Bush to Obama, "There's no room in the Inn".

[RandFan]

Obamas can't move into Blair House early

CHICAGO – President-elect Barack Obama asked the White House if his family could move to Washington earlier than normal, but aides say the White House couldn't give them the official guest house as early as his family wanted.

The Obamas had asked White House officials to move into Blair House about two weeks before the traditional date so their two daughters could start their new school when classes resume Jan. 5. Obama aides say the White House told them that the request cannot be met because the current administration still has plans for the historic government home across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.

OWC

 

[RandFan]

Ooops....

Linky

 

[Alferd_Packer]

In other words, they haven't finished installing the bugs, yet.

 

[RandFan]

In other words, they haven't finished installing the bugs, yet.

 

[Kaylee]

I have to say that I’m skeptical.

The Blair House, per good ol Wikipedia, is a complex of 4 interconnected townhouses that has more square footage than the Whitehouse.

While the MSM hasn’t been vetting the Obama and Bush aids’ statements - the commentators of online articles have been taking up the slack.

The statements range anywhere from The Obamas were obnoxious to make that request to that the Shrubs have been the only family to wait until January 15th to move in to the Blair House, that all other president’s family have moved in earlier. One commentator even said that the Clintons moved in on December 7th.

Where the commentators got their factoids from they don’t say.

I think it’s silly that the guidelines officially say that the next presidential-elect can’t move into the Blair House until January 15th. These days don’t we need the next president to hit the ground floor running? I think November 5th is a good time to open up that house for the next president’s family, or at least one of the 4 townhouses that make up that complex.

 

[RandFan]

I have to say that I’m skeptical.

The Blair House, per good ol Wikipedia, is a complex of 4 interconnected townhouses that has more square footage than the Whitehouse.

While the MSM hasn’t been vetting the Obama and Bush aids’ statements - the commentators of online articles have been taking up the slack.

The statements range anywhere from The Obamas were obnoxious to make that request to that the Shrubs have been the only family to wait until January 15th to move in to the Blair House, that all other president’s family have moved in earlier. One commentator even said that the Clintons moved in on December 7th.

Where the commentators got their factoids from they don’t say.

I think it’s silly that the guidelines officially say that the next presidential-elect can’t move into the Blair House until January 15th. These days don’t we need the next president to hit the ground floor running? I think November 5th is a good time to open up that house for the next president’s family, or at least one of the 4 townhouses that make up that complex.

I couldn't agree more. The Blair house isn't there for the outgoing president to entertain guests, IMHO. At least it sholdn't be.

 

[Tricky]

I find it hard to believe that the school will not let the girls start unless they've "officially moved".

I seem to recall that Nancy Reagan asked the Carters to move out of the White House early so she could start her remodeling projects. I thought that was out of line, and I think the Obamas are out of line to make such a request. "Please hurry up moving out," is just plain rude.

 

[WildCat]

I couldn't agree more. The Blair house isn't there for the outgoing president to entertain guests, IMHO. At least it sholdn't be.

Your opinion aside, that's exactly what it's there for. In fact it is called "the President's guest house" according to it's web site.

 

[Kaylee]

I find it hard to believe that the school will not let the girls start unless they've "officially moved".

I seem to recall that Nancy Reagan asked the Carters to move out of the White House early so she could start her remodeling projects. I thought that was out of line, and I think the Obamas are out of line to make such a request. "Please hurry up moving out," is just plain rude.

The Obamas didn't ask to move into the White House early, they just had one of their aids "explore the idea" with one of the White House aids of their moving into the Blair House early. The Blair House is a separate compound and is across the street from the White House. You can't ask more politely than that, and there has been a lot of claims on the internet that many presidential families have done the same. I think it was an extremely reasonable request. I also think that given the importance of having the next president hit the ground floor running that a temporary residence should be made available to him or her and their family as early as Nov 5th.

Re Nancy Reagan -- she does seem to be very much of a character. I remember she asked Bush Sr and family to delay moving into the White House so that she could have more time to move out. Like it came as a big suprise that she and Ronnie would be leaving after 8 years. That request was denied.

