[Washington, DC; December 20. Image via The Official White House Photostream.]

A White House nurse prepares to administer the H1N1 vaccine to President Barack Obama at the White House on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.
(Official White House photo by Pete Souza)

The White House has stated that the President "looks forward to celebrating Hanukkah at the White House and having many members of the Jewish American community at that event." And, describes the NY Times, "a Jewish student choir will sing in sweet harmony, the two young children of a soldier deployed in Iraq will light a 19th-century silver menorah from Prague and President Obama and his wife, Michelle, will greet more than 500 guests in a celebration that is expected to spill from the State Room to the East Room." But, half-assed! cry the critics, as rumors circulate that Obama's first, "more intimate" Festival of Lights will be only half the size of GW Bush's (not, in fact, true) and is indicative of a general disinterest in reaching out to the Jewish community.

Writes Tevi Troy (who superintended Bush's Hanukkah parties, the White House's first), in an op-ed for the JTA,

While the size of the party may not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things, even some of Obama's supporters may see it in the context of this longer train of politically tone-deaf decisions...Regardless of the party's size, Obama should be warned that Jewish visitors to the White House often live up to the old maxim that "Gentiles leave without saying goodbye, while Jews say goodbye and never leave." I have seen this phenomenon myself. After one particularly late night social event at the White House, then-Chief of Staff Josh Bolten joked to Bush's senior staff that the White House military aides — who staff official events in full ceremonial garb — almost had to unsheathe their swords in order to get Chanukah celebrants to exit the White House residence by the party's 8 p.m. close.

But others use Jewish stereotypes to argue the other side! According to the Jerusalem Post,

Nathan Diament of the Orthodox Union expressed displeasure at those who would criticize the smaller number of invitations. "As we know from Biblical times, we Jews are very good at complaining," he said. "People shouldn't complain. It's very nice that President Obama is having a Hanukka party. People can choose to gripe about the guest list or any other aspect of it, but the fact is this White House is going to continue this practice, which is a lovely thing." And Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Chabad's representative in Washington, said having a kosher spread is a key part of welcoming in the Jewish community as part of that tradition. He described the spread as "the works," including traditional Hanukka treats such as potato pancakes and sufganiyot.Pointing to the food's importance in the White House Hanukka ritual, he added, "People might think this way or that way on whatever issue, but everyone agrees on a good latke."

Ira Forman, CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council, writing in the Huffington Post, declared (with an inexplicable lack of references to potato pancakes),

(These allegations) are absolute nonsense. One of the reasons I have loved working in the nation's capital for Jewish organizations is because the Jewish community has had a serious policy agenda — not just on Israel, but also on issues ranging from civil rights to combating hunger. Perhaps this thread of stories complaining about the lack of tickets to a White House holiday party is simply a reflection of conservative Jews searching for ways to knock the President; I hope so. Heaven help us if we really begin to act as if party invitations are what our community is all about.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov declares to the Times, "This is all one big overblown latke...I feel that we need to save our communal kvetching in reserve for when it's more called for and really matters."

Washington Fuss Over White House Hanukkah Party [NY Times]

White House Hanukkah Blues [Huffington Post]

White House Hanukka Party Guest List To Be Cut In Half [Jerusalem Post]
Op-Ed: Obama Must Beware Of The Chanukah Snub [JTA]

