Posted on 12/18/2009 7:41:28 PM PST by PghBaldy
...the 18½ foot Douglas fir in the Blue Room – is decorated with recycled ornaments that Mrs. Obama's team dug out of the warehouse where old White House decorations are stored.
"We took about 800 ornaments left over from previous administrations, we sent them to 60 local community groups throughout the country, and asked them to decorate them to pay tribute to a favorite local landmark and then send them back to us for display here at the White House," said Mrs. Obama.
(Excerpt) Read more at people.com ...
Not so, however...
However, what the Clintons and Bushes had done previously that was ‘decidedly understated’ in this article was, well, use recycled ornaments.
In 2003, then first lady Laura Bush introduced the White House Christmas tree with ornaments first used by Barbara Bush in 1989. In an interview with NBC’s Norah O’Donnell on the Today Show in 2003, Laura Bush described the tree as follows:
“It’s a beautiful, beautiful tree from Wisconsin, and now it’s decorated with ornaments that we actually borrowed from Barbara and Jenna’s grandparents, President Bush and Barbara Bush. They were the ornaments that were on their tree their first Christmas here in 1989...”
To the Clintons credit, Hillary Clinton introduced the 2000 tree which featured ornaments from the First Lady’s past.
In 1962, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy reused ornaments from the previous year’s tree.
Nancy Reagan and Pat Nixon also somehow managed to use ornaments from the past.
Recycling ornaments for the White House Christmas tree is hardly a new or novel idea. Yet in reading this piece, one would think that the Obama’s had invented the concept.
White House aides state that the Obama’s “toned-down décor was both a nod to the tough economic times and Mrs. Obama’s interest in environmentalism.”
Is it safe to say that they were unable to ‘nod to the tough economic times’ nearly a year ago when they had celebrated with the most expensive inaugural celebration in history? Perhaps they had a crick in their necks when they were celebrating passage of the $787 billion stimulus plan with $100 wagyu steaks.
Even more amusing in this tale of Christmas thrift, is the mention of the 17 planned holiday parties at the White House - another ‘decidedly understated’ holiday decision. However, factoring in an additional 11 open houses, the Obama’s are hosting 28 events and expecting over 50,000 guests.
In contrast, President Bush in 2005 hosted 26 holiday parties with over 9,000 guests. In 2008, a poll suggested that one way President Bush could show an understanding of America’s tough economic times, was to cancel the annual Christmas parties.
Will anybody be suggesting this to the Obama’s?
Can’t be seen spending money?
They are hosting 17 — countem, 17! Christmas parties.
Not spending (saving?) money is not on Obozo’s list of transformations!
Have Articles of Impeachment been drawn up yet?
Ever notice that those who speak the loudest have the least to say? Seems to me this crowd tries to do things they think are unique to them. They do mind you but...it’s like they are trying so hard. It never works.
Sorry about the ornaments...perhaps there should have been something in writing that nothing previous administrations have purchased during their terms in office should ever be removed from the White House. Oh well...ya either have class or ya don’t. You can’t MAKE UP Clas.
Don’t be ticked off. Just enjoy your Christmas with your family and thank God you are who you are. :)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/christmas-white-house-2009
Closeups of the ornaments start at 44 seconds.
Personally, I’m more concerned about the frivolous Air Force One outings which are far more expensive than holiday parties.
Thanks for posting that link. I thought the other freepers were joking.
Happy Hannukah and Merry Christmas to you too. :)
Quite so..
They literally recycled them- Michelle had them painted and pasted over. They didn’t reuse them, they remade them.
YES it is, I saved the picture and then magnified it and they are very obvious. Dan
Oh, other First Lady's did it too.
No, they didn't. Re-use vs. Recycle of historical items is very, very different. What Michele did was to have actual physical historical ornaments changed, altered, and defaced.
I have had a few days to think about what she did. As close-up photos from an earlier post shows, they were supposedly the plain round ones. You know what...I don't seem to care if they were plain or fancy or the custom made ones. I have plain old ornaments from my great grandma and I would never let my kids redecorate them. On the box inside we list each generation they have been handed down too. What if these were the plain ornaments from say Martha or Mary Todd? Would we feel it was OK then too?
Under the liberal mentality they are altering history to fit their agenda. Instead of sending out 800 ornaments to be altered, why not have invited 800 families to submit a homemade ornament. A stipulation of it being a hand me down recycled ornament from your own family to deck the tree at the White House? Wow, now that would have been kind of cool. Instead we are treated to altered historical ornaments sent out to community activists and organizers.
As millions of Americans are finally making an effort to rediscover our history, a history that has been altered and changed in the textbooks of our children, we should be concerned at the actions of the radicals within the White House. Michele has taken on the job of not just changing the historical rendition of our past, she is now changing it physically. Covering it up, hiding it, making it disappear, failing to add to history.
Previous Christmas/Holiday displays at the White House found the halls well decked for the National celebration. This year the celebration is “understated,” because the 0bama’s don't celebrate Christmas. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/12035.html Consider that for just a moment, they don't celebrate Christmas as even a National Holiday. They claimed it was because of the recession and wanting to be on scope or par with the National melancholy...If at anytime I want to see my country celebrate and put aside the melancholy it is at Christmas time.
There is so much more to the psychology of what Michele did than meets the initial eye. On my home page here at FR I have a link to a prediction I made about Christmas 2010. Watch, just watch and wait for it.
0bama’s don't celebrate a National Holiday...keep that thought close at hand.
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