Blair House Mystery Guest Revealed: Former Australian PM John Howard

UPDATE 1/7/09

ThinkProgress, based on an interview on last night's Countdown, says that John Howard may have been asked to stay at Blair House after Obama had already been snubbed. The story is extremely speculative as the source is a Bloomberg reporter, rather than someone within Blair House, but raises some interesting points about the oddities of the case.

Last night on MSNBC's "Countdown," Bloomberg journalist Margaret Carlson revealed that when the White House turned down Obama's request in early December, it had not yet even invited Howard to stay at the Blair House:

I reported...on December 11 and 12 that there were no foreign dignitaries booked into Blair House during that period of time. ... I have the feeling they asked him [Howard] to come and stay so that there might be some plausible reason for not letting the Obamas stay there.

***

Back in December, when the Obamas asked if they could move into Blair House in early January so their daughters could start school in Washington DC, they were told by the Bush administration that the house was, regrettably, already booked. What wasn't revealed at the time was the identity of the house guest that was forcing the Obamas on to the waitlist.

The Washington Post is now reporting that the mystery has been solved:

The only overnight visitor at the presidential guest manse is none other than John Howard, a former Australian prime minister and leading member of President Bush's coalition of the willing in Iraq.

Howard and his entourage will be bunking at Blair House on Jan. 12, the night before he, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe are to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Bush, said Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush. The three current and former heads of state are longtime political allies of Bush, and Blair and Howard were key partners in the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Was this a case of Bush playing favorites by putting a trusted partner from the coalition of the willing ahead of the incoming Democratic president? The New York Times reports that it's unlikely:

It is not clear how long Mr. Howard is staying there but it seems unlikely that he -- or the White House -- had any idea that he might bump the president-elect. The White House announced just yesterday that it had selected Mr. Howard and the others to receive the award, but such ceremonies are planned long before they are announced.

"Like many White House and Blair House events, planning occurs months in advance," Ms. McDonough said. The medal ceremony is to take place in the White House.

Comments

[ObamaEdwards]

There you have it. Bush Legacy? A Cheap Creep in a Tight Suit. A low-class, petty, ignorant, undignified PUPPET to Dick Cheney and his henchmen.

Booooooooo­oooooooooo­oooooooo!

[nana4g]

The question is: Why was it so important for Bush to "snub" Obama in this way?

And although this medal ceremony and the invitation for Australia's ex Prime Minister was planned "months ago", the Inaugural year of a new president was known for 4 years.

The primary function of The Blair House is to provide residency for the incoming President during an Inaugural year, prior to Inauguration. It should not have been booked after Jan 2. Period.

There is no logical or acceptable explanation or justification for this faux pas. Either it is more Texas Tackey or it is another example of incompetence and poor use of resources. But neither is acceptable.

At the Presidents' Luncheon the other day, both Bushes looked like "has beens"; like hayseeders, guffawing around. Disgusting.

[Mahi Joe]

If Bush should ever have a legacy this would be it. His pettiness. That above all is what I think of when I think of the past eight miserable years of this guy's reign.

[---antipodean]

John Howard is an embarrassment A "Freedom Medal"? Give me a break. Lucky we have a well-developed sense of irony, over here.

[Subversive]

If I were President-Elect Obama, I think I would start to circulate rumors that Tony Rezko brokered the deal for Bush's new home in Dallas.

[BrickSykes]

Do the recipients of all these awards and medals realize that they might be accepting tainted goods? What I mean is, don't they know that they are being rewarded by GB43 and NOT by the United States of America? Sure, the items and documents will indicate a National award. But, would they be getting any such honorarium from anyone else in the country BUT GB43? And, getting an award from so toxic a personage as this 'President' is right next to having a hobo pee-pee on your feet?

A good word from this George Bush would be a slap in the face from anyone else.

Brick

[mexglx]

I don't think this was as mean spirited as many allege. I think this is simply another sign of the gross incompetence of the Bush administration. Lets face it they knew four years ago there would be a president-elect needing a place to stay in DC around this time. Having said that, they could offer to put them up in the white house couldn't they. Wouldn't that be the hospitable thing to do?

[BrickSykes]

You're right! But, the Bushes are NOT hospitable people, among other civil things they are NOT.