 

[Kaylee]

Your opinion aside, that's exactly what it's there for. In fact it is called "the President's guest house" according to it's web site.

WildCat, yes for presidential guests on state’s business – not for personal use.


IMHO, the Bushes are just being extremely tacky. Here’s what they first said through the First Lady’s spokesperson, Sally McDonough --

The White House conveyed to the Obama team that due to previously scheduled events and guests that couldn’t be displaced from the Blair House; they could not meet their request.

However, per the Blair House:

The Blair House says that they are ready for the Obamas whenever -- if ever -- they choose to come, yet they have no idea when that will be. They also confirm that there are no other foreign dignitaries scheduled to stay at the Blair House for the duration of the Bush administration.

The president often hosts receptions on the first floor of the Blair House, however -- which may be why the White House was not comfortable with allowing the Obamas to move in when there were scheduled events.

But the Blair House describes the president-elect's residential quarters within the house as a separate area -- purposely designed to provide privacy from the rest of the house. Still, the White House insists that, regardless of the set-up, the dates are non-negotiable, as is tradition.

Administration officials said that no visiting world leaders were staying at Blair House during the next month, and Ms McDonough refused to shed light on who exactly was using the venue, saying only that it “is frequently used by White House officials, the State Department and its Office of Protocol for various events.” There has been some speculation that the event in question is President Bush's leaving party, since Blair House is often used as a venue for receptions and cocktail parties for departing officials.

Did someone say beer party?

BTW, The Blair House Compound is huge –

An official internet site describes it complex of four joined townhouses which is actually larger than the White House, with 119 rooms and 70,000 square feet of space.

To me this is just another case where a politician is appropriating public assets for their own private use. The Obamas should be able to stay at the Blair House, I’ve no doubts about that.

I suggest that Congress pass a law stating that at least 1 of the 4 Townhouses of the Blair House Compound be made available to the president-elect as of the first day after the presidential election. Probably the only reason it’s not already a law is because no one thought a president would be as tacky as Bush is being now. Bush redefines 'lame' to a whole 'nother level.

 

[RandFan]

{snip} sorry

 

[WildCat]

WildCat, yes for presidential guests on state’s business – not for personal use.

And your evidence of this is...?

To me this is just another case where a politician is appropriating public assets for their own private use. The Obamas should be able to stay at the Blair House, I’ve no doubts about that.

Please cite the relevant law making this so.

I suggest that Congress pass a law stating that at least 1 of the 4 Townhouses of the Blair House Compound be made available to the president-elect as of the first day after the presidential election. Probably the only reason it’s not already a law is because no one thought a president would be as tacky as Bush is being now. Bush redefines 'lame' to a whole 'nother level.

Oh, so it's not currently the law? So why did you say "To me this is just another case where a politician is appropriating public assets for their own private use. The Obamas should be able to stay at the Blair House, I’ve no doubts about that."?

 

[gnome]

I'm not upset with either side.

If the incoming president had to make it a request, that means that it's at the discretion of the outgoing president. The request was properly made and properly declined. No reason to make it into a drama... except perhaps for it being a slow news day.

 

[gdnp]

I'm not upset with either side.

If the incoming president had to make it a request, that means that it's at the discretion of the outgoing president. The request was properly made and properly declined. No reason to make it into a drama... except perhaps for it being a slow news day.

Kinda like the myth that outgoing Clinton staffers had removed the W keys from all the keyboards...

 

[Kaylee]

And your evidence of this is...?

Easy I read the official Blair House web site, the same one you linked to!

On the splash page of www.blairhouse.org

It is the President’s Guest House, playing host to foreign heads of state visiting the United States on official business.

On the home page:

…serving the United States foreign policy as a gracious residence, meeting place and sanctuary for visiting heads of state.

On the events page ( http://www.blairhouse.org/events.html ), click on Blair House and World War II:

The custom of the day was for heads of state to spend the first night of their visit at the White House and then to move to a hotel for the duration of their stay. But there was limited space at the White House, and Washington hotels were constantly booked.

