Philip Rucker and Al Kamen of the WaPo believe that Obama was “kicked out” of Blair House by John Howard:
The veil is lifted. We now know who is booked at Blair House, kicking President-elect Barack Obama and his family to the waiting list and across Lafayette Park to the Hay-Adams Hotel.
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.
No, Al & Phil. Obama was not in Blair House and John Howard didn’t come over and booted him out of the place. Blair House is “the President’s guest house
playing host to foreign heads of state visiting the United States on official business.”
Barack Obama is president elect (not head of state yet) of the United States (not a foreign country), who will take office later this month. He is not a foreign head of state. John Howard, as former Prime Minister (head of state) of Australia (a foreign country) will be here to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (official business).
Tony Blair and Alvaro Uribe will also be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom:
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.
From Colombia’s point of view, this will be a nice yet symbolic gesture of support for Mr. Uribe; Nancy Pelosi’s Congress has failed miserably by denying Colombia the real support that country has requested, which is the free trade agreement.
Much to their credit, the WaPo’s editorial board supports the free trade agreement with Colombia.