Sorry Barack, no room in this inn
WASHINGTON — That’s what Barack Obama was told when he asked the White House to let his family move early into Blair House so his daughters could start school on Jan. 5.
So reports the New York Times this afternoon, adding the White House response that Blair House is booked until Jan. 15.
The White House said that Blair House would be tied up in ”receptions and gatherings” by outgoing Bush administration officials, the paper reported.
The stately Blair House, situated across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, is known as the president’s guest house and has housed dignitaries from Harry S Truman and daughter Margaret to the King of Morocco. (Check the guest book.)
Laura Bush spokeswoman Sally McDonough sounded a little snarky in responding to the Times’ inquiry. “There’s nothing more to say other than that it’s not available and won’t be available until Jan. 15 … You’re trying to make a story out of something that’s not a story.”
That may be true, but this little transition episode is triggering some decidedly different Web responses — ranging from criticism of Obama for being presumptuous to criticism of Bush for not giving the Obama kids a break.
Obama’s transition office said the family is looking at other options and doesn’t think that Malia and Sasha Obama will miss the first day at their new school — Sidwell Friends in Washington.
If it’s booked, it’s booked. How is that so hard to understand?