White House has patriotic holiday theme

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- The Bushes' final holiday season in the White House will have the theme "A Red, White and Blue Christmas," U.S. first lady Laura Bush said Wednesday.

But one ornament -- calling for her husband's impeachment -- won't be hanging from any tree in the White House, The Washington Post reported.

The official White House Christmas Tree is an 18 1/2-foot Fraser fir from North Carolina and is decorated with ornaments depicting the patriotic spirit of U.S. states, districts and territories, her office said.

"We thought it was the perfect theme -- a patriotic theme for our last year here, as well as for an election year," Bush said on NBC's "Today" show.

But the ornament designed by Seattle artist Deborah Lawrence that salutes Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., and his support for a resolution to impeach President George Bush was rejected, the Post said.

"This doesn't really surprise me," Lawrence said. "But it's disappointing that I won't get to see it on the tree."

The first lady's spokeswoman, Sally McDonough, confirmed Lawrence's ornament would be absent.

"It's inappropriate and it's not being hung," she told the Post.

While recognizing the dismal economic outlook, Bush said she was aware of people "worrying about the economy and worrying about their own jobs" but wanted to encourage people "to realize what really matters at the holidays, and that is being with your family and your friends. And I think we can get a lot of emotional comfort from our friends."