White House: We didn’t know Mao was on our Christmas ornaments
posted at 9:15 pm on December 22, 2009 by Allahpundit
Big fun via Big Government and Breitbart.
Why let a holiday season come between the White House and making some political statements? The White House pegged controversial designer Simon Doonan to oversee the Christmas decorations for the White House. Mr. Doonan, who is creative director of Barney’s New York has often caused a stir with his design choices. Like his naughty yuletide window display of Margaret Thatcher as a dowdy dominatrix and Dan Quayle as a ventriloquist’s dummy. For this year’s White House, he didn’t disappoint.
These photos of ornaments on the White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room were taken just days ago. Of course, Mao has his place in the White House.
From the photo, it looks more like a Warhol print of Mao, which ain’t quite the same as pure Mao iconography but close enough, I guess. Laying aside the fact that spotting a right-wing dictator on ornaments in the Bush White House would have had Media Matters stumbling towards its fainting couch, isn’t the most likely explanation here that they really didn’t know what was on the ornaments? Why court PR trouble with a deliberate provocation via something this trivial? More interesting to me is the fact that Doonan evidently thought this sort of thing would be welcome in a Democratic White House. What an … intriguing assumption.
Obligatory atheist exit admonition: You know, if you listened to Hitchens, this wouldn’t be a problem.









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Epic.
BallisticBob on December 22, 2009 at 9:19 PM
EVEN HIS PHUQIN DESIGNER IS A PARTISAN KOOK?
artist on December 22, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Obamao
cubachi on December 22, 2009 at 9:19 PM
I’m sure they didn’t know. But choosing a known envelope-pushing troublemaker to decorate your tree is an even more boneheaded move than putting Mao on a Christmas ball.
The one is deliberate, if wrong. The other is just dumb.
S. Weasel on December 22, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Best. Christmas. Decoration. Evah.
Track-A-'Crat on December 22, 2009 at 9:21 PM
. . . Stop the world I want to get off . . .
KickandSwimMom on December 22, 2009 at 9:21 PM
It’s just iconography nothing to see here, folks.
Buddahpundit on December 22, 2009 at 9:22 PM
He doesn’t know a lot of what’s going on in our house does he?
Brat4life on December 22, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Community groups were involved. Is there anything they can’t screw up?
WisCon on December 22, 2009 at 9:23 PM
“That’s the bestest holiday tree ever.” – crr6
SagebrushPuppet on December 22, 2009 at 9:24 PM
I wonder if the picture of Christ was anywhere to be found?
CWforFreedom on December 22, 2009 at 9:25 PM
We don’t know who is coming to breakfast. We don’t know who is coming to dinner. We don’t know what is on our Christmas tree. We don’t know what the HELL we are doing! Havent you figured that out yet?
AnthonyK on December 22, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Communists/Marxists in our White House.
This couple continues to make me physically ill.
What does ogabe have next on the agenda now that HC is a done deal?
lukespapa on December 22, 2009 at 9:25 PM
So someone could put a George W. Bush ornament on the tree and they wouldn`t notice?
ThePrez on December 22, 2009 at 9:26 PM
WHAT? No Ortega? No Chavez? No Fidel?
Amateurs!
GarandFan on December 22, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Fellow travelers…
alwaysright43 on December 22, 2009 at 9:27 PM
I have no problem believing they don’t know what the hell is going on in the WH. Do you think that makes it better, somehow? The people they solicted for the ornaments had the idea such imagery would be acceptable to this crew.
KittyLowrey on December 22, 2009 at 9:27 PM
So what do they do now? Throw the Christmas tree under the bus?
greggriffith on December 22, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Blame Bush!
Hey, why not, they blame President Bush for everything else;)
Gothguy on December 22, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Amateur hour for this administration and the moron that was elected by the liberals, never ends. The “Neverending Story”.
ultracon on December 22, 2009 at 9:28 PM
I can’t seriously be the only one who saw the lingering ultra-close-up shot on the Oprah Christmas Special of the ornament bearing Lincoln’s face morphed into Obama?
I mean seriously – they had scrubbed Lincoln’s features out, but left his hair and beard, and put in Obama’s face!
Oprah had been commenting on each ornament they showed, but when that eternal ~6-second shot came, she was completely silent as the TV screen was filled with this offensive blasphemous imagery.
It was so disturbing that I was just shocked that it could be broadcast to the nation and I haven’t heard anyone mention it yet.
cane_loader on December 22, 2009 at 9:28 PM
So who put the ornaments on the tree?
d1carter on December 22, 2009 at 9:29 PM
The Lying Liars Who Lie.
