Obamas Pitch Tent on White House Lawn

WASHINGTON DC - Eager to get his term underway, Barack Obama, his wife and two daughters have erected a family-size tent on the lawn of the White House and decided to camp out there during the remaining days of the Bush presidency.

The new Coleman Durango 15’ by 10’ luxury tent, which is being protected by secret service agents, was set up with considerable effort yesterday morning by the Obamas.

In the afternoon the Obama girls Malia and Sasha were seen carrying sleeping bags into the tent and as the sun set, Michelle Obama was spotted collecting firewood around the White House grounds. Early this morning, the Obama daughters set out on a hike to the Rose Garden with Michelle, while Obama stayed behind to meet with his new Foreign Policy team.

Some conservative talk show hosts have called the move “a disgrace”. But a majority of Americans polled supported Obama’s action. Ninety-four percent said they felt “reassured” to have Obama just outside the White House, while 54% said the would feel even “more reassured” if Obama slept on a cot by Bush’s bedside.

According to a White House insider, there has already been a minor incident. When nature struck the youngest Obama girl at 3am yesterday, a bleary-eyed Barack reportedly shouted at her to “just use the bushes”. Several knocks on the White House door were answered by Laura Bush who was reportedly “surprised by the presumption of the little girl.”

Barack’s spokesman said the president-elect had already called to apologize to George and Laura for the misunderstanding using a tin can-and-string telephone he hooked up to the White House.

Not The Nation