White House Sends Out Christmas Tree Themed Hanukkah Cards

George Bush is trying desperately to get a few things right before he leaves office. Unfortunately, sending a Hanukkah invitation to Jewish leaders was not one of them.

The New York Post wrote:

The president and the first lady invited leaders of America’s Jewish community for a Hanukkah reception at the White House next month – but raised more than a few eyebrows by putting a picture of a Christmas tree on the invitation.

The message reads that the couple “requests the pleasure of your company at a Hanukkah reception,” written beneath an image of a Clydesdale horse hauling a Christmas fir along the snow-dappled drive to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

What can anyone say about that? Eight years into the Bush Presidency and the White House sends out a Hanukkah card to Jewish leaders with a Christmas tree?

Oh, maybe it’s a Hanukkah bush, right? No, because the sign on the wagon reads “White House Christmas Tree 2008.”

When reached for comment, Laura Bush’s spokeswoman, Sally McDonough, said the White House usually  prints separate cards, but in the waning days of the presidency, there had been an oversight.

“Mrs. Bush is apologetic,” she said. “It is something that just slipped through the cracks.”

Hmm…I don’t mean to be a cynic, but that sounds like 60 days and counting and we are out of here…so why care?

Sidenote:This is all the more ironic because Israel is pressing Bush to leave a note to Obama explaining the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel. Basically, Israel wants guarantees from the incoming administration that any Middle East negotiation, particularly with Iran, will not compromise Israel’s security or nuclear program.

Nothing like a little insensitivity over Hanukkah while Israel is squirming about its security. Bush will stand up for Jewish Christmas tree growers though.