[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/26/art.card.cnn.jpg caption="A card sent to Jewish leaders had a distinctly Yuletide flavor."]WHITE HOUSE (CNN) – Whoops! A picture of a Christmas tree is not the first thing you would expect to see on an invitation to an event celebrating Hanukkah, but that is exactly what recipients of invitations to this year's White House Hanukkah reception initially got in the mail.
The invitation sent to American Jewish leaders on behalf of the President and First Lady, requesting "the pleasure of your company at a Hanukkah reception," bore an image of a Clydesdale horse-drawn cart, carrying the White House Christmas tree, with a Christmas wreath-adorned White House in the background.
Mrs. Bush's press secretary, Sally McDonough, attributed the snafu to a "staff mistake" in not printing separate cards for the different White House holiday events, as has been the custom in years past. "Mrs. Bush is apologetic, It is just something that fell through the cracks," she said, referring to the role of the First Lady's office in sending out the invitations.
The card as originally intended featured a menorah given to the White House during Harry Truman's presidency. That mailing was to have gone out today, according to Mrs. McDonough.
McDonough added that the White House had received "dozens" of calls of support from members of the Jewish community to express their appreciation for what President and Mrs. Bush had done for them through the course of Mr. Bush's presidency.
Wow they've never made a mistake in 8 yrs. It is not that serious. Hope the White House are not getting nervous in their last days.
Bush mush have put Palin in charge of the holiday mailings this year.
This says it all, everything the Bush administration has stood for....
ooopppppssss!
I'm just glad to see some acknowledgement from this White House that some people believe things other than Christianity.
Its a good thing we Jews have a sense of humor. This is probably the only funny thing that Bush has done that wasn't also sad or scary.
Is there anything they can't screw up? Wow...
Just say it's a cedar tree instead of a Christmas tree.
I can't believe how many mean spirited Democrat’s there is out there. It seems like every article about the President; these evil Democrat’s have to voice their dumbness.
hey there is something you don't see every day. George Bush saying he is sorry.
Whoops! Very pretty card though.
It fell threw the cracks....just like our economy, the war on terror, the iraq war, and capturing Osama bin Laden. Change is almost here!
I cant wait till Obama starts making mistakes and lets see if you criticize him. No one is perfect. Oh, my bad, I forgot Obama is the messiah to you people.
I agree with many of the posts here–don't we have bigger issues to concern ourselves about? I think the Bush presidency will go down as one of the worst ever, but beating up the White House for what is obviously an honest mistake is pretty petty. People, and the media, in this country are starting to sound like a bunch of schoolyard children calling each other names. Let's all grow up and start acting a little more civil to one another, ok?
idiots
Happy Christmahanukkwaanzadanstice!
This is the only mistake that the First Ladies office has made. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure a follow up letter will go out with apologies.
Laura Bush has been a good First Lady. She has never given anybody any reason to say otherwise.
I hope she will enjoy being back at home and away from the fish bowl of the White House.
Maybe they were trying to save some taxpayers dollars (yeah, right). Now all they need to do is say "Merry Hanukkah" to their guests.
If you look real close, you can see W sitting on the throne of his private "library." Probably humming "Hail To The Chief"...
-Tomkat-
Hopefully they weren't sent to invitees from all 57 states.
Man....I can't wait for competence to return to the White House....January 20th can't come too soon....
Hey Penny, believe me....There are just as many if not MORE Republican mean people too. I've seen it!! So don't blame Democrats.
Well, that's the least of the snafu's characterizing the Bush administration. At least they can go out with an ironically humorous note.
This not news. Mistakes happen and this is a relatively minor one.
In addition, you morons who believe the next administration is gonna be any better..... are in for a rude awakening!
Well, you don't want to be accused of taking Christmas out of Hanukkah and calling it a 'solstice celebration' or something. Good old Bush, he can't even send a Christmas card the right way.