In 1942, Stanley Woodward, chief of protocol for the Roosevelt administration, arranged to purchase Blair House. President Manuel Prado of Peru was the first guest (in May 1942). In 1943, when the number of guests increased beyond the capacity of Blair House, Lee House was purchased to provide additional space for foreign leaders visiting the White House.

On the events page, click on White House Renovation and the “Truman White House”

This is the only official mention of personal use for the president that I could find. While the White House was being gutted and rebuilt, the first family lived at the Blair House, an understandable exception.


http://www.blairhouse.org/s_guestbook.html
On the guestbook page, click on the Guestbook link to the left to see a list of the guests.

You will only see the names of foreign heads of states and other representatives, president-elects and their spouses, and former presidents.

Click on the names to see photos of their signatures with the date.

BTW, the Clintons signed in on December 8, 1992 – more than a month before their inauguration.


On the Blair House History link ( http://www.blairhouse.org/h_house.html )
(click “History” on top and then “The House” on the left)

Since 1942, it has served the nation as a guest house for heads of state visiting the White House. In this role it plays a crucial part in American foreign policy

The restoration fund page ( http://www.blairhouse.org/fund.html ) says the following:

Today, while Congressional funding provides only for the management and routine maintenance of Blair House, the Fund continues in its mission as a charitable, non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to preserving, and renewing when appropriate, the interior design of the house.

The Fund is governed by an 18-member board whose trustees play an invaluable role in preserving the décor and acquiring fine arts and furnishings to maintain the gracious charm and inviting hospitality of this historic residence. The Board recently established an endowment fund to ensure that Blair House will serve in perpetuity as the President’s Guest House.

Thanks to many generous public-spirited citizens, Blair House is a showcase of American hospitality, elegance and the best of American design and craftsmanship. If you wish to receive more information on making a tax-deductible gift to the Blair House Restoration Fund, please send an inquiry to the Fund at the following address: Post Office Box 27208, Washington, DC 20038.

Tax-exempt organizations can receive tax deductible gifts. If the intent was for a president’s private use, then I don’t think the gift would be tax-deductible.

Please cite the relevant law making this so.


Oh, so it's not currently the law? So why did you say "To me this is just another case where a politician is appropriating public assets for their own private use. The Obamas should be able to stay at the Blair House, I’ve no doubts about that."?

I am not a lawyer and I’m not equipped to know where to find the relevant laws. But even a quick google shows the following:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode22/usc_sec_22_00002718----000-.html

§ 2718. Fees received for use of Blair House

(a) Use of fees
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds received by the Department of State in connection with use of Blair House (including reimbursements and surcharges for services and goods provided and fees for use of Blair House facilities) may be credited to the appropriate appropriation account of the Department of State which is currently available. Such funds shall be available only for maintenance and other expenses of Blair House.
(b) Compliance with Budget Act
The authority of this section may be exercised only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance in an appropriation Act.

The Blair House is clearly a national asset intended to be used in ways that will benefit the USA, not benefit the sitting president for his personal use.

While I have not found case law to support that the Blair House should be available for the use of the president-elect, this has been admitted by the Bushes. The guestbook referred to above also shows that they used it for that puporse themselves. The only quibble is – as of when?

As above, you can also see that the Clintons used the Blair House starting from December 8th.

A spokesperson for the Bushes said that the Obamas couldn’t move in early because of previous commitments to other guests. Than the Blair House was quoted as saying that there were no foreign dignitaries scheduled to stay at the Blair House from now till the end of the Bush’s term. Oops! The Bushes got caught in a lie.

 

[Jeff Corey]

Maybe the other guests were people Bush is planning to pardon. I hear that is a big party and could tax the facilities.

 

[Kaylee]

Maybe the other guests were people Bush is planning to pardon. I hear that is a big party and could tax the facilities.

 

[Jeff Corey]

Oh, you kids today with all your and ;} and <.> stuff. What does it all meme?

 

[WildCat]

Easy I read the official Blair House web site, the same one you linked to!

Nowhere does it say it is only for those purposes or guests.

the Clintons signed in on December 8, 1992 – more than a month before their inauguration.

So? Bush 43 signed in on Jan. 17.

