White House: We Don’t Have That Churchill Bust, After All
- Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:30pm by
Mytheos Holt
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When Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney criticized President Obama for sending a bust of Winston Churchill back to England – a charge that was repeated by syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer – the White House initially responded with immediate, cutting defensiveness. Specifically, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer fired back on the charge, calling it a “rumor” that was “patently false,“ and citing Krauthammer as someone who had ”repeated this ridiculous claim.” In fact, Pfeiffer went so far as to post a picture of President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron looking at a bust of Churchill, presumably the bust in question.
Kindly ignore the fact that President Obama is close to mooning the camera
Unfortunately for Pfeiffer, that bust was actually not the bust in question. There were two, you see, one of which Britain had loaned to former President Bush after the September 11 attacks (and which Obama sent back), and one of which remained in the White House. Pfeiffer was apparently unaware of the White House’s inventory of artwork, despite being the White House’s communications director, and apparently feeling compelled to comment on that very subject. Now, Pfeiffer is apologizing to Krauthammer, and it looks like the claim might not have been so “ridiculous” after all:
Charles,
I take your criticism seriously and you are correct that you are owed an apology. There was clearly an internal confusion about the two busts and there was no intention to deceive. I clearly overshot the runway in my post. The point I was trying to make – under the belief that the Bust in the residence was the one previously in the Oval Office — was that this oft repeated talking point about the bust being a symbol of President Obama’s failure to appreciate the special relationship is false. The bust that was returned was returned as a matter of course with all the other artwork that had been loaned to President Bush for display in his Oval Office and not something that President Obama or his Administration chose to do. I still think this is an important point and one I wish I had communicated better.
A better understanding of the facts on my part and a couple of deep breaths at the outset would have prevented this situation. Having said all that, barring a miracle comeback from the Phillies I would like to see the Nats win a world series even if it comes after my apology.
Readers are free to dispute Pfeiffer’s claim that the United States has not disrespected its “special relationship” with Britain. However, this seems to be a clear (and rare) admission on the part of the White House that they got the argument wrong.
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Comments (89)
DoGooder
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:03amAsk Bill (Lewinsky) Clinton about the bust in the Whitehouse, he know were they all are…
Report Post »marine249
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:56amme thinks those are lower busts.
Report Post »realindependent
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 4:34amSo this whole thing is about a Bust that was“loaned” to GWB. That Obama returned? So we should have told England, you can’t have it back? Way to make up a fake controversy Conserva-Bots….
Report Post »Obama Been Lauding
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:31am“busted” Minion!!!!
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:47amThis bust was “loaned” indefinitely to George Bush and the Whitehouse as a symbol of our friendship together. England didn’t come up and say, oh Bush is out, we don’t like Obama, so give it back….as a matter of fact they extended the offer and let Obama keep it and he sent it back anyway. And if Obama and his administration didn’t make the decision to give it back, who did? England DID offer to let us keep it longer. It’s sort of like the gilted girlfriend giving back the engagement ring.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:44amNot mentioned in this story is that o has busts of Lenin, Wright, Alinski, and a few other more obscure dictators scattered throughout……
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:50amBeck right again!
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:54pmHow embarrasing for Obama and his minions to be proved wrong once again. The left seems to have problems remembering what they do and what the say and end up correcting themselves to often.
Report Post »jenna
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:01amthe words “truth” and “democrats” are two words that should NEVER be used in the same sentence.
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:51amExactly, there’s a real problem with them figuring out the lies they want to spin, because their heads are up their buts.
Report Post »wboehmer
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:59amThey can’t help themselves.
It’s pathological . . . the dems lie for the sake of it – even when telling the truth would be the better move.
Report Post »Cadcamtrainer
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:17amTypical Demorats…… Drop a big bomb on all the tv stations, start the rumor mill and send a email to apologize for it. Just like Harry Reid yesterday, “I have gotten a call from a Democrap informing me that Romney didn’t pay taxes for 10 years. I can’t give you that name”……. Then he says that he doesn’t know if it is true or not but in the mean time all the liberal media is running with the “Romney didnt pay his taxes for ten years” false flag specialists!
Report Post »montana-bill
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:56pmI belive Pfeiffer is still not telling the truth. As I recall the prime minister offered to extend the loan on the bust to the White House, but Obama had it shiped back.
Report Post »possom
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:48pmThought I saw it on ebay.
Report Post »colt6920
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:57amJust wait till that clown gets the boot. Then you’ll start to see just about everything from the White House on eBay…..or more likely on Craigslist……or the local pawn shop.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:47pmThose Democrats with all their fancy talkers just can’t seem to comunicate very well, at least when their caught in their lies, which is quite often.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:59amA classic case of cranial rectalitis.
This seems to be a continual problem with this White House. They automatically react and call all statements that critisize their idol, as false. They are also quick to spread rumors about the opposition.
OMG Nov 6, 2012
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:42pmLies and the lying liars who lie them.
Report Post »Chromo200
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:40pmBush took it with him to Texas …
Report Post »exfire
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:35pmOne of these days this white house will screw up and tell the truth about something…. and scare the hell out of everyone !!
Report Post »Master.Debater
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:49amObama already did with the “You didn’t build that!” comment.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:20pmNO sh*t Sherlock .. I got a nice note back when I wrote to the British Embassy and apologized for Obama sending it back … IN 2009!