Ricohoc on December 22, 2009 at 9:30 PM
this
uknowmorethanme on December 22, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Anita Dunn?
d1carter on December 22, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Oh those Obamas, classy as ever.
exlibris on December 22, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Exactly. A concept that gets conveniently tossed when Dems are the subject but applied in absurd stretches when an R breathes the same air in the same city as some malefactor.
For example, harken back to the Clinton era and recall the same things happening, from inappropriate Christmas ornaments to the “birds of a feather” with media acting like each associate had just stumbled across their (Clinton or Obama, take your choice) path instead of being invited on the journey.
KittyLowrey on December 22, 2009 at 9:31 PM
“I inherited these ornaments”.
SouthernGent on December 22, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Is there one of Allah?
Dingbat63 on December 22, 2009 at 9:31 PM
The Mao ornament bothers me, but what has me rolling over in gut-busting laughter is the Obama super-imposed on Mt. Rushmore ornament.
uknowmorethanme on December 22, 2009 at 9:31 PM
The Hyde Park Hillbillies! It’s a big house. hard ta tell who comes and goes. Have you seen the cement pond?
AnthonyK on December 22, 2009 at 9:32 PM
So, Mao ornament and one of his chief advisors was a Mao proponent.
It is like the Obama White House not only doesn’t view Mao as the genocidal maniac he was, but are surprised that anyone would.
18-1 on December 22, 2009 at 9:33 PM
I guess we should all just be thankful these fake Christians even deigned to put a Christmas tree in the White house at all. I’m sure they didn’t give a rat’s ass what is on it, and haven’t looked twice at it.
rockmom on December 22, 2009 at 9:33 PM
What right wing dictator?
Narutoboy on December 22, 2009 at 9:33 PM
WTF is wrong with these people?
gooddad on December 22, 2009 at 9:33 PM
But if you go showing ornaments of Chairman Mao….
The American People ain’t gonna like you anyhow…
kingsjester on December 22, 2009 at 9:34 PM
I kinda like the drag queen one myself. Wonder if anyone has explained that one to Malia and Sasha?
rockmom on December 22, 2009 at 9:34 PM
Cheney snuck past the secret service (apparently easy to do) and added them to the tree!
xler8bmw on December 22, 2009 at 9:35 PM
That seems to be a recurring theme in Obowma’s White House, isn’t it…?
Party crashers to Scare Force One.
If you really didn’t believe that Obowma is just misunderstood and is doing his best…
… you might think that this is deliberate, or something.
Seven Percent Solution on December 22, 2009 at 9:36 PM
You did not get the memo. It’s his house! Just ask him.
jwp1964 on December 22, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Oh come on,the Mao ornament was right next to Stalin
and perpendicular to Che!!
canopfor on December 22, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Barry from DC could not be reached for comment.
LastRick on December 22, 2009 at 9:36 PM
I’ll just bet an aborted born alive fetus that was shoved in the hospital linen closet figurine replaces the baby Jesus Christ Child in the Manger at the 0bama WH.
OmahaConservative on December 22, 2009 at 9:37 PM
America has been Mao-Maoed.
Drained Brain on December 22, 2009 at 9:38 PM
based on how many people in his administration has professed a love of mao i’m not surprised
Defector01 on December 22, 2009 at 9:38 PM
I love the witty comments posted! Keep ‘em coming – I figure if I laugh hard enough I won’t cry for my country.
KickandSwimMom on December 22, 2009 at 9:38 PM
If it’s a gift from Anita Dunn, Mother Theresa’s on the other side of the ornament.
kingsjester on December 22, 2009 at 9:38 PM
did the secret service fail to screen the ornaments???
ndanielson on December 22, 2009 at 9:39 PM
You have just gotta believe that instead of an Angel or a Star on top of the tree…
… is a cheap, black velvet, “B+”.
Merry Christmas!
Seven Percent Solution on December 22, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Party crashers to Scare Force One.
If you really didn’t believe that Obowma is just misunderstood and is doing his best…
… you might think that this is deliberate, or something.
Seven Percent Solution on December 22, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Seven Percent Solution: Well,the word is,the next anti-
Christ,would be a Muslim,ahem!!:)
canopfor on December 22, 2009 at 9:41 PM
You’re joking, right? I mean, that would be offensive…
Dopenstrange on December 22, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Was Joe’s ornament of a guy in a wheelchair or a dude in a bunker with the GPS coordinates?
txag92 on December 22, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Obama kids :
Mommy mommy, you look so bootiful on this ornament !!
macncheez on December 22, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Rockin’ around the Commie Tree…
tomas on December 22, 2009 at 9:42 PM
I didn’t think the Obamas celebrated Christmas…?
d1carter on December 22, 2009 at 9:43 PM
its not that funny.
rob verdi on December 22, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Oh it is definitely welcome in this Administration, the attention is not welcome. I doubt the designer even gave it a second thought of it being wrong.
bluemarlin on December 22, 2009 at 9:43 PM
No Obamao ornament?
