedupdem]

25. Isn't the Blair house "our " house? Meaning the people's house?

If so, I wanna know who is in there? Who is it booked for?

[Zavulon]

32. So the girls can't start school if they aren't staying at the Blair House?

I agree with the first respondent's point about Limpballs and Hannity, but other than that this is just stupid. I have enough reasons to hate Bush without resorting to petty shit like this.

What are the odds that the Blair house wouldn't be booked as the Bush Occupancy winds down? And to make it sound as if the girls can't start school if the Blair house isn't opened for them is just ridiculous.

If this bothers people, so be it. I'll save my anger for the war, the economy, the bailout of Wall Street and the snub of the UAW, etc.

[mkultra]

35. im sure they could rent a furnished townhouse close by

[underpants]

36. Simply outrageous

their contributors are more important than the President-elect