White House Fountains Dyed Green For First Time At Michelle Obama's Request

WASHINGTON — The White House is going green for St. Patrick's Day.

The water in the fountains on the north and south lawns of the White House has been dyed green to mark the national holiday of Ireland.

First Lady Michelle Obama came up with the idea for the festive touch, said spokeswoman Katie McCormick Lelyveld. She was inspired by the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in her hometown of Chicago, where the city marks the holiday by dyeing the river green.

"It's a little piece of home for our new home," said Lelyveld, who is also from Chicago.

Lelyveld said it's the first time the water in the White House fountains has been dyed. The green hue will stay until the dye runs outs.

President Barack Obama marks St. Patrick's Day with separate meetings in Washington with Irish leaders and he'll also attend St. Patrick's Day events in the White House and on Capitol Hill.

Comments

[NonLeftist]

11:37 AM on 03/20/2009

Next they'll "paint the WhiteHouse Black!" -George Clinton

[rebrarenee]

05:05 PM on 03/20/2009

That's just stupid. If you are from Chicago, this is what the city does EVERY St. Patty's day. It's a tradition, and that is ALL it's about. A little something from home. You guys can really be stupid sometimes.

[idenil]

08:32 AM on 03/20/2009

Yes, everyone lighten up. The white house is finally coming out as what it really is, a show.

Just a show of finger pointing 6 year olds.

Paint the whole thing green, that is after all the color of the life blood that flows inside it.

[idenil]

08:23 AM on 03/20/2009

The worst thing is that it will probably become a 'thing' now, red on christmas etc....

[ibsteve2u]

05:03 AM on 03/20/2009

You know what I liked this?

Because that last...pic­k a name....th­at held the Oval Office was awful pretentiou­s about "the dignity of the Office" - which he promptly used to abuse our Constituti­on, corrupt our financial systems, and foment artificial and illegal wars.

A little more good-heart­ed humor accompanie­d by a lot more honesty and respect for the law and the American people is just what we need.

[hart444]

01:18 AM on 03/20/2009

I'm far more excited about the organic garden Michelle is planning to break ground on tomorrow.

[socalbrat84]

05:11 AM on 03/20/2009

She should grow a little cannabis garden as well! :]

[Javida]

11:52 PM on 03/19/2009

St. Paddy's Day comes just in time for Spring -- and how best to celebrate St. P Day but w/ Spring Green! I say we give the fountain an evergreen shade to welcome Summer! 'Bout time America got it's much needed shot of Joie de Vivre and who could ask for a better spot to show it off -- directly in front of the White House!

[rebelzz]

09:31 PM on 03/19/2009

She was inspired by the celebratio­ns in her hometown Chicago. Chicago is in America. What's wrong with celebratin­g in an American way?

[incognito-ergo-sum]

06:23 PM on 03/19/2009

She could put bubble bath in the fountain and make the kids laugh. Tiny minds find tiny things to complain about. The smaller the mind the smaller the item that gets their attention.

All you complainer­s, did someone pull a plug out of your foot and your happiness drained away? Maybe you are a few pints low on fun or "don't take your own opinions so seriously"­.

[RationalDubSteppa]

06:27 PM on 03/19/2009

People that complain like that have no joy in their lives, they are void of love and compassion and only see the world as a collection of formulatio­ns that seem to make sense only to them. It must be a terrible existence and I would not want to wish it on anyone.

[NHGranite]

05:43 PM on 03/19/2009

Some a yuh gotta get some perspectiv­e. Green dye in the fountains on St Patty's Day - fun. It's great to have little kids in the WH again init? As for dignity of the building's residents, we have an outgoing president who has us asking about torture and war crimes, a previous president whose peccadillo­s were blown out of proportion­. Lighten up a little and HAVE A GOOD DAY.

[RationalDubSteppa]

06:23 PM on 03/19/2009

Agreed!! There are kids in the white house... lots of them... this is fun and makes them laugh and puts a smile on everybody'­s face... people need to lighten up, specially considerin­g we have had the pirates of panzan desecratin­g the holiest of institutio­ns in our beloved country,

[scotsense]

08:51 PM on 03/19/2009

St Paddy's day ya nugget

[spiffarino]

03:45 PM on 03/19/2009

Barack's relatives in Moneygall must have got a kick out of it. Erin go Brach!

[katlade]

03:44 PM on 03/19/2009

Should have been red for at least 3/4 of Bush's administra­tion for all the lives lost because of policies.

[thedreadedt]

01:39 PM on 03/19/2009

just because things are difficult, why do they need to be grim? i love the fact that there's a sense of joy and fun in the white house. and i'm sure that the president'­s great+gran­dfather, fulmith kearney must be smiling down from heaven....

[Frank-y-Ava]

01:34 PM on 03/19/2009

I'm sure Sasha and Malia loved that. It's fun, nothing serious people don't get your undies in a twist.

[bellabeach]

01:33 PM on 03/19/2009

Not only does she have class, but she has a sense of humor....I love it!

[RationalDubSteppa]

06:28 PM on 03/19/2009

Yes indeed Michelle is one special lady.

[City of Evil]

01:15 PM on 03/19/2009

So, so tacky. I'm deeply disappoint­ed.

[Seaglass]

02:33 PM on 03/19/2009

Just go with it. I love that the Obamas are turning stuffiness on its ear, and not in a blue-dress kind of way.

[timm553]

05:10 PM on 03/19/2009

Well, I thought it was just a lovely shade of green. So appropo, you know?

Hey, do you think they should celebrate birthdays in the WH, what with all that noise and cake and stuff, you know?

Get real!!!!