JammieWearingFool on December 22, 2009 at 9:43 PM
The arrogance of this administration is mind boggling!
truetexan on December 22, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Obama kids :
Mommy mommy, you look so bootiful on this ornament !!
macncheez on December 22, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Oh no you didn’t. LOL!
txag92 on December 22, 2009 at 9:44 PM
The stockings were hung by the Bunker with care…
In hopes that Joe Biden would soon breathe fresh air.
kingsjester on December 22, 2009 at 9:44 PM
You have just gotta believe that instead of an Angel or a Star on top of the tree…
… is a cheap, black velvet, “B+”.
Merry Christmas!
Seven Percent Solution on December 22, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Seven Percent Solution: A nice shiny,number 57 would be
the ticket,and GaffeBiden could
have an ornament of jobs,and he
could purchase that on any street
corner store*wink-wink*!!:)
canopfor on December 22, 2009 at 9:46 PM
A vaguely similar thing happened last year. The Bushes asked each congressman to have an artist make an ornament for the tree. They didn’t realize for awhile that Rep. McDermott had had a communist loony tune make his ornament. It said “Impeach Bush” on it.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/390300_ornament03.html
juliesa on December 22, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Kingsjester is on a roll!!
KickandSwimMom on December 22, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Have the Obamas been to church in DC yet? Haven’t heard a word about it. Does anyone know?
b3026 on December 22, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Glad you’re feeling better to join us…
Seven Percent Solution on December 22, 2009 at 9:49 PM
The stockings were hung by the Bunker with care…
In hopes that Joe Biden would soon breathe fresh air.
kingsjester on December 22, 2009 at 9:44 PM
kingsjester:
And all through the night Biden searched for air,
and alas,he found out,there was none,because Obama
beat him to it,making it illegal with no care.
canopfor on December 22, 2009 at 9:49 PM
O tannebaum O tannebaum.
During the Third Reich “O Tannenbaum” was promoted by the Nazis as part of their program to remove the more Christian parts of Christmas.[1]
Nah! Cant be true it’s on Wiki.
AnthonyK on December 22, 2009 at 9:50 PM
canopfor on December 22, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Glad you’re feeling better to join us…
Seven Percent Solution on December 22, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Seven Percent Solution: Thank-You SPS,reporting for Duty,
Sir!!!!!:)
canopfor on December 22, 2009 at 9:51 PM
I miss Laura Bush.
Cornhusker on December 22, 2009 at 9:52 PM
You don’t pick a controversial designer without realizing something like this would happen.
Doonan’s past creations would have nixed him as a credible choice for the White House in the past.
INC on December 22, 2009 at 9:53 PM
They never picked a church and they went once I believe for Easter.
xler8bmw on December 22, 2009 at 9:53 PM
And I heard The Prez exclaim,
As he boarded his flight,
A Commie Festivus to all,
‘Cause my ethics sure bite.
kingsjester on December 22, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Me too we have another 3 years on no class getto community organizers that have never been or done a thing in their life! At least Hillary had decorum as first lady!
xler8bmw on December 22, 2009 at 9:55 PM
Sure, inside one of those bubling liquid ornaments. You know, the yellow one. It was right next to the hand crafted dung Mary.
/not true, but almost believable.
AnotherOpinion on December 22, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Juvenile…..but…unpresidented!!!1111111eleventy
jukin on December 22, 2009 at 9:56 PM
We desperately need to get a president in the white house.
Vashta.Nerada on December 22, 2009 at 9:57 PM
I never thought I’d get into your heads so much that you’d start randomly making up quotes from me. Awesome.
I’d make up a quote from you, but I don’t know who you are and can’t recall a single prior post by you. Good to know you find me memorable though!
Just to get you started on a Jonah Goldberg-esque rant…
Hitler.
crr6 on December 22, 2009 at 9:57 PM
When she wasn’t insulting officers and servicemen, threatening women who were having affairs with her husband, and blaming news reports on a right wing conspiracy…
Narutoboy on December 22, 2009 at 9:57 PM
Heh AnthonyK, I thought of this:
O Xmas Tree! O Xmas Tree!
Thy leaves say “HOPE and CHANG(ING)”;
O Xmas Tree! O Xmas Tree!