Although some have claimed that threats are "up 400%," Sullivan denies that there has been much of an increase at all. "I'm not sure where that number comes from," he said. • Congressman Bennie Thompson, the House Homeland Security Committee Chairman, says his staff is preparing to subpoena the Salahis to testify as to how they crashed the White House State Dinner. He added that he will not subpoena White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers because her testimony isn't worth "engaging in a protracted legal battle with the White House." • Anthony Sowell, who was accused of the murder of 11 women in Ohio, entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity today. Sowell has been charged with an 85-count indictment, for crimes including rape, murder, assault and corpse abuse. If convicted, he could be given the death penalty. •  French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo has announced plans to retire. "I don't want to train anymore," said the 2006 Wimbledon title winner. "When you grow older, it's more difficult to stay at the top. It's a bit sad but this is the right decision." •  The Optimum Population Trust has determined that contraception is the cheapest way to help the environment, much cheaper than, say, planting trees of investing in wind power. The group has created a website that accepts donations to help pay for family planning services. •  This story, about a team of soccer-playing grannies from South Africa, will seriously brighten your day. The group of 40 older ladies has been playing since 2006, when cancer survivor Beka Ntsanwisi saw a group of women waiting for treatment, and decided that they needed somewhere to go for both exercise and companionship. Since 2006, several other teams have been set up, and they all compete in a league called the Top Eight. • The Berhane Hewan or "Light of Eve" program funded by the U.N. and Nike Foundation educates about 10,000 women and girls in Ethiopia in hopes of preventing child marriage. The program holds meetings for whole villages to discuss why child marriages hurts girls and gives families a pregnant ewe each time a daughter completes two years of school to offset the poverty that drives parents to marry off their daughters. • Sarah Palin received a special award from College of the Ozarks, a small Bible school in Missouri that goes by the slogan "Hard Work U." (strangely, this was a great favorite of my high school guidance counselor). They gave her the first ever "Great American Award." The press release reveals she got the award for being super patriotic: "Patriotism is one of the important goals of the College." •

[Washington, D.C., December 2. Image via Getty]

US First Lady Michelle Obama (C) speaks in the Grand Foyer of the White House alongside members of the US Marine Corps and Toys for Tots President Retired Lieutenant General H.P. �Pete� Osman (R) as she thanks volunteers who decorated the White House for the Christmas holidays in Washington, DC, on December 2, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

[Washington, D.C., November 18. Image via Getty]

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 18: People arrive for an event in the East Room of the White House November 18, 2009 in Washington, DC. First lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden hosted women of the U.S. military for tea. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

In early October, the Wall Street Journal published the list of 45 artworks destined for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It included several bronze sculptures by Edgar Degas, eleven paints by American painter George Catlin, a piece by Louise Nevelson, a Rothko, and for the East Wing, Watusi (Hard Edge).

Naturally, political and art bloggers examined the entire list, searching for cues about the Obama's personal taste. Art News reports that there was a conscious effort to assemble a collection with "wall power" - art that packs a punch. As Robin Cembalest reports, there was also an emphasis on showing the best of American art:

"The overarching theme was trying to offer the president and Mrs. Obama the best of America," Smith told me in a telephone interview, describing the First Couple as "unbelievably curious and interested in a lot of types of art." It was a lengthy back and forth. Works by well-known artists on some early wish lists, including Edward Hopper, Charles Burchfield, Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline, Romare Bearden, Brice Marden, and Agnes Martin, fell by the wayside, either for conservation reasons, or because they were currently on view or promised for loan in the next four years. So did works on paper, photography, and video art.

The New Yorker deemed the entire collection "upper-middlebrow in an O.K. way." Obviously, Michelle Malkin had some much harsher words. She, along with several other bloggers, felt that the inclusion of Watusi was a telling example of Obama's general cluelessness. In a way, Alma Thomas, who spent most of her life teaching children and later became the first black artist to show at the Whitney Museum, seems a perfect artist for the First Family to support. However, the composition of Watusi is very, very similar to that of a late Matisse, which Thomas openly admits was the inspiration for her painting. Despite the fact that Thomas has clearly reworked and remade L'escargot in such a way that while it may resemble the original, it is a lot more than a mere copy, some still view Thomas as a thief and a fraud. Malkin ended her blog post on the whole matter with this charming comment: "I know, I know. Cries of "RAAAAACIST" in 3, 2, 1…" Others accused the Obamas of being too clueless to notice the influence, or "turning a blind eye because the artist was black."

Originally Watusi was supposedly going to hang in Michelle Obama's office, but sometime in late October, it was removed from the list. It's been confirmed that the painting was sent back, but Art News was unable to find out why. However, Cembalist does conclude that "the story behind this painting may also presage the cultural politics of the Obama administration." Considering the comments on Politco's post - which range from "Leave the painting - its emblematic of this phony, deceitful administration" to "The right wing hates this president so much they criticize some paintings? Really?" - this seems rather likely.

