President-elect Obama and his family got bumped from the presidential guest house in favor of a guy who used to be prime minister of Australia? C'mon.
For weeks, there has been a mystery over who could be so important as to prevent the Obamas from moving into Blair House. The 70,000-square-foot mansion, with 119 rooms, is across the street from the White House.
Traditionally, incoming presidents and their families move into Blair House on Jan. 15, five days before inauguration. The Obamas asked if they could move in a few days earlier, so their two daughters could settle in to start at their new school.
But President Bush and first lady Laura Bush rejected the request, explaining that Blair House was booked through mid-January. Instead, the Obamas have moved into the luxury Hay-Adams hotel a few blocks away - hardly roughing it, but still not as convenient as Blair House.
Now the mystery is solved. The VIP occupying Blair House will be former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, an early ally of Bush's invasion of Iraq. He will stay at the guest house only one night, Jan. 12, prior to receiving a Presidential Medal of Freedom from Bush. (Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe also are receiving the award, but they found other digs in Washington). Other events are planned at Blair House, but no other overnight guests are scheduled.
The Bushes should have been more accommodating to the Obama family in this instance. With 119 rooms, the guest house must be big enough. The Obamas aren't complaining, but it was an unnecessary slight - tacky in every respect.