Obama brings relaxed style to presidency (Oval office dress code)

ChicagoTribune.com ^ | January 29, 2009 | Frank James

[mmanager]

President Barack Obama has brought a more relaxed style to the White House, according to Sheryl Gay Stolberg of the New York Times, among other things going suit coat-less in the Oval Office and allowing others to do the same.

Obama critics will probably hold this against him and mark him down as disrespecting the presidency.

But the Oval Office is an office after all, even if it is the world's most famous one. At bottom, it is a work space albeit it holds an almost sacred place in the hearts of many Americans.

Most Americans probably won't begrudge Obama the comfort of being able to doff his suit coat in the Oval. They've got bigger worries these days.

Indeed, they'll likely accept the image of him in his shirtsleeves as evidence of an executive working hard to solve the nation's problems.

One of the story's most memorable anecdotes is actually not about Obama but former President George Bush and it was told by Dan Bartlet who was a senior adviser to Obama's predecessor.

[freeplancer]

Just another disrespectful scumbag. Dime a dozen.

[DoughtyOne]

Ouch! LOL, he didn’t wear that in the Oval Office did he. I doubt it.

[pallis]

Mr. 0bama doesn’t respect the White House or America, so why should he have any standards that would show respect?

[Beagle8U]

Relaxed style = Dress like a slob.

[top 2 toe red]

Yeah...you'd need to keep your suit coat on if you turned down the thermostat and was doing your part in ‘energy conservation’ you hypocrite!!!

[a fool in paradise]

Besides, good muslims never wear ties.

These are just "pajamas". Casual dress code.

[Larry Lucido]

Suited Reagan = doofus

Pantsless Clinton = intelligent

Suited Bush = doofus

Jacketless 0bama = hard worker

[beandog]

It annoys me more that the MSM thinks that this makes him better than President Bush. He’s one of us and Bush wasn’t. It’s just getting creepy how much they kiss his behind.

[a fool in paradise]

Relaxed style = Dress like a slob.

If "dress" doesn't matter, then he should have no problem with press photographers catching him in his daily work attire or making an address to the nation in less than a suit and tie.

[top 2 toe red]

You must have not read the article, George W did the same and they were criticizing him for it.

[Puppage]

Obama brings relaxed style to presidency

Yeah, because in this day & age of global love, we should all just loosen up.

[a fool in paradise]

I don’t think they have palm trees at the White House.

[albie]

People can’t be surprised by this! He’s shown zero respect for the Constitution, the military, veterans, conservatives and now the Oval Office. It’s his MO. This is how it will be be for 4-8 years. “He Won”.

[OriginalChristian]

Much ado about nothing. Again, we lament form over substance. There is so much more wrong with this infanticidal maniac, that we look petty by focusing on characteristics that don’t matter. Get a grip.

[a fool in paradise]

[Old Grumpy]

I wonder if he will have any interns bring pizza to the Oval Office while he’s in it?

[ridesthemiles]

blatant disregard for the office he now occupies.

the man has dissed the office..”

He also has the heat turned way up because “being from Hawaii, he doesn’t like to be cold”.

Tells us we cannot use energy, but he is the RULER, and he can do as he wishes.

For all of you who voted for the ONE—I hope you reap the folly of this action—the sooner the better.

[a fool in paradise]

Ronald Reagan was so in awe of what the office stood for, he would only wear a suit and tie when spending time in it.

And Obama's pre-teen daughters will be doing their homework on Lincoln's desk.

Malia Obama Calls Dibs on Lincoln's Desk (ABC News 11-26-2008 ABC News)

[Uncle Miltie]

0bamessiah turned up the thermostat in the Oval Orifice so he could work in shirtsleeves.

He’s killing Mommy Earth!

[a fool in paradise]

20 years in Chicago and he doesn’t like to be cold.