Critics Nix Obamas' Pix Mix [Art News]
White House Ditches Painting [Politico]

[Washington, D.C., October 31. Image via Official White House Photostream]

A performer dressed as a grapevine tree moves about the north grounds of the White House greeting guests during Halloween festivities, Oct. 31, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

[Washington, D.C., November 2. Image via Getty]

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 02: First lady Michelle Obama speaks to a group of female students during an event to kick off a White House leadership and mentoring initiative in the State Dining Room at the White House November 2, 2009 in Washington, DC. The program provides local high school students the opportunity to discuss career paths with members of the White House staff, including White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, White House Domestic Policy Adviser Melody Barnes and others. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

[Washington, D.C., October 31. Image via Getty]

US First Lady Michelle Obama greets trick or treaters at the North Portico of the White House as they celebrate Halloween in Washington, DC, on October 31, 2009. The First couple welcomed more than 2,000 children from Washington, Maryland and Virginia schools and their families to celebrate Halloween. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Being a young, African-American woman overseeing the affairs for the first black first lady in the White House has its unique, historical responsibilities. During the grueling campaign year Jarvis spent with Mrs. Obama, she created a spreadsheet that had most likely never been created during a campaign before-a list of black hair salons from Las Vegas to Chicago. "Hairdressers in every state!" she laughs now. "It was a struggle."

Jarvis, a Spelman College graduate (seen above holding Ms. Obama's dress), works long hours and has to make sure, that when making appearances, the First Lady has things like Sharpies, her BlackBerry, Oreo cookies, and hand sanitizer. Actually, Jarvis says: "She's on this healthy kick now. She's over Oreos." The job entails lots of long flights and intimate details (at last week's Health Fair, it was Jarvis who removed Michelle Obama's wireless microphone so she could hula-hoop and double-dutch, and repositioned the First Lady's Azzedine Alaïa belt). But Jarvis calls Michelle Obama her "big sister" and gushes about the Obamas. Olopade writes:

When [Jarvis'] brother passed away last year, the president called her cell phone directly. "It was the North Carolina primary night, a big day. And he took the time to call me. The first lady called me," she remembers. "There's a million and one staff members and you take the time out of your day. That's why I'm here. I work for great people."

The Woman Behind Michelle Obama [The Root]
Michelle Obama's Body Woman [Newsweek]

White House has targeted the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the biggest-spending pro-business lobbying group in the country; Rush Limbaugh, the country's most-listened-to conservative commentator; and now, with a new volley of combative rhetoric in recent days, the insurance industry, Wall Street executives and Fox News.

Obama aides are using their powerful White House platform, combined with techniques honed in the 2008 campaign, to cast some of the most powerful adversaries as out of the mainstream and their criticism as unworthy of serious discussion.

Press secretary Robert Gibbs has mocked Limbaugh from the White House press room podium. White House aides limited access to the Chamber and made top adviser Valerie Jarrett available to reporters to disparage the group. Everyone from White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel to White House Communications Director Anita Dunn has piled on Fox News by contending it's not a legitimate news operation.

Yes, Faux News is a terrible excuse of programming and I would love if their racist, sexist, homophobic anchors and executives would suddenly vanish from the Earth, Left Behind-style, but instead of going to Heaven they were deposited in the scenario described by that old Got Milk? commercial:

But, that being said, I'm not thrilled with the Administration aggressively going after its opponents in this way. I'd much rather see some aggressive action toward keeping the base engaged, thinking up catchier hooks for these policy mandates, and reaching out to the communities that helped to elect Obama in 2008.

The GOP does a fine enough job digging their own grave - kicking dirt into their eyes while they're shoveling isn't really necessary.

