Bush Rebuffs Obama's Housing Request

[ClydeR]

Disregarding--or more likely rubbing in--Bush's dislike for racially integrated neighborhoods (see earlier thread (http://forum.gsplayers.com/showpost.php?p=852266&postcount=1)), Obama tried to worm his way into the White House early by requesting that he be allowed to move into the Blair House so that his daughters can start school on January 5.

Bush told Obama that Bush may want to use the Blair House for entertaining and that Obama can move into the Blair House, which presidents elect historically occupy before their inauguration, on January 15.

If you've never heard of the Blair House, now's your chance.


Blair House, which dates to 1824, has served as the official presidential guest house since 1942 for heads of state and other foreign dignitaries. Appearing deceptively small from Pennsylvania Avenue, Blair House is actually a complex of four joined townhouses that is larger than the White House, with 119 rooms and 70,000 square feet of space.

"There are 14 guest bedrooms, eight staff bedrooms, 35 bathrooms, four dining rooms, kitchen facilities, laundry and dry cleaning facilities, an exercise room, a flower shop, and a fully equipped hair salon," according to the Blair House Web site. "Blair House strives to be comfortable, discreet and secure, and to provide any service that a visiting dignitary might require."

More... (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/12/12/wh_tells_obamas_no_room_at_the.html)

[Gan]

In 39 days, Obama can do what he wants with it...

[ClydeR]

In 39 days, Obama can do what he wants with it...

You and I agree on this completely. I think the only reason Obama asked to live in one of the Blair House guest rooms was to be pushy because Obama knows that Bush does not like living near black people. I won't hurt Obama to rent a house for 10 days, and the Secret Service shouldn't involve itself in making such requests anyway.

[Gan]

You and I agree on this completely.

But for completely all the wrong reasons.

[Renian]

Um...didn't the transition team release a statement saying that the Blair House was just straight-up booked and there was nothing either party could really do?

EDIT: Nevermind, didn't find it. But I did find that the Obamas weren't really angry and the White House has been making it rather smooth for them so it's probably not the black people issue. Hell, in The Audacity of Hope, which I have been listening to, Bush even went out of his way to invite Obama to come into his office and chat after Obama got elected...I doubt many racists would do that. I wouldn't doubt Bush being a sore loser though.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/us/politics/13move.html?hp

[Sean of the Thread]

How is Bush being a sore loser? His fucking term is up.

http://lucytheblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/mlkdaysaulloebgetty.jpg

[ClydeR]

New info.


The veil is lifted. We now know who is booked at Blair House, kicking President-elect Barack Obama and his family to the waiting list and across Lafayette Park to the Hay-Adams Hotel.

The only overnight visitor at the presidential guest manse is none other than John Howard, a former Australian prime minister and leading member of President Bush's coalition of the willing in Iraq.

More... (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2009/01/06/blair_house_mystery_solved_its.html?hpid=topnews)

After the story broke, and a lot of people in Austrailia complained, Howard defended himself.


The Aussie press was abuzz yesterday after we revealed that Howard will be Bush's only overnight visitor during the first two weeks in January, when the Obamas had hoped to occupy the presidential guest manse.

Howard will be there Monday, the day before Bush awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Howard, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Colombian President Álvaro Uribe -- all close political allies of the current president. Blair and Uribe have made other accommodations and will not stay at the 119-room Blair House.

Howard, through a spokesman, told the newspaper the Australian that he would pick up his own tab to travel to the United States. The newspaper noted, however, that since Howard was "turfed from office" he has run up more than $186,164 (in U.S. dollars) in taxpayer-funded travel expenses.

"Mr. Howard will be staying for one night as per the invitation," his spokesman told the Aussie paper. "There's no entourage; it's just Mr. and Mrs. Howard. None of it is at the expense of Australian taxpayers."

More... (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/07/AR2009010703739.html)

Honestly, I cannot think of anyone who deserves the Presidential Medal of Freedom more than John Howard.

Even though the Blair House isn't really booked solid, since it has only one guest and his wife for one night, it's still Bush's call if he doesn't want the Obama family living on the White House grounds.

[Parkbandit]

Damn.. I thought Tony Blair should be given accommodations at the Blair House...