First White House Chrismukkah cards accidentally sent
[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.
You mean Laura Bush does SOMETHING?!!??!
This should be the worst mistake made by the current white house!
OMG! NOOOOO!!! This is tragic! Christmas is ruined forever! The terrorists have won! Oh the humanity! Why? Why? Why is this not front page news? How will we ever go on? Waaaaaah!!!
Oh enough of the politically correctness. It's just a tree.
At least nobody got killed in this latest incompetence episode! If it weren't for all the dead and bankrupt, the Bush Administration would be the funniest ever!
ROFL
This is really a non-story. Jewish Americans are not going to explode over an obvious error as no insult where was intended. Please give Jewish Americans some credit.
"Overtaxed, Overworked" you ignorant fool. Get over it–you lost and the country will be better off for it. I suppose you're a Bush supporter by your comment. The truth is that W can't wait to get the heck out of office and pursue his life's dreams. I can see him with a big smile on his face weed whacking and riding around on his pickup while some ghost writer works on his memoirs. I'd like to think that he's feeling awful about all of his mistakes. *But* is ignorance IS bliss.
Another example of the competency of the Bush White House!
As long as we're being PC ... thats not a clydesdale. It's a belgian draft.
Who cares.
I don't care what religion you are. What the heck is the matter with a picture of a tree and horse? Get over it already. If I walk into a yard of a Jewish family, have they cut all the trees down. Puleeeese.
Snafu is an old military slang acronym meaning "situation normal, all f-ed up". All of the many jokes aside about the Whitehouse, how could CNN be so irresponsible and use terminology like this? Can we be just a little bit professional here?
President Bush wasn't in charge of this you idiots. You act like Bush directly approved this. Give me a break. Just remember, Obama will be treated just like you have treated President Bush for these last two terms.
All those comments, what a waste of no brain power. There are wars going on and people dying, remember. How many coins are in your purse today. Are losing your home and job?
Yeah, and CNN is reporting that Paris Hilton is splitting up again .... all the news that's fit to print
Happy Christmahannakwanzaacha! Someone wrote that it's a "non-issue." They're right, of course. But it's nice to have something to laugh at in these dire economic times...
we won't hear of these mistakes or any mistakes because cnn/msnbc won't report on it. it isn't republican!!!
Horrors! Those pooooor Jews! Haven't they suffered enough? Now they have to see a photo of a tree!!! Doesn't anyone remember the HOLOCAUST????
Who cares if anything is PC.
"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical
minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."
Over taxed, over worked – Why don't you ask him in person for his birth certificate? Silly rabbit.
Good lord, not only Bush's cabinet, but also his staff are incompetent. This whole administration from the top down is a disaster. No wonder we're in such trouble.
Why all the fuss about a greeting card. Now, Now, be nice. We all have a lot to be thankful for. In less than 2 months the lying, cheating, Constitution Bashing, war mongering, economy ruining idiots will be gone.
The Christmas tree is pagan symbol-it has nothing to do with the birth of Christ. It is the result of Puritan law which allowed those celebrating the Winter Soltace to be appeased . People used to go into the woods to celebrate the coming of more hours of sun (followning the day with least). They hung red bows and string on the threes to symbolize the blood of life (spring). They partied-danced,etc. The Puritains felt this was evil and outlawed it. Under protest they allowed one tree to be brought into each home. It was decorated in red. (hence the red/green Christmas theme). They change the worship of the coming of the SUN to the birth of the SON (Jesus). So this whole christmas tree thing is silly anyway. It's not about Jesus. And -if anyone cares-Santa Clause was a remake of the Green Man, who was a pagan symbol (dressed in green and leaves-to symbolize the coming of spring) Coka-Cola created the red , white and fat Santa in their ads and it has stuck ever since. Merry Christmas-live and let live-love they neighboor, and stop all the judgement.
How about we spend the money used on these Hannukah and Christmas parties to provide food and help to regular people who lost their jobs to China? This is just another example of government waste...including Obama's upcoming, expensive inauguration.
What a miserable group of people most of you are! Thanks for taking a moment out of your busy day to let everyone know what kind of person you are and the constant joy you must bring to others. May everyday be a blessing to our great country, regardless of who is in the White House. And may you and your families find joy in the holidays and kindness in your hearts.