Obama Strategy: Marginalize Most Powerful Critics [Politico]
Left Behind [Wikipedia]

Ann Curry simpers annoyingly throughout the interview (low moment: asking the 89-year-old Thomas what she wants people to say about her when she's dead), and she's got a lot to learn if she wants to live up to her "inspiration." Thomas, on the other hand, comes off as gracious yet direct. She emphasizes the achievements of other women journalists when Curry tries to single her out, but of the ten Presidents she has covered, she says, "I think every President could've done better." The best part, though, is when Curry asks her (again, simpering) if she thinks "if you had asked things more diplomatically, you might've gotten more of an answer?" Thomas says, "I think the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and that's the way I like to ask the questions."

It's an admirable answer because in a journalistic setting, it often seems like the shortest distance between two points — or least between the journalist and the source's approval and help — isn't a straight line. The easiest thing to do when interviewing someone is to softball, to make the source feel comfortable and at home, because this is what we're taught to do in social situations. Asking difficult questions basically means intentionally creating awkward situations, something most of us — especially women — spent junior high school trying to avoid. And while it's sometimes necessary to butter up a source a little bit, some questions — like, say, "Would the President attack innocent Iraqi lives?" — really can't be sugarcoated. Helen Thomas has spent her career going against all social conditioning by asking the most powerful people in the country questions that actually matter (as opposed to questions about, say, their obituaries) — for that, she deserves to be an inspiration to everyone.

Helen Thomas' Impact On Ann Curry [Today Show]

[Washington, D.C., October 5. Image via Getty]

A protester carries a rag doll during a rally and march 'calling for withdrawal of all US troops from Afghanistan' on October 5, 2009 in front of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO / Tim Sloan (Photo credit should read TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images)

• Kim Clijsters' recent win at the U.S. Open seems to have inspired the BBC to explore the effects of motherhood on both the body and the mind. Apparently, having babies may make you stronger. Another fun fact: European athletes were suspected of "abortion doping," i.e. getting purposefully pregnant in order to get an abortion, but claims these were never substantiated. •  After former GOP lawmaker Steve Nunn was found with his wrists slit in a suicide attempt, it didn't seem too far fetched to assume that he was involved with the murder of ex-girlfriend and domestic violence victim Amanda Ross. But Nunn's lawyers say he is innocent, and that Ross "should have also been held accountable for the incident." •  Know how celebrities are always say they lost the baby weight "just from running around after my kids?" Well, as you might have suspected, that is total bull. • Jaycee Dugard may be asked to testify in the trial against Phillip Garrido, prosecutors said Monday. • A Connecticut official says police have identified a "person of interest" in the murder of Yale student Annie Le. The state attorney's office has been calling her death a homicide, but won't report the manner of her death due to the ongoing investigation. • The anti-abortion group Operation Rescue has told its supporters it is facing a "major financial crisis" and will shut down soon unless it receives emergency funding soon. Troy Newman blamed the economic downturn in his email to donors yesterday and said, "We're now so broke (as the saying goes), we can't even pay attention." • Researchers have found that when people who have lost weight and kept it off are shown pictures of food they are more likely to engage areas of the brain associated with behavioral control than people who regained the weight they lost. The study's author Jeanne McCaffery says the it provides "an intriguing complement to previous behavioral studies that suggest people who have maintained a long-term weight loss monitor their food intake closely and exhibit restraint in their food choices." • President Obama has nominated Georgetown Law Center's Professor Chai Feldblum as a Commissioner to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She will be the first out lesbian or gay person on the EEOC. • The White House announced today that the public will be able to tour Michelle Obama's kitchen garden, the Jaqueline Kennedy Garden, the Rose Garden, and the South Lawn on October 17th and 18th as part of the White House Gardens and Grounds Tour. Tickets are being handed out on a first-come-first-served basis. • Cammie Colin, a 16-year-old cheerleader from South Carolina went alligator hunting this past weekend and came back with a gator that was 10 feet, 5 inches long and weighed 353 pounds. "I was very shocked when it got to the boat that it was that size," says Cammie, who killed the animal with a crossbow.

[Washington, D.C., July 27. Image via Getty]

WASHINGTON - JULY 27: U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive for a reception for ambassadors at the White House July 27, 2009 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Joshua Roberts-Pool/Getty Images)