In what some are claiming is a controversial move the Obama Family chose to have Bo the dog on the front of their Christmas card this year instead of traditional Christmas phrases or a family photo. As you can see above the card is a painting of Bo laying next to the fire in a room that is clearly decked out for the Holiday. I am sure everyone receiving this card will know it is a Holiday greeting. I don’t necessarily think people need to be bashed over the head for a message to come through. I do think the card sends a message of Family and Freedom. Right there front and center is the family dog and the family obviously has the freedom to decorate their home for the Holidays. If I were doing Christmas Cards this year I would absolutely use these. Would you?
In other news President Obama took Bo out to the store today to do a little Christmas shopping of his own. Looks like Bo wants a Stuffie while the President thinks a new bone should go under the tree. Apparently Bo has been a very good boy this year and is getting a chew toy and the bone this year though he will not be with the family for the actual Holiday. While at PetSmart Bo made a new friend a Poodle named Cinnamon. They were sniffing each and the President had to remind Bo to mind his manners. While out on their shopping trip together the President stopped for a bite to eat and picked up three pizza’s to go. No word on whether Bo got some crust as a treat or a bite of cheese.
The Obama’s at least Michelle and the children will be in Hawaii for Christmas the President was supposed to have left already and is now not sure if he will make it. Hawaii is a quarantine area so Bo will be staying home quite possibly keeping the President company since he might not make it to join the rest of the family at this point.
I like the card…nothing wrong with having Bo on the card. Maybe its not formal enough to be the “state” Holiday card. But, I do think that its a very homey, pretty card.
Debby
I really love the card! I’m a huhe dog lover and I’m glad Bo is getting more recognition.
Sadly we don’t hear from him much 🙁
Nice Christmas card with Bo. I always send Christmas cards with a dog on front. Mostly Labs, Great card!
The card has my vote too! Very homey and sweet! Now, we just need Bo to author his own First Dog Blog! Nice article, sharing!
Bo has his own blog! http://obama-dog.com/
The people claiming to find it scandalous that Bo is featured on the Obamas’ card didn’t think the Bushes’ Christmas videos of Barney and Miss Beasley were scandalous.
And neither did I. (Their behavior as dog owners is one of the few areas where I rate Shrub and Laura higher than many of our previous presidents of both parties, and like them better than the elder Bushes, too.)
Also, instead of comparing the Obamas’ card to the cards on sale in the local supermarket or Hallmark store, try comparing them to the White House Christmas cards of previous presidents. Suddenly it looks bog-standard instead of “different.”
Finally, it’s news to me that it’s American tradition for Christmas cards to focus on “family, faith, and freedom“, as the former half-term governor of Alaska claims. Family, yes. Faith, yes.
But Christmas isn’t a political holiday; it’s a religious and family holiday. Because we are a free country we have the freedom to celebrate it as we choose; it’s not about political freedom. We have a number of other holidays for that.