This Land we’re rearranging;
With Mao and Che, the comrades dear,
And my own face to make it clear.
O Xmas Tree! O Xmas Tree!
We’re so accommodating!
(not)
Intrepid on December 22, 2009 at 9:58 PM
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Be advised,some may find this image distrubing!!!!!
http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=13061
canopfor on December 22, 2009 at 9:58 PM
I knew some idiot would come up with this.
“We are socialists, we are enemies of today’s capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are all determined to destroy this system under all conditions.” – Hitler
Narutoboy on December 22, 2009 at 9:59 PM
We desperately need to get a president in the white house.
Vashta.Nerada on December 22, 2009 at 9:57 PM
Vashta.Nerada: I hope santa puts under the tree,a gift for
the world,
Leader of the Free World,that is!:)
canopfor on December 22, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Allahpundit askes:
The Answer: is no.
Exhibit A: Evidence that the Obama White house’s arrogance and sense of invincibility is matched only by their chutzpah.
Jones Zemkophill on December 22, 2009 at 10:04 PM
The tree has a tail !
The tree has a tail !
macncheez on December 22, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Are you serious? You mean like Obama not knowing a member of his cabinet loves Mao, that one of his czars is a 911 truther, that Rev. Wright was spewing bile for years, etc.? The “I didn’t know excuse” doesn’t fly anymore. These signs that Obama is a radical lefty pop up much too frequently for that to be the case. In fact, as his poll numbers continue to drop, and especially if he loses Congress in 2010, I bet Obama increasingly discards all pretenses of moderation.
Erich66 on December 22, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Does this administration remind anyone of the “Emperor who had no clothes?”
Will someone in the White House EVER tell him he’s delusional? Who ARE these people? Arrested development syndrome get them all?
Beam me up, Scotty!
manateespirit on December 22, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Next year they will clean up their Christmas tree act. ALL of the tree ornaments will have Obama’s picture on them.
b3026 on December 22, 2009 at 10:07 PM
OT –
Running nonstop on the MSM TV here just today (local Fox affiliate) – commercials running back-to-back praising ObamaCare to high-heaven. A second one just now. First one was a big sloppy wet kiss to Mary Landrieu – thanking her personally for her part in covering 30-million Americans
The second one closes: “This is the health-care bill we’ve been waiting for!”
–Crap!! a THIRD one played before I could even finish typing.
We are being BOMBARDED today with a full-court TV press for ObamaCare.
Just now, three different back-to-back ads!!!
cane_loader on December 22, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Looks like someone’s a wikipedia fan!
Too bad you didn’t read the next line, where it says…
and…
crr6 on December 22, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Except for the part about the Bush WH reviewing the ornaments as they were submitted and rejecting that one, yes, emphasis on “vaguely” would apply since it didn’t get displayed with a clueless “Huh? We had no idea!” response later, nor did the Bush WH select that artist to create that ornament.
KittyLowrey on December 22, 2009 at 10:09 PM
The tree has a tail !
The tree has a tail !
macncheez on December 22, 2009 at 10:05 PM
macncheez: Thats for support,oh wait,that doesn’t sound
right,hehe!:)
canopfor on December 22, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Hitler spoke of the “collective” being above the individual. Now what ideology does that sound like to you? He most definitely followed policies of the left.
Narutoboy on December 22, 2009 at 10:12 PM
LOL
cmsinaz on December 22, 2009 at 10:14 PM
It just gets better every day!
khacha on December 22, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Given the radicals in the White House, can you draw those lines? REALLY?
They “didn’t know – didn’t see – wasn’t ours – community groups decorated – etc etc etc. They didn’t hear Rev Wright say anything in 20 years either. RADICAL F*CKING FREAKS
marklmail on December 22, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Allah, Obama has been telling us who he is for years.
Johan Klaus on December 22, 2009 at 10:16 PM
What?!!! No Darth Soros ornaments?!!!
Ooooh, B.O.’s One True Lord and Master is gonna be peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeved!!!!!
pilamaye on December 22, 2009 at 10:19 PM
For anyone who wonders what the big deal is about this administration’s obsession with Mao, I recommend “Mao the Untold Story” by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday.
deewhybee on December 22, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Obama the Oblivious
“If I don’t acknowledge it’s existence, it doesn’t exist”
My guess is, he really didn’t know. But he should have. And thats the part he and his butt boys don’t get, yet.
One day, though, he’ll be saying something like:
“Oh, hey. You mean I could’ve used the military as a deterrent? And that could have prevented the catastrophe? Wow.”
BobMbx on December 22, 2009 at 10:22 PM
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