On the Blair House History link ( http://www.blairhouse.org/h_house.html )
(click “History” on top and then “The House” on the left)

Note that is not a complete list. You have yet to show only foreign heads of state, etc are allowed at the Blair House.

The restoration fund page ( http://www.blairhouse.org/fund.html ) says the following:


Tax-exempt organizations can receive tax deductible gifts. If the intent was for a president’s private use, then I don’t think the gift would be tax-deductible.

What makes you say that?

I am not a lawyer and I’m not equipped to know where to find the relevant laws. But even a quick google shows the following:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode22/usc_sec_22_00002718----000-.html



The Blair House is clearly a national asset intended to be used in ways that will benefit the USA, not benefit the sitting president for his personal use.

And yet they bill themselves as "the President's guest house", not "the USA's guest house".

While I have not found case law to support that the Blair House should be available for the use of the president-elect, this has been admitted by the Bushes. The guestbook referred to above also shows that they used it for that puporse themselves. The only quibble is – as of when?

It's tradition, not law. When Obama is POTUS he can put whoever he likes in the Blair House. He can even rent out the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House like Clinton did.

As above, you can also see that the Clintons used the Blair House starting from December 8th.

Which proves... nothing.

A spokesperson for the Bushes said that the Obamas couldn’t move in early because of previous commitments to other guests. Than the Blair House was quoted as saying that there were no foreign dignitaries scheduled to stay at the Blair House from now till the end of the Bush’s term. Oops! The Bushes got caught in a lie.

No, it means that it will be occupied by guests who are not foreign dignitaries.

 

[Kaylee]

Nowhere does it say it is only for those purposes or guests.

Nowhere does it say that it can be used for other purposes. (Govt accounting, like non-profit accounting, uses fund accounting. The various funds have to clearly state if they have a restricted purpose or if it they be used for any general purpose that falls under the entity's reason for being incorporated.)

So? Bush 43 signed in on Jan. 17.

So it's one bit of evidence against the Bush's claim as to what the tradition is.

Note that is not a complete list. You have yet to show only foreign heads of state, etc are allowed at the Blair House.

Its true that I don't have access to the complete list. However, every link shows that the tax payer money expended for the purchase and maintenance of the Blair House is for the purpose of foreign diplomacy under the USA State Department.

What makes you say that?

IRS law. Not all gifts are tax deductible.

And yet they bill themselves as "the President's guest house", not "the USA's guest house".

Not convincing against all the other links.

It's tradition, not law. When Obama is POTUS he can put whoever he likes in the Blair House. He can even rent out the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House like Clinton did.

That was illegal. And I read your posts on Blago, so I know you know that.

But just for the heck of it --

It changes it dramatically," McIntosh ed. Rep. David McIntosh (R-Ind.), a member of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee] told CNN. "We now know why the White House has been stalling and keeping a lot of this secret. The president himself was personally involved in authorizing the use of the Lincoln Bedroom... for fund-raising purposes.

"Very clearly, it is wrong to use government property, government assets for political purposes," McIntosh said. "You can't use the taxpayers' funds to help you raise money for your political campaigns. Those are two different functions."

And did you see the Cornell Law link in my last response to you? All funds received to use the Blair House must be credited to the appropriate appropriation account of the Department of State. I'm sure that legally any funds received to use the Lincoln Bedroom should have been accredited to an appropriate government account also. It was illegal to raise money that way for the Democratic National Committee.

Which proves... nothing.

No, it's a piece of evidence against the Bush's "it's tradition" statement.

No, it means that it will be occupied by guests who are not foreign dignitaries.

No, it doesn't. A spokesperson for the Bush's refused to say how the Blair House will be occupied. The Blair House said that the complex would not be used by foreign dignitaries between now and the end of the Bush term. They also said that they are ready for the Obama's at anytime, but they don't know when they will be arriving.

Everything on the the Blair House's web site indicated that it was acquired and funded for purpose of helping the State Department in its foreign policy work. The Cornell Law extract of the US Code supports this as well. In addition, the Blair House web site shows that their facilities have been made available to president-elects and past presidents.

Your turn. Show support that government property, outside of the personal residences set aside for the president and vice president, can be used for personal reasons not related to government business.