Brick

[truthyguy]

This is just another example of the pettiness of Bush. I have no doubt that sometime after January 20th when he is sitting in the privacy of his home with the one or two friends he still has left, Bush will tell them how he screwed with Obama and made him move three times, and think it is all very funny.

Bush is, was and will always be an elitist, rich boy who will always be resentful because he was never able to measure up to the standards his father set for him.

[SeriousBlack]

Or to the standards of anything except for a gutless, witless loser.

[kylie]

His father wasn't much of genius on the economy, either.
What were those "standards" his father set for him?
Neither excelled at the job, George W. failed to the utmost.

[nana4g]

That's the problem. His parents never set standards for him or for the rest of the children. They were too busy living their own lives. The only thing I ever heard the mom say is that they told their kids to make their money first before entering public service. So, that is why they all have shady dealings with money making schemes.

[RobBre]

Let the good folk in Washington go downtown and throw their old shoes at Blair house while the Howards are in residence.

[DaBluAce]

we will save them to throw at the helicopter on Jan 20th leaving Penn ave for air force base bound for texas

[madtownwi]

This story has stunk from the beginning. Every parent understands the importance of having kids settled into their home before school begins in a new city. Those poor girls have to start a new school and move three times in three weeks (Hay-Adam, Blair House, White House). This is the best our country can do for the youngest members of our new First Family? Ridiculous.
It was obvious from day one that this was a deliberate insult. And oh yeah, from a President and First Lady who supposedly care about children and education. I've been waiting for the media to ask Laura exactly how this happened, and why the Aussie couldn't have stayed elsewhere.
No mother would have stood for this. Laura should have made this right the minute it hit the press.

[aspertame2]

By citing "the poor Obama children", I think some are unwittingly feeding the now-obligatory retort to the Blair House question, which basically goes, "What? Are the Obamas stuck in a roach-infested Motel 6?"

This is pretty much mostly about the symbolism, and it is on GWB, like it or not. Nope, the Obama's can't come a few days early because the Australian former PM needs all **70** rooms, or whatever it is. You can spin and spin, but in the end it will pare down to the essentials, and the story will have a veeeeery long half life if it turns out that they booked this guy only *after* saying, "Whoops, sorry, previous commitment."

I almost feel sorry for GWB. Talk about going out on a high note.

[2008CaliforniaFan]

Try looking at the Facts... Blair House is 120 rooms...
not that *70* you wanted to emphasize... almost Double... Ooops. How did You miss that?
(It's ON LY on their website page)

The fact that Howard wasn't even booked yet. You and GWB want to look past that Fact.
Maybe Karl Rove is your media man..? He never worried about the RE AL facts.

[JISantiago]

Hardly a week is left before the lowlives vacate the White House. One piece of advice to the Obamas. Please fumigate the White House before you move in.

[Carrie-On]

What is "that man" coming to the US for, anyway?

[gardenator]

The Aussies should have been moved to that nice five star hotel that the Obamas are in, whilst the president elect and family should have possession of the Blair House. However, it is not because they have to stay in a hotel that I feel the Bush's action is so appalling. It is because of the increased difficulty in the logistics and protection issues for the Secret Service; the inconvenience to other guests and indeed the entire neighborhood; and the potential risks to all. Blair House is much more secure, being a lot like the Vatican--a city within a city. This lame (duck) Bush stance is emblematic of his character and entire tenure in office. He just does not care. He probably would not have let Joseph and Mary stay at the stable either...reserved for donkeys...

[hortonhearsawho2]

Joe and Mary stayed at an alternate Inn...worked out okay.

[jacqmac]

There are a LOT of bedrooms at Blair House. There are also a LOT of bathrooms! Blair House-from what I've heard and researched-is a small COMMUNITY in and of itself. The fact is-this IS a direct DIS at P-E Obama and the family. At no other time, has it been necessary for a P-E to move TWICE in the time between coming to Washington and moving in to the White House. There WAS a 'plausible sounding' excuse given, however, THAT has been blown out of the water by Ms. Carlson et.al. I'm GLAD they did their research! We know exactly how absolutely PETTY the Bushes and the current Washington insiders are. Betcha there would have been PLENTY of room for John and Cindy--EVEN IF John Howard was staying there too!!

[BobSF94117]

I'm sure Howard would welcome the company of the McCains.

He would not, I'm sure, appreciate sharing the house with "that one".