"Impeach Bush" Ornament Scheduled to Hang on White House Christmas Tree, Bushes Realize Mistake

First there was the Christmas tree Hanukah card fiasco. Now here’s the latest in presidential holiday debacles: the Bushes have accepted an ornament for the White House Christmas Tree decorated with depictions of Washington Congressman Jim McDermott’s head and minute words supporting his bid to impeach President Bush. While one might believe it was accepted in order to at least give the appearance of regard for freedom of speech, Laura Bush’s press secretary pulled the old Say-“Divisive”-to-Combat-Criticism Strategy, telling the Washington Post, “I haven't seen the ornament, but I would hope that no one would take this as an opportunity to be divisive and partisan. There is a time and place for everything, and I don't think this is either."

The Washington Post reports:

Laura Bush asked members of Congress to pick local painters to decorate ornaments for this year's 20-foot Fraser fir in the Blue Room. The globes (to be unveiled by the first lady tomorrow) are supposed to showcase something special about each congressional district. Washington state's Rep. Jim McDermott contacted a local arts organization, which asked Lawrence, a collage artist, to create the local entry.

"I was at first nauseated, then realized it was an opportunity," said Lawrence, 55, who frequently combines politics and satire in her work and saw this as the perfect way "to highlight Jim McDermott because he's a hero of mine."

The nine-inch ball is covered with swirly red and white stripes -- and, in tiny glued-on text, salutes the Democratic congressman's support for a resolution to impeach President Bush…

“Apparently, they didn't read it -- or Laura Bush is more progressive than I believed," Lawrence told us.

To be fair, the text on the ornament is pretty small, so it may have been difficult to read. Or maybe it was Laura Bush’s aesthetic opinion that nothing says festivity like a mug of warm egg nog and impeachment.

UPDATE: The White House has now realized its mistake and will no longer hang the impeachment ornament. ABC News reports:

Now comes news that the White House is not going to hang the ornament. First Lady Laura Bush's press secretary Sally McDonough told the Post of Lawrence's ornament, "it really is too bad. I haven't seen the ornament, but I would hope that no one would take this as an opportunity to be divisive and partisan. There is a time and place for everything, and I don't think this is either."