Report Post »helmuit_7
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:58amthank you
Report Post »QuincySmith
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:14pm“…this seems to be a clear (and rare) admission on the part of the White House that they got the argument wrong.” I suspect that there will be more coming – good campaigning oblama.
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:12pmThese guys are bigger buffoons than anyone could have thought. I mean it’s like a parody of some Laurel and Hardy comedy routine. It woudl be amusing if our Republic were not at stake.
Report Post »Danthebugman
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:54amcould not have said it any better!
Report Post »wing_n_it
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:11pmI can’t wait to read the book that will be written about the incompetence of this administration. It will be released in volumes and take years to compile. If it wasn‘t so tragic and consequential it’d be hilarious.
Report Post »Dan
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:08pmI bet they threw it out with the trash…
Report Post »Hillbillybone
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:05pmAnd “you know our stance on the capital of Israel”
You Know…..
We will not just say it and put it to rest, just you know…..
Report Post »taxpro4u03
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:42pmFrom My Cousin Vinny:
“Vinny: “Would you say that you got a better view of them when the were walking in, than when they were walking out”
Witness: “Well, you could say that”
Vinny: “I DID say that! Would YOU say that!?”
It is OUR responsibility to bring the conversation BACK to a level of communication where BOTH parties understand the question and the answer. We don’t have to agree IF there is no OBJECTIVE independently verifiable evidence to support the argument – but to use this crap to avoid/divert/distract/intimidate etc is insane. Call it OUT at its highest level of use. “Yes or No” – anything else must be ASSUMED to be a ‘lie.’
Report Post »Delusional convoluted asinine discourse is totally unacceptable in a CIVILIZED society.
“Gentlemen, you can say a lamb has five legs by CALLING his tail a leg, and after some time most would agree. However, his tail is NOT a leg, it is STILL a TAIL.” A.Lincoln
TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:01pmYou can’t make this stuff up that this administration does, says, or thinks. They really are the lowest form of humanity I can think of. I hope many realize that these “Baracknids” are infesting the country and to rid ourselves of “Baracknaphobia” we must fumigate in November. Off the fence, indies! Libs do bite and there are chunks missing from our country.
Report Post »ComeAndTakeThis
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:58pmDisrecspect England, why the gift of BO reading from a teleprompter recorded to CD is the apex, the acme, the zenith of disrespect.
Report Post »Wolfgang the Gray
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:14pmObama and his administration has the same level of class as a fresh pile of elephant droppings.
Report Post »Lee_in_PA
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:06amWolf.. I would rather have the elephant droppings as they are useful in the garden for growing huge tomatoes.
Report Post »wakewiseone
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:56pmhow do american citizens know when obammy & company staff are lying???
THEIR LIPS ARE MOVING !!!!!!!
Report Post »HumbleMan
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:27amThat’s one way to tell, but they are capable of lying without moving their lips too. It’s ingrained.
Report Post »El Jefe
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:55pmWe knew this when, like 3 and a half years ago? Thats what I thought…idiots
Report Post »oldduffer
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:53pmI only want to know, when is this administration going to know anything. This President and his cronies are destruction personified.
Report Post »johnsell
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:50pmDoes this mean that all the rumors about Obama sending the bust back are false, especially if it was only on loan? Looks like someone in the beginning never got their facts straight.
Report Post »Soothsayer
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:50pm“I take your criticism seriously and you are correct that you are owed an apology. There was clearly an internal confusion about the two busts and there was no intention to deceive.”
Uh huh.
Report Post »Next lie.
And I ain‘t sayin’ please.
yougottabekidding
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:44pmIsn’t that amazing?
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:44pm“(T)here was no intention to deceive.” There never is by the Left, AFTER they’ve been caught in an obvious, intentional deceit. BEFORE they’re caught, however,…….not so much.
Report Post »QuincySmith
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:18pmRep Wilson and Justice Alito (I believe) were right, oblama was wrong and lies.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:41pmMe thinks the dust up is in regards to the movie 2016: Obama’s America that is getting more traction as it is spreading to more theaters. Saw it this weekend. I was already sick in my heart at the prospect of even the possibility of another term for O, the movie is terrifying to contemplate another term.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:51pmIt was well known that he sent the bust back shortly after taking office. It was in February of ‘09.
Report Post »http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/4623148/Barack-Obama-sends-bust-of-Winston-Churchill-on-its-way-back-to-Britain.html
kaydeebeau
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:01pmI know – most people didn’t though….
Report Post »givemefreedomorgivemedeath
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:12pmAbsolutely a soft refutation of the truth set forth in 2016 Obama’s America. This is how this administration (and most all liberal/progressive democrats) work. They prepare this elaborate plan to explain away what they have done – complete with the attack on Krauhammer starting things off to make it seem believable, then move on with a little dwell time to let the lamestream media report on it to give it authenticity (ha!!! as if they had enough credibility left!!!), then the half baked apology with the denial and ridiculous explanation intertwined in it. What a bunch of frauds.
Thank you Dinesh D’Souza, Gerald Molen and Doug Sain from the bottom of my heart for making this film. It will make a difference.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:39pmThey admit they were Wrr…wrrrrro……wrrrooonn…….wrrrroooong? Holy cow, a pig just fly by the window, I need to go cover my car. Pig poo is much worse than bird droppings. Thanks Whitehouse, next Satan will be complaining about the Snow and Ice.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:02pmthe demons have gotten out the ice skates too…..
Report Post »